Straight Talk for Straight Hair: Top 5 Tips for Straight Hair

A straight-haired girl's got to know how to scrunch. Scrunching gives hair some texture, so it doesn't just lie there making the rest of you look bigger by comparison.

There are lots of ways to do it. Here's one:

Start with damp, conditioned hair, and apply a small amount of scrunching mousse or gel (this is actually what the products are called). Run it through with your fingers, careful not to get too much in the root area (it'll make you look greasy).

Part hair into four sections around your head. Starting at the tips of one section, scrunch it -- grab handfuls and squeeze. Work your way up to the roots. Move to the next section.

If you want some extra body, toss your head forward and do some allover scrunching upside down, while you dry with low heat. Don't dry it all the way or else you run the risk of frizz.

You can also simply air dry. There are no rules in scrunching.

Actually there's one: Don't brush it when you're done.

Simple as scrunching is, there's an even easier way to get some texture.

One of the coolest things about straight hair? It can actually look better on day two.

To add some body overnight, shower in the PM, and put your dry or damp hair into any one of these configurations before bed:

The added bonus here is that straight hair (and often curly hair, too) often just looks better on the second day, when some of the washed-away essential oils have returned to the hair.

If you decide to brush your hair when you wake up, to soften the look, be sure to start at the end and work your way carefully upward. Otherwise, you risk breakage.

The next tip will take you into your kitchen.

A DIY vinegar rinse can be a straight-haired girl's best friend. It strips away heavy buildup (from conditioners, products, whatever) that weighs hair down, making it look lifeless and flat. Once you clean that stuff off the hair, it can bounce again.

Add about a tablespoon of vinegar to one cup of water (double the amounts if you have long hair). Get your hair wet in the shower, and pour the vinegar rinse all over. Run it through with your fingers, from roots (where it may also help eliminate dry scalp) to tips. Leave it in for several minutes, then rinse -- preferably lightly. Leaving a small amount of the vinegar in your hair can help prevent tangling.

You may smell a bit like vinegar while the hair's wet, but the smell will dissipate as it dries.

You can do this a few times a week. If you notice a drying effect, cut back.

Up next, an ingredient your straight hair doesn't want.

There's an ingredient in many commercial hair-styling products that straight hair (or any hair, for that matter) can do without: alcohol. It's often found in large amounts in some of the cheaper stuff, and it strips off the oils your hair needs to look rich and healthy. Alcohol makes hair -- especially straight, fine hair -- look dry and lifeless.

So look at ingredient lists on any gels, mousses, leave-ins or spritzes. If alcohol is one of the first three ingredients, leave it on the shelf. If it's farther down on the list, that's fine. You needn't worry about a tiny amount.

If your hair is exceptionally dry, you may want to invest in alcohol-free hair products. They're out there.

Finally, to give straight hair some full-time depth.

There is perhaps no better way to fake texture than to add color gradations. In straight hair, color can create depth, and depth can create a sense of fullness. It can make straight hair look lively.

For depth, don't go with a monotone. Go with highlights (lighter tones) and low-lights (darker tones).

But be careful, because if your hair is very straight (and you wear it very straight), highlights can end up looking streaky and cheap. So talk to your hair stylist about it. You may find it more natural looking to go only with low-lights.

No matter how you wear your straight hair, the surest way to make it look great is to care for it. That means good conditioner, gentle brushing, low heat and minimal use of the curling iron. That thing can really fry your hair.

For more information on straight hair, hair care and related topics, look over the links on the next page.