To Make Straight Hair Curly

Your best cut: If you plan to wear your naturally straight hair curly more often than not, choose a midlength or longer layered cut, says Renee Cohen, a stylist for Serge Normant at the John Frieda salon in New York City. Layers add texture, creating the illusion of “bend” (stylist-speak for waves), since they stack up on one another.

How to style it: Use moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. “Hydrated hair holds its style, while hair that’s dry falls flat,” says F. Wayne, a stylist in New York City. Towel-dry hair and prep with mousse. Then blow-dry with a medium-size round brush. Working in two-inch sections, lift hair from one side of your head to the other as you dry, focusing the air on the roots. This technique, called overdirecting, builds volume. Finish by winding portions of hair around a medium-barrel curling iron, then setting the curls with lightweight hair spray. (Skip the spray if your hair is fine—the mist will just weigh it down.)