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" Newly an empty-nester, Mary Ellen \u2014 a mom of three kids who works full-time as the chairperson of a local school district&amp;#039;s special education program \u2014 decided it was time to make her outer appearance match the youthfulness she feels inside. On her wish list: an updated cut and adding back some shine to her hair, which has a fine texture and has thinned out considerably over the last two decades. To make her length work for her, stylist Nunzio Saviano gave her a chin-grazing cut with soft layers around the face, which acted as an instant facelift. After applying a single-process color to hide grays, Stephanie Brown, a colorist at the Nunzio Saviano salon, added blond highlights to brighten her face. To get your own age-defying haircut, follow these tips: 1. Get layers. Every stylist we talked to agreed: Hair that&amp;#039;s all one length is heavy and can make you look tired, but adding at least a few soft, face-framing layers gives your features lightness and lift. What&amp;#039;s more: Layers are an easy way to give volume a boost. 2. Switch up the length. Hair that&amp;#039;s too long (even if it&amp;#039;s thinning or doesn&amp;#039;t have much body) can weigh down your face, while hair that hits at the chin might draw more attention to a sagging jawline. A cut that grazes the collarbone, though, is universally flattering. 3. Embrace your texture. If you want to let your kinky or curly hair be natural, go for it \u2014 transitioning will take time, but eventually, that soft base of curls is an instant youth-booster, says celebrity hairstylist Tippi Shorter. If you already have curls, cut hair shoulder-length or above with some layering, then add highlights to create dimension. 4. Soften sharp edges. Severe cuts that create harsh lines can accentuate wrinkles, so if you have a bob \u2014 or are considering one \u2014 you want to make sure the ends are soft and loose. Tell your stylist you want it &amp;quot;point cut,&amp;quot; which means they&amp;#039;ll hold the scissors vertically, taking little notches out along the ends. 5. Try bangs. Bangs can camouflage forehead lines, but not all types do it equally well. &amp;quot;A blunt bang that hangs straight across the forehead isn&amp;#039;t for everyone. It can emphasize aging features,&amp;quot; says celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa. &amp;quot;Opt for a side-swept fringe with layers that blend into the rest of your hair; it&amp;#039;ll make your features look more youthful.&amp;quot;  For more anti-aging advice, check out our new book, 7 Years Younger: Instant Makeovers, available free for 21 days! NEXT: 6 Bad Habits That Age Your Skin \u00BB "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/hair/tips/a25581/7-years-younger-haircuts/>