There's nothing quite like a great haircut. That feeling when you can't stop catching a glimpse of yourself in the mirror or running your hands through your new layers is priceless. Unfortunately, a bad hairstyle can cut through all that confidence and leave you looking older than you are. The good news is that it's pretty easy to update your look without a lot of time or money. We asked some of our favorite hairstylists to share the biggest mistakes they see women making with their hair — and how to fix them!



Cat-lady long

Our stylists seemed to agree that all women can rock long hair… to a point. That being said, crazy long hair will always age you. "Too long always ages a woman," advises celebrity stylist Mitch Stone. "I'm not talking past-your-shoulders long, but cat-lady long (not to be confused with Cat Woman)." According to Stone, once your hair has passed your ribs, it's officially making you look older. He recommends going with a timeless long bob "or as short as an inch or 2 past your chin (think of my girlfriend Kim Basinger's hair in 9 1/2 weeks — HOT at any age)."

If you love the long look, go for it! Just make sure your haircut does not go shorter in the front and longer in the back. "In general, shorter in the front, longer in the back (unless you're going for a rocker mullet) tends to look dated," explains Judy McGuinness, senior stylist at Mizu New York salon. "Keep everything pretty square or a bit longer in the front for shorter hairstyles."

The wrong length

Finding the perfect haircut for your face shape can be a lifelong search. Talk to your stylist about the most flattering look for your hair and face type. Our hair thins as we age, so keeping it long may accentuate the thinning. "If hair is thinning, going shorter is an option," says Sam Villa Show Ambassador, Marissa Villa. "If you've had long hair your entire life, it might be time to update to a lob."

Whatever you do, make sure your haircut has layers and depth. "The classic hairstyle that makes a woman look older and dowdy is the cut where everything is the same length all over, a few inches long," says Damian Santiago, co-owner of Mizu New York salon. "Then set with a small curling iron all over. Not cute or modern. Wispy bangs on this look kill it for me."

As long as you have a dynamic, flattering style, the length of your hair truly doesn't matter. Santiago told us he has mature clients who rock long layers or short pixie cuts. "A mature client with a strong inner confidence can rock any cool and modern look."

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