The beauty of burgeoning trends is that with their force and mass popularity come improved formulas and powerful innovations. And we’ve seen one hell of a lot this year already. Like Clinique’s new Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. And Estee Lauder’s hugely praised Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II. We become obsessive fans; they improve the formulas. It’s a win-win.

Such is the way with the ombre hair trend too. In the last couple of years it’s become the much-lauded hero of the hair world thanks to the fun and youthful way it zhooshes up limp lengths. Colourists were falling over themselves to claim it as their own, though our money is on Tracey Cunningham, who as Redken’s Creative Consultant was the colourist behind the early adopters of ombre, Lily Aldridge and Drew Barrymore. Enough said. Less subtle than highlights and more daring than a plain tint, ombre has swept the heads of colour savvy women in no time at all. Yet previously – and why I’ve personally avoided it until now – it’s been rather on the risky side. Blending light next to dark and getting it spot on is, well, hard to achieve.

"It’s far more delicate and precise than ombre mark one; more grown-up, if you will."

Cue Wella’s new Color.id, a newcomer that’s been four years in the making and allows doubters like me to breathe easy. The crux of this colorant is the InvisiDivider technology which prevents colours bleeding and holds them into their correct sections immediately. Colours can be applied side by side without running into each other whatsoever. Clever. So it’s far more delicate and precise than ombre mark one; more grown-up, if you will.

It’s a salon only treatment at present and I’m booked in to try it this month, so watch this space for review part two. But the whole thing sounds so completely safe and fool proof that I’m hoping it’ll come in an at-home kit before long. Wella, if you’re listening.

Color.id is available in salons nationwide, visit wella.com to find your nearest one.