Wavy Hair

HOT TIP Thick, wavy hair looks sexy, whether it’s worn short or long

KATIE HOLMES
THE LOOK Long and angled in front for movement
WHY IT WORKS “The cut, combined with Katie’s naturally wavy hair, offers me the flexibility to do anything I want with it,” says Holmes’s New York City stylist, Oscar Blandi. “Pin-straight hair is harder to work with because it doesn’t hold a style well.”
STYLING TIP To safeguard Holmes’s hair from heat damage caused by blow-dryers, curling irons and flatirons, Blandi likes to spritz it with his Jasmine Protein Mist ($18/8 oz.; sephora.com), a leave-in detangling and moisturizing spray, before styling.

MARCIA CROSS
THE LOOK Below the shoulder; layered throughout for volume
WHY IT WORKS The simple cut enhances the intensity of Cross’s red hair. “Longer layers create a greater surface area from which light can be reflected,” explains New York City stylist Nathaniel Hawkins, who has worked with Cross.
STYLING TIPS Whether he’s styling her hair straight or curly, Hawkins starts by blow-drying it using a vent brush to increase volume. He finishes with a dab of Tresemmé Hydrology pomade ($4.39/3.5 oz.; drugstore.com) to eliminate flyaways.

Color and Extensions

HOT TIP Extensions can protect delicate strands from styling abuse

BEYONCE
THE LOOK Full and sexy—the singer’s own wavy hair is enhanced with extensions to boost body and protect it from styling abuse.
WHY IT WORKS "This style complements Beyoncé’s diamond-shaped face and emphasizes her cheekbones and strong jaw,” says her frequent N.Y.C. stylist, Chuck Amos.
STYLING TIPS Amos applies a thickener like L’Oréal Professionnel Textureline Magnifier ($13/8 oz.; us.lorealprofessionnel.com for salons) to damp hair before blowing it dry to add height and volume. “Teasing African-American hair can make it frizzy,” he says.

Layers

HOT TIP Subtle layers work on all sorts of cuts—adding volume and movement while framing and flattering the face

KELLY RIPA
THE LOOK Shoulder length and angled in front, with graduated ends for movement
WHY IT WORKS Ripa’s medium-coarse hair is prone to falling flat. The angled pieces and graduated ends help boost volume.
STYLING TIPS Ripa’s stylist, Oscar Blandi, starts by blow-drying the ends of her hair with cool air. “Heat can cause colored or chemically processed hair to frizz,” he says. When the hair is mostly dry, he turns on the heat and uses a round, metal brush to style her hair straight. For curly looks Blandi relies on the Babyliss Pro Professional ceramic curling iron ($50; 800-726-4202 for stores), which has a one-inch barrel.

Layers

HOT TIP Subtle layers work on all sorts of cuts—adding volume and movement while framing and flattering the face

SCARLETT JOHANSSON
THE LOOK Shoulder-length layers and long, wispy bangs
WHY IT WORKS “The long layers give her hair body,” says New York City stylist Mark Garrison, who has worked with the actress. The shorter cut also limits damage to the ends of her colored hair.
STYLING TIPS For a wavy look Garrison applies Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancing lotion ($16.50/6.7 oz.; aveda.com) to Johansson’s damp hair before twirling small locks around his fingers to set. After the hair air-dries he adds a drop of Aveda Brilliant Emollient Finishing Gloss ($23/2.5 oz.; aveda.com) for shine and frizz control.

Shoulder-length Hair

HOT TIP A shoulder-length cut can look more polished than long hair in both straight and wavy styles

JENNIFER LOPEZ
THE LOOK A sleek cut with caramel highlights
WHY IT WORKS Lopez still has enough hair for red-carpet-worthy updos, but this elongated bob gives her a more modern look when she wears it down.
STYLING TIPS Lopez’s longtime stylist, Oribe of Miami, uses a Mason Pearson Junior brush with boar-and-nylon bristles ($92.50; 516-599-1776 for salons) to blow-dry her hair straight. To protect her delicate colored strands, he tries to keep heat styling to a minimum. “If I use an iron, it’s always on the lowest heat setting,” he says.

Shoulder-length Hair

HOT TIP A shoulder-length cut can look more polished than long hair in both straight and wavy styles

CATE BLANCHETT
THE LOOK Just above the shoulders, angled in front and layered throughout. “The layers are key because they facilitate a fuller look,” says L.A. stylist Charles Dujic, who has worked with the actress.
WHY IT WORKS Blanchett bucks the long hairstyle typical in Hollywood with a short, modern do that looks elegant whether she wears it curly or goes for something straight.
STYLING TIPS To prep hair for a wavy style, Dujic applies KMS Amp Volume styling foam ($11/8 oz.; 800-333-2442 for salons) to towel-dried hair before blow-drying. Then he uses a one-inch curling iron to create a head full of spirals that all fall in the same direction.

Straight Hair

HOT TIP Straighter hairstyles—including those with loose waves—are best at reflecting light and boosting shine

JESSICA ALBA
THE LOOK Known mostly for her long, full locks, Alba now goes for a neat, chin-length, softly layered bob.
WHY IT WORKS The cut balances out Alba’s heart-shaped face, and the shorter length makes it easy for her to manage.
STYLING TIPS Alba’s stylist, David Babaii of L.A. and N.Y.C., begins with Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray ($18/4 oz.; 888-728-6253). “It results in volume and great texture,” he says. He blows her hair dry using a Denman D3 Classic Styling brush ($9; at Sally Beauty, 800-275-7255 for locations) to get extra lift at the roots.