Lin Ching-hsia, 54

Posing next to Angelina Jolie (above, right) at last October's New York Film Festival, the fresh-faced Lin more than holds her own - with some help from her fuss- free slicked-back bob. When you look this good standing next to someone half your age and acknowledged as one of the most gorgeous women on the planet, simple is beautiful. Says Jaron Chan, brand manager of L'Oreal Professionnel: "This hairstyle is almost neo-schoolgirl. A simple crop focuses attention on her cheekbones. The brown colour softens her features and gives her a youthful glow."

Judi Dench, 74

Chan believes that Dame Judi's signature pixie cut is a style many of her peers should aim for "if they want to look neat, chic and put together". The trick is in the layers - which give softness and texture - while the highlights on the crown create movement and variety. Timen Lim, style director of Toni & Guy Hairdressing, is also full of praise for how the short cut "suits her face shape and reflects her confident personality".

Catherine Deneuve, 65

Never underestimate the importance of a good blowdry. It is the reason this French icon's tresses look as good now as they did when she was an ingenue.

"A good blowdry gives her hair voluminous boost and healthy glow," says Chan. "The soft flicks around her cheeks also lightly frame her face while the curls at the ends give a softer, more rounded look."

Jane Fonda, 71

Celebrity hairstylist Shunji Matsuo loves the sassy, shaggy cut of the feisty Ms Fonda. "Her hair has a good balance of lift and volume and is an inspiration to mature women who want a glamorous and trendy look." The artfully placed two-tone highlights make her hair look "coiffed yet soft", says hairstylist Casey Chua.

Susan Sarandon, 62

It is all about her striking colour for Darren Ho, product manager of Kerastase. "She has vivacious red hair which portrays her dynamic personality. She wears it with confidence and plays up the vibrant colour with glossing products and highlights, accentuating her natural colour."

We also like how her casually tousled ringlets steer way clear of stiff auntie-style perms and look downright sexy.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.