A few months ago I received a serious wake-up call courtesy of a new hairstylist. I was sitting in his chair having a consultation when he mentioned (as nicely as possible) that I might want to consider a new style. When I asked why, he explained (again, as nicely as possible), "Your haircut seriously ages you." Ouch.

Truth be told, I was growing out a bob, and while the color was still good, the cut had become blah and shapeless -- and from what I now gathered, aging. In that moment, I wasn't sure whether I should thank him or storm out of the salon in a huff. But, in my heart of hearts I must've realized he was right. So I swallowed what was left of my pride and asked for a solution. Fortunately, it was simple: A cut that accentuates my features instead of dragging them down. Sold.

Later, as I strolled down the street with a lighter, more youthful bob, I wondered how many other women were blissfully unaware that their haircuts were adding years to their faces. Ladies, consider this your wake-up call.

To help you perform a quick "Aack, am I aging myself unnecessarily?" assessment, I asked celebrity hairstylist Marco Pelusi which common issues and mistakes make women look older. Here's what he had to say, along with some general words of caution.

Find out what makes your hair look old -- now. START THE SLIDESHOW