You long for a new hairstyle, but nothing too extreme. The solution: Choose from these five guaranteed-to-flatter cuts - the bob, the shag, the pixie, long hair plus bangs or long layers. You just can not go wrong with one of them. We have five busy moms need a test drive them, with help from our beauty dream team: New York City stylist Sean James Decuers, colorist Rita Hazan, and makeup artist Mally Roncal. Choose your favorite look, then take it to your stylist - stat. Discover how to avoid common mistakes her and choose the best hair coloring products for dying your hair at home.
The Bob Audrey MacKenzie
Cut and color: This version is slightly longer at the front, which keeps it from looking too boxy. Bold play highlights the thick texture.
Is it for you? Swingy layers flatter all face shapes, from round to oval or square, says Decuers. This shorter length can also plump up fine hair by removing some weight.
Styling tips "to use a thickening spray on damp strands to give more movement," says Decuers. A good choice: Charles Worthington Dream Hair Exquisite Body Thickening Spray ($ 9, drugstores).
Key makeup move: Roncal completed over-plucked eyebrows Audrey with a blond eyebrow pencil. "Too thin eyebrows can look washed out - especially if you're blonde," she says.
The Shag Ellie Schantz
"Layers with an edge" is how Decuers this style, first made famous by Jane Fonda (in Klute) and Pat Benatar describes.
Cut and color: This 2009 version has more layers than Fonda's cut short one, plus face-framing, angled bangs. Hazan chose a chocolate brown vegetable dye to gently cover Ellie's gray and boost radiance.
Is it for you? A shag works best on straight hair or loose waves. The layers can look poodle-y with curly hair - you should blow it directly to the cut to work.
Styling tips: to shine, blow dry hair, then Flatiron (this softens the epidermis) to maximize. Finish with a smoothing serum. Try Defrizz Sebastian Liquid Gloss Polishing Drops ($ 17, sebastianprofessional.com for salons).
Key makeup move: Roncal uses a single shadow (in plum) on Ellie's lids to draw attention away from her undereye puffiness. "The use of only one color makes lids look more even," says Roncal. Try Creaseless Benefit Cream Shadow in Gossip ($ 19, Macy's).
