No matter how many hair color trends cycle through social media, the one color that will never go out of style is the color you were born with. While your natural hair color is often dismissed for being too boring, it is actually the most flattering, maintainable and long-lasting option you can choose.

There’s something to be said about the balance of your features. You were born with your natural hair color for a reason. It’s a color that naturally complements your undertones, eye color and complexion in a way that no artificial shade could compete with.

That built-in balance is something most trends overlook.

Yet as a society, we have conditioned ourselves to chase after these trends just because the top models and movie stars say they are the best. This causes us to scroll through social media and admire the way others look instead of being confident in our own appearances.

In reality, hair colors, complexions and styles that seem perfect on others aren’t always suitable for everyone. Instead of chasing after the trends that look flattering on others, people should be confident in themselves and focus on what flatters them.

During my freshman year of high school, it felt like every girl was dying her hair blonde. Everyone was chasing the lighter-hair trend, even when it didn’t necessarily suit them. So I followed in their footsteps; I dyed my hair lighter too, and admittedly, it felt great for the first few months.

However, that excitement did not last. Soon, the whole freshman class had grown out roots and were spending hundreds of dollars on maintenance for a trend that was inevitably dying.

The average person’s hair grows about half an inch per month, which makes new growth obvious when you are constantly veering away from your natural color. Add in the harsh chemicals used in hair dye and the trendy colors, your hair health starts to take a toll.

Sure, some people can rock dyed hair. But for the majority, embracing your natural hair color is simply the most flattering, sustainable and healthy in the long run.

Every season brings a new “it” hair color, whether it’s platinum blonde, jet black or cherry cola red, but the truth is still the same: your natural hair color suits you better than any trend ever could, and we should all work toward loving our natural beauty as opposed to trying to make ourselves look like everybody else.