Who doesn't want to look younger? I guess there are the 15-year-old girls like Miley Cyrus who are trying to look older. But short of that group, I don't think I ever knew anyone who said she wished she looked older. Think about it. Women tighten their faces, plump them up, and use miracle make-ups to create the illusion of youth. They literally exercise their butts off or invest in a drawer full of Spanx to have the young-looking bodies they had as teens. Do you think Madonna, Demi Moore, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ellen Barkin or Susan Sarandon are couch potatoes? They work hard to look vital and vivacious and young. Have you ever seen better-looking post-fifty women? They'd be hard to find. This is the A-list. There are always the women who go too far in their quest for youth. I could make a list here, but the names are too obvious to mention. These women end up looking like mutants. You can't tell if they are old-looking young or young-looking old. This is an easy line to cross and must be carefully avoided.

Your hair is the easiest way to maintain a youthful appearance. It is also the best way to look your most beautiful. The right hairstyle complements the shape of your face and can actually give the illusion of a mini facelift. The wrong hair style - which is usually the one you have been sporting for more than five years - can actually drag your face down.

I would suggest you avoid extremes. Hair that is excessively long or very short is hard to wear. If you wear your hair long, be sure it has shaping around the face. I know I have said this before, but I still see this beauty faux pas all the time. If you are over a certain age, be aware of the length of your hair. There is nothing more horrible than someone who looks young from the back and old from the front. If you notice young guys doing a quick whip around after they see your face, you most likely need to rethink your hair style. Short hair should never look suburban, whatever your address. It should have style, flattering layers and a fringe to keep it looking soft and sexy. The rule here is that if it looks like a practical hair cut, it's the wrong hair cut.

Now it's time to talk about hair color. There is a myth that permeates American culture that blond hair looks young. Color that is a little softer and brighter can make you look younger, but it is not always the answer. Hair that is too light can drain the color from your complexion the same way grey hair can. To me, excessively blond hair is like carrying a sign that says you have turned grey. Did you ever wonder why there are so many blondes in Miami Beach? I will never forget a cartoon I saw in "The New Yorker" magazine of a bride being carried across the threshold by her groom saying, "Will you still love me when I am old and blond?" I think that cartoon said it all.

Color must flatter your complexion. It must make it come alive. I think the biggest problem with hair is that as the years go by it, looses its vibrancy. This can happen for two reasons: The number one reason is grey hair. I believe grey hair steals the life from hair color. The second reason is that hair color just fades over time. Hair color can start to lose its vibrancy as soon as puberty occurs. Brown hair loses its warm tones, blond hair becomes dull because it loses its golden tones, and red hair just fades to a no-color brown. The answer to young-looking hair is to put the rich color tones back. This can be done with semi-permanent or permanent hair color. Minimal highlights not too different from the base color can also solve this problem.

Everyone wants to look the best they can. There is nothing better than looking healthy and vital. The tip here is to keep it simple and do what's right for you. Trends are for teens, not people who want to look a few years younger than their years.