A simple cut with a few layers is almost fool-proof. It requires very little styling -- just a quick blow dry and maybe a curling or flat iron if you want to look extra polished.

But the real lesson here is to get a haircut that works with your hair texture and lifestyle. It's crucial to talk with your stylist about your styling abilities before he starts to cut so you can help him determine what type of style will be ideal for your hair. A good stylist should give you a realistic idea of the amount of effort a particular cut will require. That way, you'll have a fighting chance at looking (almost) as good as you do when you walk out of the salon when you style your own hair.

There's a saying that goes something like this: "If you're old enough to have worn the trend the first time around, you shouldn't wear it the second." Side braids and high ponytails sometimes work (exhibit A: Christina Applegate's perky pony), but other times can make you look like you're reliving your glory days. After all, we wore almost the exact styles back when we were also wearing unitards and big, teased bangs in the '80s, so now it's time to leave them to the tween set. If you go for these looks despite our advice, you're going to look like you're trying too hard, says Naeemah Carre, stylist at Blow, the New York Blow Dry Bar.

Remember that it's OK to be in your 40s, and you're not fooling anyone trying to relive your cheerleading days with your hairstyle. You're way better off trying a style that's more "grown up."

This loose low updo certainly doesn't make Reese Witherspoon look old, but it also doesn't make her look like someone trying to remember the good ol' days. A soft bun or chignon is a much better option for a special occasion 'do than the braid and ponytail in the previous pictures, Carre says.

Salma Hayek is stunning, but this stiff, old-fashioned updo adds years to her look. Carre says, "You want to avoid anything too structured and done, which can make you look older."

As the soft, swept-up looks prove, it's possible to have an updo that's sophisticated without making you look older. There's also another option that can make you look younger (without the trying-too-hard vibe).

"Sarah Jessica Parker is the queen of sexy hair over 40 with her beachy, tousled waves," says Carre. She and Jennifer Aniston both "prove that if you're over 40, you don't have to chop all of your hair off or wear your hair in a tight librarian bun to be appropriately coiffed," she says. (And we'd like to add Sofia Vergara to her list.)

Beachy waves like these look great no matter what your age, and you can try a more polished finish, or a more natural one, depending on the occasion.