The 33 Best-Kept Hair Secrets

Mist your roots at the crown of your head with a volumizing spray when your hair is dry. Then blow-dry the section of the hair in the opposite direction that it normally falls while using your fingers or a brush to lift the roots up and over. Once dry, flip the hair over and gently smooth it out with a brush. You can do this on small sections around your entire head for even more major results.

Begin with a shine-enhancing shampoo and conditioner like Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine to make hair look extra-glossy. Blow-dry hair in sections with a large, round brush. For side-swept bangs, first take the front section and blow-dry it back with a large, round brush and "swoop" it to the side. Apply a drop of smoothing cream on the ends and finish by misting hairspray all over for hold.

Start with towel-dried hair and apply any kind of volumizing product to your roots. Put a quarter-sized amount of styling cream on your ends, working in small sections for even coverage. Take a small section of your hair and twirl downward, repeating all over your head. Blow-dry by pointing the dryer down toward your head a few inches away from hair, twirling sections around your finger. When you are finished twisting each section, scrunch your hair while blow-drying to amp up the volume and texture. For a more defined look, wrap sections of hair around a medium-sized curling iron.

Be sure to step up your wave game with these tips next.

Most hairstylists recommend sleeping on a satin pillowcase to help keep your hair from getting matted, tangled, and frizzy. Cotton cases tend to have coarser texture, which can rough up your hair, especially if you're tossing and turning all night.

Can't get a good night's sleep? These habits might be the cause.

It's your ticket to healthier, stronger hair. Switch to a shampoo and conditioner, like John Frieda's Root Awakening line, which contains eucalyptus, menthol, and peppermint oil to stimulate your scalp. It also helps if you massage the suds into your head with your fingertips to stimulate blood flow to your roots.

Unlike the old-school formulas that practically glued your strands together, modern sprays add hold without stiffness in addition to doing a bunch of other great things that include increasing shine, fighting frizz, protecting against heat damage, and shielding color-treated hair from UV rays.

Shopping for a new hue? Start here.

Mist sections of hair with a flexible-hold hairspray before wrapping them around a curling iron or running them through a flatiron to lock in shape.

Wrap a section of hair around a medium-sized, round brush, then dry the roots in the opposite direction from the way they naturally fall. Once the roots are dry, direct the hair dryer down the hair shaft to smooth out the rest of the section. When you're finished, run your fingers through your hair to bring all the sections together. The end result? A bombshell blowout.

Apply a lightweight leave-in conditioner on damp hair before drying. For medium to thick hair, apply a bit of styling cream to keep strands smooth. Use a flat brush to go underneath your hair and keep the dryer aimed downward. When the section of hair is almost dry, switch to a round brush so that you have some bend at the ends. If it's humid outside, mist your hair with a protective styling spray and run a flatiron from your ears down.

Leave the bottom ends out for a more messy, beachy feel. Skip the styling products and separate waves with your fingers.

Just because it isn't warm out doesn't mean you can't wear beach waves. Get the look for the colder months with these secret tweaks.

Curl sections and twist them up, securing with clips. Let them set while you do your makeup for a long-lasting hold.

Try on a new hairstyle for free.

Spray a leave-in conditioner while hair's still wet. Separate your hair into four to six sections, put a nickel-sized amount of gel in your hand, and starting with the bottom section, rake the gel through your strands. To do this, place your hand underneath the hair near the roots and pull hair out and away from the head as you go, squeezing your locks between fingers to rid of excess water. (Hint: The bigger the sections of hair between each finger, the bigger the curls will be). When you get to the tips, let the hair fall back against your head. Repeat with each section.

Once your hair's fully dry, put a dab of pomade in your palm, rub your hands together, and pull your hair back using the same motion you'd use if you were going to put it in a ponytail. This smooths the outer layer and creates hold. Flip your head over, and use your fingers to shake out your hair at the roots. This will create the perfect amount of volume. Don't actually run your fingers through your locks, though (that would create major frizz)! Flip your head back over for perfect ringlets. Now, you're ready for date night.

All it takes is some leave-in conditioner! Spray hair with a thin mist and smooth it down with your hands, using the pulling-it-into-a-ponytail motion.

