Whether you're heading to work, brunch, or a black-tie celebration, loose curls always lend a beautiful, polished look. But it can be tricky to nail down the perfect curls that are defined yet natural looking. From expensive tools to a world of hair-styling products that promise effortless curls and waves, how do you know what's right for your hair type and texture?

We sat down with celebrity stylist Johnny Wright, who spent eight years as Michelle Obama's personal hairstylist during the Obama administration and has styled celebrities like Queen Latifah, Kerry Washington, Tiffany Cross, and Angela Rye. He even has a book coming out in October dedicated to styling natural and curly hair.

Here, we're breaking down Wright's favorite techniques and products to achieve loose curls and waves at home.

Step one: prep your hair. Wright recommends this first step for all hair types: shampoo, condition, and go under a steamer to let the conditioner penetrate (or just sit in your shower!). He says, "Steam treatments are so important and great; they're for hair and skin. They'll help you get defined, bouncy curls."

Step two (if styling with no heat): apply product, and curl. Next, while your hair is still wet, use your favorite curl product: a setting lotion, gel, foam, or mousse. Roll your hair onto the flexi rods or Curlforms, and sit under the dryer to let it dry.

Step two (if styling with a flat iron): dry hair, then style. Prep your hair with a heat-protectant spray, then dry your hair fully. Section your hair into top and bottom so that it's easier to see what areas you've styled. Make sure your flat iron is facing down to the floor rather than horizontally, and use whatever curling method you like. You could wrap hair around the iron and twist away from your face, bend your wrist up and down in a flipping motion for more of a crimp, or bend the hair with your hands to get S-shaped waves.

Step two (if styling with a curling iron): dry hair, then style. Prep your hair with a heat-protectant spray, then dry your hair fully. Depending on the length of your hair, use around a one-inch-barrel curling wand, grab small sections of hair, and wrap around the barrel. The key is leaving an inch or two out at the ends and alternating directions (pulling toward and away from the face) as you go. You also only want to leave the hair wrapped for a few seconds to avoid a too-perfect curl.

Step three: add texture. If you're using a heatless method, once your hair is dry, remove the rods. For all methods, use a nice serum, polish, or oil (if that's something your hair likes), then gently separate the curls with your fingers or with a brush to loosen them up. You can then spritz with a salt spray or run through with a texturizing cream to make the curls last.

Step four: maintain. For curl maintenance, make sure you sleep on satin pillowcases at night, so your curls can last as long as possible. This minimizes friction on the hair, so you won't lose definition in your curls.

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