As a kid growing up in a salon in the ’80s, you could definitely say I’ve seen (and smelled) a few perms in my day; women with straight hair wanted curls and volume, and it was trendy then to douse your precious locks in thioglycolate (aka, perm solution). I had always thought perms looked as strange as they smelled, but it wasn’t until a few years later when I started wrapping perms myself, that I realized how damaging and unnatural they were.

Instead, I now tell my clients to love their straight hair—it requires very little work, and there are so many ways to create natural, sexy fullness without harsh chemicals. Here are 6 tips for making the most of your gorgeous straight hair:

1. Say No to Perms. Not only do perms look unnatural and will make your hair smell like a chemical plant, but they will completely dry out your strands and cause breakage. Plus, think about the growing-out stages—you might as well shave your head Britney Spears style and start over.

2. Say No to Curling Irons, Too. Curling irons work against straight hair and I’ve been against them for that reason since I was 12 and forced to use them in the salon; they create curls that look imbalanced and out of place.

3. Flat Irons. Believe it or not, a flat iron doesn’t have to “flatten” out your hair—use it to give your straight strands extra sleekness and structure by flipping the ends, creating an overall fun, natural style.

4. Round Brushes. Meet your new BFF, the round brush. Use it to first blow-dry your roots and direct them upward for lift, then use the round brush to smooth out the rest of your straight locks while creating a sense of balance, movement and overall flow.

5. Have Fun With Rollers. For extra volume at the root and all over, set sections of hair in hot rollers at a 45-degree angle to create bounce; the natural movement works similarly to cutting flowing layers into your hair.

6. Work with Your Length. If you have short, straight hair, ask your stylist to cut in extra texture, because the mussed-up look will look amazing on you. If your straight hair is lengthy, opt for beautifully cut layers and highlights, which will work together to create spicy separation.