Hold a 1-inch curling iron horizontal (so it's parallel to the floor) and wrap 2- to 3-inch sections of hair around it. Secure each curl against your head with a metal "duck bill" clip to set it in place. Once you're finished and your hair is cool, mist your whole head with a strong-hold hairspray, remove the clips, and lightly brush out the waves. Finish off with another spritz of hairspray.

Make a low, loose ponytail. Tuck the tail under and secure with hairpins. Let your face-framing pieces hang loose and curl with a smaller-sized curling iron. Voilà! Short hair, no cutting required.

Twist hair into a loose bun and secure with chopsticks (or something similar) for extra hold without kinking your blowout. This tip also works on those super-humid days.

The Remington Emi Airwave Anti-Static Style System will do the trick. Take 1-inch sections and feed them into the tube at the end of the dryer (seriously!). The air whips your hair around as it dries it, creating beachy waves. You'll be blown away, pun intended.

Wait until your hair is 75 percent dry before applying any products. Point the dryer downward and pull each section taut. For long hair, use a ball-sized amount of mousse and apply section by section. Work in sections that are about the width of your brush. Never apply product to your whole head — work section by section only. While your hair is still warm, wrap it around two fingers to set the curl. This locks the shape in so it lasts longer.

Use these products to prevent frizz while blow-drying.

Stylist Kevin Ryan shares this hair secret: Hold a 2-inch-wide section of hair at the crown of your head straight up and use a flat, densely bristled brush to push down the roots a few times. Let the section fall back into place, then turn the brush sideways and use the bristles on the edge to gently smooth down the bump. Now your hair is ready for a flirty ponytail, a hot half-up style, or a sexy updo.

Apply a lightweight styling cream to damp hair. Next, wrap sections of hair around medium and large rollers. This will give you more natural results. Once your hair is dry, remove the rollers and gently run a brush through the waves. Use a large curling iron, 1 1/2 to 2 inches, on random pieces for added definition. Mist on hairspray for hold.

Apply a combo of styling cream and texturizing spray to wet hair. Blow-dry while tousling your hair with your fingers to add body. French braid just the front section of your hair (start at one ear and work your way to the other) and gather the rest into a low, loose bun.

Stuck on products to use? Try one of these.

Get your strands poker-straight by using a large, round brush or a paddle brush while you blow-dry. Then, tease the hair at the crown of your head and pull everything back into a tight, ear-level ponytail. Tame flyaways with a dab of smoothing cream and mist your whole head with hairspray.

Split your fringe down the middle, loosely twist each half back, and pin behind your ears.

Get more expert bang advice here.

Gather them up and twist them back into a tight coil on one side. Mist with a lightweight hairspray to prevent those pesky little flyaways from popping up.

When you're about to leave the house, flip your head over and shake out your hair to boost volume and create that tousled effect. Hit it with hairspray once more and you're good to go!

If you want to pump up your look even more, try these three steps to instantly boost your hair.

Use a beach spray, which gives hair that sexy, matte texture. If you have straight hair, mist it with the spray, then scrunch it in. If your hair is curly you'll have to blow-dry it smooth before you do the spray-and-scrunch.

Fight greasy roots with a dry shampoo. Then pull hair up in a sleek bun to hide all the evidence.

If you don't feel like messing up your blowout, wear a shower cap, but leave your bangs and other face-framing pieces out since they get greasier than the rest of your hair. Rinse and shampoo them, then blow-dry with a round brush. While you're in there, check out other ways you can pamper yourself in your own bathroom.

...for curly or color-treated hair. This way it won't strip your color or curls, leaving them dehydrated and dull. If you've recently gotten a keratin treatment, you should abide by this rule too.

Don't wash your conditioner completely out. If you leave a small hint behind, the product will weigh hair down and guard it from humidity and frizz.

Cup the bottom of your curl in your palm, push it all the way up to your head, then squeeze when your fingers touch your scalp.

Get some more curly-hair cues.

Rub a little paste or pomade between your palms, then move your hands over your hair as if you're pulling it back into a ponytail.