Straight to Wavy

Shampoo with a product for normal hair. Apply a small amount of balancing conditioner to the ends, so as not to weigh hair down. Use Ouidad Clear & Gentle Shampoo, $10, and Balancing Rinse, $12. Or try: Freeman Binge Comfort Food Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner, $5.99 each

Blow-dry hair until it’s half dry, and distribute a styling lotion evenly throughout to give it a boost. Use Ouidad Tress FX styling lotion, $10. Or try: Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Defining Lotion, $7.99

Spray on a leave-in conditioner for protection before setting hair on smooth Velcro hot rollers. Use small rollers at the nape of the neck and large ones throughout the crown. Use Ouidad Botanical Boost, $12. Or try: Thermasilk Detangler/Leave-In Conditioner, $3.99

Leave rollers in hair 15 minutes before removing. Gently run fingers through hair. Position the wave pattern of the hair with a vent brush. Be sure not to brush the waves, but to place them.

Make your ’do glisten with a dime-size amount of shine serum, then set waves with a light hairspray. Use Ouidad Shine Hair Serum, $25, and Styling Mist, $10. Or try: Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Weightless Anti-Frizz Serum, $5.99, and Pantene Pro-V Curl Lock Hairspray, $3.99

Frizzy to Curly

Wash with a hydrating shampoo and condition to nourish thirsty curls. Rinse and spray leave-in conditioner on damp hair to seal in moisture. Use Ouidad Curl Quencher Shampoo, $10, and Conditioner, $12, and Ouidad Botanical Boost, $12. Or try: Dove Intense Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner, $3.69 each, and Thermasilk Detangler/Leave-In Conditioner, $3.99

Distribute a moisture gel in sections, starting at the nape of the neck and working your way up. The more hair in each section, the bigger the curl. Use Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Gel, $18. Or try: Aussie Tizz No Frizz Flexible Hold Gel, $3.49

Lift each curl at the root and place a styling clip at the base of each section. Blow-dry hair on medium heat until completely dry and remove clips. Rub a dollop of pomade between your hands. Gather curls as if you were creating a ponytail from top of crown and smooth pomade over hair down through the ponytail. This technique keeps curls intact. The pomade opens and softens your curls to avoid the crunchy look, says Ouidad. Use Ouidad Clear Control pomade, $25. Or try: Citré Shine Highly Polished Glossing Pomade, $4.59

Ringlets to Wavy Curls

Start with a volumizing shampoo. Apply conditioner to hair about 3 inches from scalp to ends to avoid drooping curls. When you rinse, leave about 20 percent of the conditioner in your hair to help close the cuticle. Use Ouidad PlayCurl Volumizing Shampoo, $10, and Conditioner, $12. Or try: Physique Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner, $7 each

Separate hair into sections and apply a volumizing mousse to each. For this wavy/curly effect, create big sections on the crown and smaller sections at the nape of neck. This will produce tighter supporting curls to give the style bounce, says Ouidad. Saturate each section with mousse. Use Ouidad PlayCurl Volumizing Mousse, $18. Or try: Tresemmé Mega Hold Volumizing Mousse, $3.49

Place styling clips at the root of each section throughout the top of the head, from forehead to crown. Blow-dry on low heat with a diffuser. Rub a dollop of pomade between your hands and gather your hair as though you were pulling it back into a ponytail. Smooth pomade over your hair, down your scalp, through to the ponytail to control flyaways and keep curls in place. Use Ouidad Clear Control pomade, $25. Or try: Citré Shine Highly Polished Glossing Pomade, $4.59

Curl’s Best Friends

Many of Ouidad’s secrets lie in the tools and products she uses. A few favorites:

Diffuser: Distributes the air pressure of the blow dryer so curls don’t fan out and lose their spring. Try Conair Euro Style Diffuser, $8.99

Styling clip: Gives hair a lift from the root. The key is to place the clip so the edge, not the flat side, hits the scalp. Try Goody Styling Clips, $2.50 for 6

Velcro smooth rollers: Controls the size of your curl and the amount of bounce. Try Conair Ion Shine Instant Heat Hair Setter, $29.99

Deep moisturizing treatment: Softens the hair’s proteins and replenishes curls�?moisture to give them more weight, preventing frizz and flyaways. Try Neutrogena Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask, $6.99

Vent brush: Positions your curls without brushing them out. Be sure not to run the brush through the entire length of your hair. Simply pick up each curl and place it in the desired pattern. Try Goody Ouchless Vent Brush, $9.99