Hazan suggests everyone lighten her hair’s base color a shade or two—or, at the very least, add some highlights. Not sure if your color falls into the too-dark zone yet? Hazan says to evaluate your makeup. If it doesn’t perk up your complexion as well as it once did, then the problem, she asserts, most likely lies with your hair color—not your cosmetics.

Photo Courtesy of puhhha/Shutterstock.com

Looking current is different from looking trendy, says Trey Gillen, a stylist and the owner of Tre Spa in Houston. You can keep pace, he says, with subtle annual changes, such as losing an inch in length or just switching from a stiff-hold hairspray to a lightweight formula. And even if you’re positively allergic to trendiness, that doesn’t mean you can’t experiment. “The number-one thing I hear women say is, ‘I can’t do that because I’m too old,’” says Amy Huson, a colorist at the Marie Robinson Salon in New York. “They don’t realize you can modify trends to suit your age.” Hazan agrees and offers this example: If you want to try the ombré effect (darker color on top, lighter on the ends and underneath) but are afraid it’s too young for you, keep the contrast between hues fairly subtle—more Jessica Biel or Drew Barrymore than 19-year-old surfer girl.

Photo courtesy of konstantynov/Shutterstock.com

Having your colorist weave in warmer lowlights will fight that washed-out look. When choosing the base color, think buttery or honey tones—not too platinum or beige. “Richer, warmer tones will look fresher,” Huson says. “Cooler, ashy tones can be aging.” Also, if your hair and skin are fairly dark, ease into blondeness with a light-brown base, possibly sprinkled with highlights. (Want a mental picture? Think of Jennifer Lopez or Beyoncé.) That takes the edge off gray and allows you to test going golden. Then, if you like the results, you can go lighter later.

Photo courtesy of Gemenacom/Shutterstock.com

“Just as you have an anti-aging skin-care routine, you need something similar for your hair,” says Josh, who suggests choosing formulas that both hydrate (look for ingredients like ceramides and silk) and strengthen (look for protein, aka keratin). You should also boost your regular in-shower conditioning with leave-in formulas and a once-a-week deep-conditioning treatment. Try John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo and Conditioner ($7 each; drugstores), L’Oréal EverCrème Nourishing Leave-In Spray ($9; drugstores) and Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Frizz Defeat Deep Treatment ($6; drugstores). You might consider tweaking your shampoo routine, too. The water in your shower has a neutral pH, which opens the hair’s cuticle, stripping moisture, says Fekkai. To combat this effect, he says, shampoo less often (every other day, if possible) and finish your shower with a cold-water rinse to reseal the cuticle. Finally, to minimize damage from hot tools, use a styler that has heat-shielding properties. We like Living Proof Prime Style Extender ($20; sephora.com), which protects from heat—and repels oil and dirt, making infrequent shampooing more realistic.

Photo courtesy of Valua Vitaly/Shutterstock.com

“If you remove some weight from the bottom half of your cut, the hair will be light enough to swing,” Savone says. You might also want to skip heavy products such as creams. Fekkai likes mousse, applied to the scalp and followed by an upside-down blow-dry. Then, if you need a quick midday boost, spray dry shampoo just at your roots and finger-tousle. For easier touch-ups, travel with a purse-size bottle such as Oribe Travel Dry Texturizing Spray ($20; neimanmarcus.com).

Photo courtesy of kiuikson/Shutterstock.com

Start by consulting a trusted stylist to determine whatlongish cut will work for your height and silhouette. For some, that means a shoulder blade–grazing style with layers around the face. For others, it’s a long, layered, shoulder-skimming bob. For still others, it’s Demi Moore–like locks with sideswept bangs. (Notice no stylist endorses the ’do favored by Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. We loved her, too, but don’t go there.) Then, once you’ve got the right cut, it’s imperative to maintain it. Farel says you can go three months (as opposed to six weeks for shorter styles) between salon visits—but don’t wait longer than that. “Your stylist is the cheapest surgeon you’ll find,” he says, because the right cut instantly changes your face, giving you a fresher, lifted appearance.

Next: Six Hair Tricks That Make You Look Younger

Don't miss out on MORE great articles like this one. Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter!

Photo courtesy of konstantynov/Shutterstock.com