Your ideal hair style

Good-hair days don't have to be few and far between. Working with your hair's natural texture and type is a surefire way to eliminate bad-hair days for good. We talked to a slew of stylists about six different hair types so that you can learn how to reveal your hair's gorgeousness. Are you ready to fall in love with your locks? Let’s do this.

How to use this guide: Head to the section about your hair type: straight, wavy or curly. Next, think about your hair’s texture--is it thick or thin? Then you’re all set to read on learn about how to work with your hair in terms of ideal cuts, styling products and tips.

STRAIGHT
Thick
Ideal cut: More length is better with this hair type. The weight of the extra length helps pull down your hair a bit, but you’ll definitely want some slight layering for movement. If you have it too blunt, “it’ll ramp out like one thick cardboard sheet,” says Brennen Demelo, Rowenta Beauty stylist.

Hair care: Shampoo the roots—focus on the roots as you want to encourage your scalp’s natural oils--and use a conditioner for thick hair on the ends.

Styling products: L’Oreal Professionel Texture Expert Absolut Repair is great for thick hair, according to Brennan, and you’re safe with choosing any product line developed for specifically for thick hair. These products will contain proteins to help smooth out the hair shaft.

Tools: “What you’re battling here is coarse, wiry hair that doesn’t work how you want it to.” Says Brennen. So your hair’s best friend? A heat tool that is hot enough to manipulate the hair and smooth out the cuticle. Brennen’s pick: Rowenta Beauty Professional Titanium Ceramic Iron. Make sure to “finish your look,” though, says Brennen. “Turn your wrist a half circle at the ends for a softer look,” he says. Or if curling your hair, run a wide-tooth comb through it. “When it’s too polished, it doesn’t look natural!”

Thin
Ideal cut: Keep it medium length or shorter. “It it gets too long, it’ll start to look a little stringy,” says Brennen. Don’t overtexturize it as you want the hair to look as full as possible. So the ends should be kept blunt or solid. Avoid a solid fringe if your hair is very fine—“or you’ll get a pieceyness to it because you don’t have the hair to fill in the fringe.” But do have your stylist do some more shaping with the pieces around your face to add fullness.

Hair care: Shampoo the root area and use a conditioner geared towards fine hair. “Many conditioners are too heavy for fine hair and they’ll make the hair look stringy and piecey.” Stick to light conditioners and use a small amount to saturate only the ends of your hair.

Styling products: Your fine hair needs support at the beginning of your blow dry to add strength to it. Brennan recommends the tackiness and tension that a volumizing mist or a mousse provides. “They coat the hair and swell it up to make it feel thicker,” he says. Product recommendations: Brennen swears by L'Oreal Professionnel Texture Expert for Fine/Limp Textures.

Tools: A blow dryer that emits a good amount of heat is a must, as is a smaller round brush (think two inches or under) is good for helping to create some shape.

Are you making a big hair mistake? Find out here!

Wavy hair tips and tricks on the next page ...