Straight hair might seem like the easiest hair type to maintain: Just wash, dry, and head out the door looking like you stepped out of a shampoo commercial, right? But as anyone with naturally straight hair knows all too well, it’s never that simple. This type of hair is prone to flattening, falling victim to less-than-sexy bedhead, and the pesky combination of greasy roots and dry split ends.
Good news: by following a few golden rules, you can easily achieve salon-quality volume and bounce, no matter how straight your hair is. We asked industry experts, hair stylists Ashley Streacher and Marie Nino, for the lowdown on how to style straight hair like a pro.
Experts featured in this article
Ashley Streacher is a celebrity hairstylist, co-founder of Los Angeles-based beauty studio Striiike, and a member of the R+Co collective.
Marie Nino is a hairstylist and colorist at New York City-based hair salon Alisa.
How to care for straight hair
Before you even think about styling, it’s important to establish a haircare routine that works best for your hair type. Any curl pattern will add structure and volume to your hair. Straight hair (obviously) tends to have less volume to begin with, since it doesn’t have any curls, Streacher tells PS. She adds that straight hair is also more prone to getting oily than other hair types (too much oil can weigh hair down even more, making already flat hair look even flatter). But by being intentional about the products you use and the cut you choose, you can really achieve volume and bounce.
Tip 1: Avoid over-conditioning
Proper care starts in the shower. Streacher and Nino agree that slathering on a heavy conditioner before you hit the blow dryer can weigh down your ends from the get-go and spell disaster. Use conditioner sparingly: a nickel-sized amount for short hair, a quarter-sized amount for shoulder-length or longer, and only on the mid-lengths and ends. Nino adds that for straight hair, stick to a lighter shampoo and conditioner, recommending Kevin Murphy Angel Wash ($36). Hydrating, smoothing, and moisturizing formulas tend to be thick and heavy, but look for ones that are for fine hair or are labeled as volumizing. If your hair is straight and especially fine, you can skip the conditioner altogether and reach for a leave-in formula after the shower. Leave-in formulas tend to be lighter than rinse-on ones (which should still only be applied to the mid-lengths and ends), and they can help condition and add volume to your hair. Worth trying: Crown Affair The Leave-In Conditioner ($48).
Tip 2: Minimize the use of styling products
Straight hair requires a styling wardrobe that prioritizes quality over quantity. “It’s important to be mindful of the amount and type of products you use to maintain volume and a light, airy finish,” says Nino. If you use hot tools, condition your hair with a heat protectant, but choose a spray format rather than a heavy cream or lotion. Finish with a texture spray. Combining the two can add some volumizing grit while keeping your hair healthy. “My favorite dry texture spray is IGK Beach Club Texture Spray; I can’t live without it,” says Nino, adding that it gives hair a manageable hold without making it sticky or straw-like. As a general rule of thumb, she also suggests avoiding products like pomades, slick sticks, oils, and glosses, all of which tend to contain heavy ingredients that can ruin your style.
Tip 3: Consider your cuts carefully
When choosing the best cut for straight hair, it’s important to balance the final look you want with the styling you’ll need to maintain it. A lived-in cut, like long, soft layers, adds texture and movement, transforming normally flat hair into a more dynamic, voluminous look, says Nino. “It’s also easy to maintain and allows straight hair to hang naturally while still looking polished,” he adds. Prefer an edgy style? Streicher recommends a sleek chop. “The perfect bob is chic and timeless.” Opt for a chin- or shoulder-length blunt cut, a length that’s versatile for styling but not so long that your hair becomes stringy. Or, Streicher says, a firefly cut with tapered sides to accentuate volume at the top of the head is another good option for those with straight hair.
How to style straight hair
So, are you ready to style? Depending on your hair length, here are some things to keep in mind:
Short Hair
With the right cut, styling short hair is easy. “The key is usually to maintain some volume,” says Streacher, who recommends using a texture spray like R+CO Zig Zag Root Tease + Texture Spray ($36). If you want more defined movement, you can also use a 1- or 1.25-inch curling iron to create gentle waves. “This size helps achieve soft, loose waves, while the texture spray adds volume and grip, giving hair a natural, tousled finish,” adds Nino. We love the GHD Classic Curl – 1-inch Curling Iron. Going for loose waves rather than tight curls helps create natural movement without straying too far from a straight texture.
Medium Hair
For those with medium-length hair, Streacher loves a classic collarbone-length lob paired with a sleek, bouncy blowout. Compared to other textures, straight hair requires less pre-styling to achieve the timeless, voluminous bounce synonymous with ’90s supermodels. To achieve this look, condition damp roots with ColorWow’s Raise the Root Thicken + Lift Spray ($24) and blow-dry with a medium-to-large round brush. We recommend the Sisley Paris The Blow-Dry Brush N.2, which has flexible bristles that easily grip and shape hair while blow-drying. But you don’t have to limit yourself to blow-drying. “Try a half-up or half-down style or add bangs to elevate the look even further, making a lived-in lob especially chic and modern,” says Nino.
Long Hair
Similarly, long, straight hair can also benefit from the blowout effect, which adds volume at the roots and bouncy movement with loose curls all over. Nino suggests using grippy rollers, like Drybar High Tops Self-Grip Rollers ($12), to lift the roots and set hair in place, creating a surprisingly satisfying bounce. If you’re pressed for time, a heated round brush (a TikTok favorite) can create this effect in minutes on dry hair. We’re big fans of the Amika Blowout Babe Thermal Round Brush ($100) for quick bounce and flips, which Streacher recommends as another great styling option for long, straight hair. “I like styles that are easy to flip. Create a deep side part and flip most of the hair to either side for texture and cool volume,” Streacher says. You can also gently tease your roots to secure the deep side part and add more volume.
