Straight, sleek and sexy hair are all timeless styles. Whether you prefer short and sassy or long and luxurious, there's a way to achieve the look that suits you best. We visited expert hairstylist Michael Barnett at his Toronto salon for makeovers – and the transformations were nothing short of fabulous. Here, he shares the techniques he used to take our locks from ho-hum to holy wow!

Natalie
Hair type
Dark, thick hair

The look
Full French bang.

Click here to see images of Natalie before and during her cut.

What did Natalie's hair look like before and what did you do to achieve this look?
Natalie's cut had grown out and her colour was faded. We opted for a dark chestnut that would match her natural colour. For her cut, Natalie wanted to keep the length but she really wanted a change. Bangs are a great way to change up your style while still keeping your hair long. We also used a semipermanent hair colour to enhance the natural tones in her hair.

What things should you consider before getting this hairstyle/colour?
Bangs must be styled every morning, so make sure you are prepared to spend an extra few minutes styling them.

What's your styling advice?
Start your style in the shower with Brilliant Brunette Shine Release Shampoo and Moisturizing Conditioner and follow with Frizz-Ease Serum. Use a paddle brush to blow-dry hair. Once hair is dry, use a flatiron on hair. Finish with Brilliant Brunette Satin Shine Finishing Crème – the ultralight moisturizing formula will calm flyaways and separate layers and bangs.

Maintenance tips?
Bangs must be touched up every two to four weeks. The colour will blend with her natural colour and will only need refreshing every four to six months.

Dos and don'ts?
Do invest in an good quality pair of scissors and ask your stylist for a quick lesson.
Don't blow-dry bangs with a round brush -- it will make them poofy.

Got a question about beauty? Ask ELLE Canada's expert, Miss Blush!

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Sarah
Hair type
Fine

The look
The colour is a matte medium blonde. The cut is a bob with light layers, which gives a modern feel.

What did Sarah's hair look like before and what did you do to achieve this look?
Sarah wanted a change from the highlighted look so we opted for a colour that was close to her natural shade, but had a bit more punch. Her cut was due for a cleanup and a new shape so we cut it just below her chin and added soft layers for easy styling.

What things should you consider before getting this hairstyle/colour?
When returning to your natural colour from blonde, be prepared for quite a change. Your makeup and hair will look different. It may also require more maintenance (or less) than you are used to. For hairstyle, you also have to be prepared to spend more or less time styling it.

What's your styling advice?
Start styling in the shower with John Frieda Sheer Blonde Volume Enhancing Shampoo with Highlight Activator and Sheer Blonde Instant Conditioner and Highlight Enhancer. Follow with Frizz-Ease Serum in the shower before hair touches a towel. Apply Sheer Blonde Full Blown Volumizing Spray and blow-dry hair upside down until it is 50 per cent dry to obtain more volume. Flip hair and dry two-inch sections for a finished, sleek cuticle. Finish with Sheer Blonde Toussled Tresses to add texture to your style.

Maintenance tips?
This cut requires frequent trimming to maintain its shape (every four to six weeks). For fine hair, it's also important to condition hair but not to overmoisturize it.

Dos and don'ts?
Don't overstyle. Fine, limp hair is very susceptible to damage. Do blow-dry with head upside-down and allow hair to cool before flipping hair back up.

Get advice on at-home hair colour from ELLE Canada!

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Jen
Hair type
Naturally curly, frizzy

The look
The look is tone-on-tone highlights. This is a great way for people with naturally dark hair to change their colour without damage. The cut is layers with a side bang.

What did Jen's hair look like before and what did you do to achieve this look?
Jen usually wears her hair wavy and works with her natural texture; however, she wanted a sleek, straight hairstyle she could have more fun with. We added highlights and then coloured them so that it looked like the sun naturally lightened her hair. For her cut we kept the length but added face-framing layers and a side-swept bang for a sexy style.

What things should you consider before getting this hairstyle/colour?
To achieve this look you'll need to set aside 30 minutes every one to two days to style it. Before you commit to a style, consult with your stylist to make sure you want to spend that much time styling your hair.

What's your styling advice?
Start styling in the shower with Frizz-Ease Straight Ahead Style-Starting Shampoo and Conditioner. Follow with Frizz-Ease Serum in the shower. Use a paddle brush to blow-dry two-inch sections of hair. Once hair is fully dry, apply Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon to hair to prevent flyaways and to smooth hair, leaving a silky, shiny look.

Maintenance tips?
We recommend that Jen use John Frieda's Luminous Colour Glaze Copper to Scarlet three times a week to maintain the tone-on-tone look of her colour.

Dos and don'ts?
Don't blow-dry hair upside down, as it will create more frizz. Do point the blow dryer down the hair shaft, as this will help the cuticle layers to lie smooth.