Stress-Free Summer Hair

Straight Hair

"Straight hair reacts to extra humidity by going flat and limp," notes Mark Townsend, the Matrix hairstylist who made Reese Witherspoon's bangs look oh-so-glam at this year's Golden Globes. The secret to creating volume, specifically lift and body at the root, is using the right amount of product in the right place and in the right order. For instance, offset that flat-as-a-pancake look by applying conditioner to the ends of the hair while you're still in the shower (avoiding the roots completely) and then topping the whole head with shampoo. End with a complete rinse, suggests Mark Garrison, a New York City salon owner. "It's the best way to wash fine hair without overconditioning it," he says. Or try a shampoo and conditioner in one, such as Garnier Fructis Body & Volume 2-in-1 System, $3.99.

As for styling, the goal is to add as little extra weight to your hair as possible, says Shorter. Avoid pomades or creams; instead, try mousse, which builds body throughout the hair. Apply it directly onto a vent brush and brush it evenly through the hair. Try TRESemme Thermal Creations Volumizing Mousse, $3.99, which locks in volume when used with a blow-dryer. For height just at the roots, use a root-lifting spray, such as Nexxus Root Exxtend, $13; its nozzle targets the product directly where it's needed. Follow with a blow-dryer or set large Velcro rollers around the crown for 10 minutes. Make your hair more voluminous than you'd normally wear it since it will deflate a bit as the day goes on.

Style Shortcut Bonus: Too hot to break out the blow-dryer? Give stick-straight hair a boost by loosely winding a section of damp hair at the top of the crown and securing it with a clip. The roots will retain some of the volume after they've dried.