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- Hair
- Hair Styling
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When the messy bedhead look, with its cool, undone texture, skyrocketed to the top of every must-try beauty trends list, we were all excited. Among the most excited? Those who wake up with tousled, wavy hair daily.This, however, left those with fine, stick-straight strands, who were decidedly absent from that wash-and-go group, scrambling for a viable antidote.
While it may take a little more effort, it appears that all is not lost for those looking to create a fuss-free look for themselves. With some coaxing, it turns out that those with straight hair can also achieve the roughed-up texture in just a few simple steps. To show us exactly how it’s done, we’ve enlisted the help of celeb hairstylist Jen Atkin and professional hairstylist Ashley Branda.
Scroll through to see our step-by-step tutorial on how to add serious texture to even the straightest strands.
Meet the Experts
- Jen Atkin is a celebrity hairstylist who has worked with Kim Kardashian, Sofia Vergara, Bella Hadid, Kylie Jenner, and Mindy Kaling.
- Ashley Branda is a professional hairstylist and owner of Two 01 in Hoboken, New Jersey.
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Prep the Hair
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To perfect this look, you’ll need damp hair. Freshly washed hair is fine, but lightly dampened second-day hair is even better because it has a slightly more natural texture.
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Part and Comb Your Hair
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Next, you'll want to set up the base of the style by parting your hair down the middle. Using the tail of a comb will help you get the most precise, straight part. A fine-tooth comb also works well in this situation.
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Apply a Texturizing Spray
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After your hair is parted to your liking, you’ll want to spritz texturizing sea salt spray all over, from roots to ends.
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Dry and Scrunch Hair
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Then, use a blow-dryer to rough-dry your hair, scrunching the ends as you go.
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Brush Through Hair With a Smoothing Brush
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When your hair is almost completely dry, finish blow-drying with a boar-bristle hairbrush to distribute the product evenly.
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Create Bends
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In small one to two-inch sections, you’re going to start adding horizontal bends down the length of your hair with a flat iron. Take one piece of hair and roll it under (towards your scalp) with the flat iron. Release the iron. Then, pick up where you left off, this time bending the iron in the opposite direction—up, away from your head. Continue this process, alternating directions down to your ends. Finish the ends by smoothing them straight down.
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Curl Front Sections Away From Your Face
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When you finish, wrap a few face-framing pieces of hair in the front around a one-inch curling iron or wand. Hold the iron vertically to get the downward spiral. Leave the ends out, and don’t clamp down on the curling iron to get the most natural curl.
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Finger Comb Your Waves Out
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Finally, you’ll want to gently finger through your hair, pulling apart any sections that are stuck together or look too finished. Atkin says you can scrunch in dry texture spray for more texture or add a small amount of pomade to the ends for even more piece-y separation.
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Final Look
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And that's it—wavy, textured hair achieved.
FAQ
Can you get textured hair with straight hair?
Hairstylist Ashley Branda says yes, you can get textured hair with straight hair. She explains, "Everyone can achieve adding texture to the hair by either chemically changing the bonds (what we call perms), using hot tools, or using heatless methods like wrapping, braiding, and setting."
Can you use textured hair products on straight hair?
Branda says using textured hair products on straight hair might not be your best option. "Textured hair products have a lot of moisture and conditioning properties that for straight hair may weigh the hair down," she explains, adding that it's better to have your hair addressed by a pro to get personalized product recommendations.
What is the rarest hair type?
Branda says, "I believe the rarest texture is type 1, which is super straight, fine, and wispy. Most hair is air-dried to have somewhat of a texture or movement, making super sleek straight hair rare.