I’ll never forget the day my ten-year-old daughter came to me and asked, “Is there a certain age when a woman has to get her hair all cut off and make it curly?” Well, I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to fall into the mom-hair trap. There are plenty of ways to avoid it. And if you are already there, then here’s how to dig yourself out.

Keep it current. Don’t let your hairstyle get dated. If you’ve had the same hairstyle for the last six years, then chances are you need some emergency intervention. Next time you are at the grocery store, 613 wig pick up a copy of a hairstyle magazine and circle any styles that you like. Take that magazine to the best salon you can afford and talk to one of the stylists to see what will and will not work with your hair and face. Many moms have only one request – they want something easy. Easy doesn’t always translate to attractive. It’s worth spending a few minutes on your hair in the morning to make you look good and feel good.

Accessorize. Consider your hair a fashion accessory. Have fun with it. Take some time to check out all of the cool hair accessories that are in department stores now. No matter what your length, style, or texture, there are some awesome doodads to wear in your hair. Perhaps you can style it up in a sleek ponytail with some jeweled pins to hold hair in place. Or maybe just slap on a braided leather headband. Whatever you do, it’s your hair, so enjoy it.

Care for it. If you neglect your hair, then your hair will look, well, neglected. Your hair gets exposed to pollution, sunlight, chlorine, and other things that can strip it of shine and luster. Take a few minutes at least once a month (once a week is even better) to put a deep-conditioning mask on your hair. And if you have highlights or color in your hair, the consider using a color-specific shampoo to brighten up the hue a bit. And don’t forget to make regular trips to your salon to keep those ends trimmed and your mane looking healthy.