Small, soft crimps are the perfect alternative. For this look, Stephen crimped small sections of hair from root to tips with a small crimping iron like Bed Head Professional Tourmaline Nano-Ceramic Dual Waver ($50, target.com). When creating this style at home, Stephen suggests you stay away from using any hard holding sprays. Whether your hair is long or short, this is a style that needs to move and have body, she says. Anything too stiff will look hard, and that’s the look you definitely don’t want.
If you want to spice things up, why not add waves to your natural? Roller-set hair with medium and small rollers using a setting lotion such as Jane Carter Solution Wrap & Roll ($9, janecartersolution.com). Once dry, release curls, brush them out and comb front portion of hair up and over to either side to create waves. Stephen keeps this look funky by using a middle part.