So what's a girl to do? Scour the Internet for the best tips for tousled hair, of course. I then locked myself in the bathroom with a curling iron, bobby pins, and hairspray. I wasn't leaving until I got something that looked somewhat close to Giselle's hair, damnit.
After an hour spent carefully curling, teasing, wrapping, and pinning my hair in all sorts of medieval ways, I finally had it: perfectly tousled wavy hair.
I wasn't about to let anything mess up that masterpiece, so I doused my head in a cloud of hairspray.
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Then I walked out of my bathroom, into my bedroom, looked into my mirror, and watched my perfect curls deflate right before my eyes.
A little part of me died inside.
I was furious. Angry. Red with frustration. I called celebrity hairstylist, Ramsell Martinez (yeah, I keep my stylist on speed dial), and asked what the heck I did wrong. And after walking him through a painstakingly detailed account of my hour-long styling sesh, he gave me the verdict: I used the wrong hairspray.
The spray I used was too strong and straightened my waves, he said, leaving me with a stiff, sticky mess. Ugh.
The bright side? He filled me in on the right products to use for different hairstyles so I would never ruin a cute style again. Even better, I'm sharing his tips with you:
Sea Salt Primer
When to use it: beachy waves, tousled updos
When to skip it: sleek or structured styles, softer curls
Sea salt primer is the secret behind those coveted waves that seem to come straight from the beach. Your hair looks lush and wavy after spending time in the surf and sand because of all the sea salt in the air and water, which brings out your natural texture and makes it even better. You can replicate this look with a bottled version, like Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Texturizing Sea Spray, $18.78. Just spritz it on dry hair and scrunch to get the waves you want. Get more tips on how to turn your straight hair wavy here.
Gel
When to use it: polished updos, sleek styles
When to skip it: loose waves
When you need maximum staying power for a slicked back updo like a polished bun, a gel will give you the strong hold required to keep flyaways at bay. Ouidad Climate Control Gel, $22, is a great choice for weddings because it has the ability to make even the shortest hairs stay put, but it won't look like you've applied shellac all over your head. Comb it through wet hair and let air dry in the bun formation for extra hold, or blow dry first for a softer look. See 7 easy updos you can do here.
Mousse
When to use it: defined curls
When to skip it: sleek and straight styles
Defined curls are the hallmark of an Old Hollywood Glam-inspired style. Getting those ringlets to stay intact for hours can be a challenge, but not if you first prep them with mousse. Try Tresemme Flawless Curls Mousse, $3.49. This product maintains soft curls without that crunchy look or feel. Comb it through damp hair in sections, shaping curls as you go. Then use a diffuser to blow dry. Want to find out how to use a curling iron like a pro? Click here.
Relaxing Fluid
When to use it: sleek, straight styles
When to skip it: volumized curls or waves
Sleek, straight styles require some smoothing to tame frizzy hair and impart high shine. Davines Defining Relaxing Fluid, $25, calms unruly hair and leaves a high gloss shine without weighing hair down. Apply it to wet hair before blow drying. See how to straighten your hair like a pro here.
Root Lifter
When to use it: volumized styles
When to skip it: sleek updos
If you want to make your wedding day hair over the top, a root-lifting product is a must. Tigi Catwalk Root Boost, $9, gives any hair type a Texas-style makeover. Use on towel-dried hair, mist into the root area, then blow dry. Got flat hair? Watch this video to learn how to get instant volume.
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