The wrong hairstyle can give you more than a bad hair day. It can add years to your appearance. You can have a trim, young-looking body, but if your hair looks worn out, guess what? You might, too.

Check out these four sexy, flattering cuts to help you turn back the clock. No time travel or plastic surgery required; just a savvy stylist and a pair of scissors.

The Gamine

You know the look: short, sweet and boyish, with a few feminine waves or spikes at the crown (also known as the pixie). It’s the look that made a young Audrey Hepburn famous. These days, you’ll find it on Halle Berry, Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway.{relatedarticles}

Short hair can be sexy and can reflect confidence. The softer shape of short-cropped hair can also make wrinkles and other obvious creases in your face less noticeable, whereas straight, severe lines of long hair can emphasize them. Don’t forget the best part of all - easy maintenance!

The Chin-Length Bob

A bob with ample layers and a gently tousled look can defy age. Layers soften the face and have an alluring appeal. Katie Holmes and Jenny McCarthy are perfect examples of how a chin-length, layered bob can accentuate the face and draw attention to the right places.

Ryan Cotton, a stylist at John Frieda Salon, told Health.com, “Hair that’s an awkward length without a discernible style is very unflattering.” Face-framing is the key, so choose a style that flatters and frames your face.

The Mid-Length Layered

Do you like the style of a bob but would still prefer some length to work with? Take a risk and try it out. In fact, Jet Rhys, stylist and owner of Jet Rhys Hair Salon in San Diego, told Woman’s Day, a multi-layered bob that goes no longer than the collarbone, is “the perfect length for almost any face shape or hair texture.”

Opting for a standard mid-length cut isn’t discouraged but hair that is all the same length pulls down the face. This is especially true in women over 40, according to Jennifer Lawrence of the Louis Licari Salon in New York, who also spoke to Woman’s Day. But a layered, mid-length cut frames the face with soft, pretty layers—layers that will go a long way in adding volume and overall shape to an otherwise plain, long style.{relatedarticles}

Many celebrities, like Emma Stone, Jessica Alba, and Kate Hudson to name a few, rock this style for a sexy, romantic look. It’s also a very versatile hairdo for those who love experimenting with updos and other styling techniques for every special occasion.

The Bang

Ah, forehead fringe. Cute, yes, but who knew it was age-defying?

Rhys was quoted in the Woman’s Day piece as calling bangs “better than Botox,” and he’s not alone in his sentiment. The New York Times quoted L’Oréal Paris consultant Johnny Lavoy as calling bangs “a great alternative to Botox,” and many others have made similar comparisons.

Shell out hundreds of dollars to let somebody stick needles in your face, or head to the salon for a hair appointment half that price? You be the judge.

But how should you wear bangs? Look to your face shape for clues. If your face is round, try bangs that are swept to the side to add length. Although straight, wide bangs may seem to make most sense for women with an oval face, many experts agree that the oval face shape works well with just about any style.  Longer, parted bangs can work well for a heart-shaped or square face.{relatedarticles}

Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon defy age with their banged coifs, and they work well for younger stars like Reese Witherspoon and Ashlee Simpson, too.

Other Hairstyle Facts That May Surprise You

Age should not determine hair length. It’s true, Mark Townsend, a Matrix celebrity stylist, told Health.com. Don’t assume once you hit a certain age you have to chop off your hair. In fact, doing just that—getting an ear-length multi-layered cut—can pack on the years. Michelle Pfeiffer, Andie MacDowell, and Cher are celebrities over the age of 50 who still pull off their longer locks.

Long bobs can make you look thinner. So says New York City salon owner and hairstylist Eva Scrivo according to DailyMakeover.com. “The length and shape of your hair have to work in proportion to your entire body,” she explains. Those with larger frames could benefit from growing out their hair to the collarbone or beyond, which can thin and lengthen the face. 

Hair color promotes youth beyond coloring grays. Just about any color will cover grays, but the right color is one that also adds warmth and youth to your skin tone. "Ashy tones are your biggest enemy when you get older," celebrity stylist George Papanikolas told SheKnows.com. "Women tend to add pale highlights and go blonder to camouflage gray, but they end up looking washed out and older." Select a warm color a few shades lighter than your natural shade to bump up the richness of your color and give your whole appearance a healthy boost.{relatedarticles}

So if you’re looking for a fresh look that will take off the years, consider these four dazzling dos, but don’t let that limit your choices. At the end of the day, wear a hairstyle that’s flattering and comfortable for YOU.