For the fair-skinned, going a little lighter is probably a good idea. "Dark hair can make your features look severe," says Sharon Dorram-Krause, head colorist at the John Frieda Salon in New York City. Are you comfortable going gray? "Weave in silver or buttery highlights or darker lowlights to deepen color and prevent your salt-and-pepper from looking ashy," says Dorram-Krause. paul Labrecque, owner of the eponymous salon and spa, has only one hard-and-fast rule: "The most important thing as you get older is to wear a hairstyle that's not blown into place but moves."
Turn On Your Brights
I'm smiling in the mirror at my new cut and color when suddenly, oy—my teeth seem to need a little color correction of their own. I dial New York City cosmetic dentist Steven Fox for advice. "Maintenance is more important than aesthetics," he says. "It doesn't matter how white your teeth are if your gums are in bad shape." Twice-yearly visits to the dentist, regular flossing, and brushing with an electric toothbrush should keep your mouth healthy, but expect some inevitable age-related deterioration. "As we get older, there's a natural recession of the gums, making teeth appear longer," says New York City cosmetic dentist Jonathan Levine (hence the expression "long in the tooth"). If recession really bothers you, Levine suggests a combination of enameloplasty (filing off bits of enamel to shorten the teeth) and ceramic veneers (thin ceramic shells bonded to your teeth to change their shape); veneers can eliminate the discomfort of exposed roots, another side effect of receding gums, as well.