When it comes to having straight or curly hair, a lot of women seem to want what they can't have; straight-haired ladies love the curling iron and curly gals reach for the flat iron. Well, this year is all about working what you've got, which means straight-haired women of the world, unite -- it's time to start celebrating your sleek strands.
Celebrities like Amy Adams, Reese Witherspoon and Blake Lively reveal how simple it is to show off straight, beautiful locks, and how to avoid common ways in which hair can look damaged, boring and lackluster. With some simple tips on coloring, cutting and care, you can safely put down the hot rollers and feel confident in these fun, flirty styles -- whether you wear them to the office or out on the town.
We chatted with celebrity hair stylist Eli Thomas, owner of Thomas Chance Hairdressing in Santa Monica, Calif., to let us in on all the top tricks for maintaining strong, gorgeous and fashion-forward hair with an attitude that when it comes to hair, "straight is great." Check out these gorgeous celebrity looks for easy ways to go au naturel with your 'do and embrace your smooth side.
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Lucy Liu
Straight hair can often look dry and damaged despite being less prone to breakage than curly locks. There are two reasons for this: There are no curls or kinks to hide split ends, and while curly hair diffuses light, straight hair reflects it, making breakage stand out -- big time. To keep hair looking healthy like Liu's, Thomas suggests seeing your stylist often for a "dusting," which means a very minimal trim of your ends. It will help you maintain the healthiest-looking hair without sacrificing length. No time for a trim? Curl your ends under like Liu did here to mask shaggy strands.
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Reese Witherspoon
Witherspoon's hair always looks so healthy thanks to its high shine factor and low frizz or static ratio. To up shine, Thomas recommends using a nighttime strengthening serum like Kerastase Noctocalm Night Serum, $30. To add volume and interest to straight hair, sweep it into a loose half-up 'do (spritz your crown with volumizing spray like Herbal Essences Body Envy Volumizing Hairspray, $4.29, for lift and hold) like Witherspoon's.
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Blake Lively
In a rush but need to put your best straight-haired face forward? No sweat. Lively's easy braided hairstyle requires minimal effort for long hair and works great on hair in need of washing. To create the braid, slick hair into a high pony. Wrap a section of the pony around your elastic to hide it (secure the section under the ponytail with a bobby pin) then braid the tail and secure with a tiny, clear elastic.
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Amy Adams
Long, straight hair worn down can often look a little blah. But Adams shows how a deep side part and a sleek, behind-the-ear tuck can look so chic and dressed-up. To recreate this look, Thomas recommends a good blow-out to smooth the hair and keep it close to the scalp. To do this, brush and blow-dry each side of your hair in the direction of your part to really smooth it out. Once your part is in place, tuck one side behind your ear and secure with a bobby pin that matches your hair color. Finish with a light-hold spray like Origins Ain't Misbehavin' Lightweight Hair Spray, $15.
When it comes to having straight or curly hair, a lot of women seem to want what they can't have; straight-haired ladies love the curling iron and curly gals reach for the flat iron. Well, this year is all about working what you've got, which means straight-haired women of the world, unite -- it's time to start celebrating your sleek strands.
Celebrities like Amy Adams, Reese Witherspoon and Blake Lively reveal how simple it is to show off straight, beautiful locks, and how to avoid common ways in which hair can look damaged, boring and lackluster. With some simple tips on coloring, cutting and care, you can safely put down the hot rollers and feel confident in these fun, flirty styles -- whether you wear them to the office or out on the town.
We chatted with celebrity hair stylist Eli Thomas, owner of Thomas Chance Hairdressing in Santa Monica, Calif., to let us in on all the top tricks for maintaining strong, gorgeous and fashion-forward hair with an attitude that when it comes to hair, "straight is great." Check out these gorgeous celebrity looks for easy ways to go au naturel with your 'do and embrace your smooth side.