Textured hair is having a major moment, and with more and more clients wanting to show off their natural strands, hairdressers have to know how to enhance whatever style they’re going for—curly or straight! So when we stopped by the Miss USA and Miss Universe photo shoot with Farouk Systems Inc., Global Board Artist Anna Cantu shared some styling secrets when working on Miss USA Kára McCullough—like how to enhance her curly texture on an updo and what products and tools are best for delivering a sleek, blown-out look!

Keep scrolling for two of Káras looks, and peep all the behind-the-scenes action!

Enhanced Curls + Accent Headband

1. Gather all hair together at the crown, leaving a section out around the hairline, and secure into a bun. If your client wants a bigger style, add wefts randomly throughout to add fullness.

2. Then, using the CHI LAVA Tapered Ceramic Hairstyling Wand (it will be available soon!), direct all curls at the front hairline forward to frame the face.

3. With the sections that are off the hairline, curl to natural fall. These sections should be going in different directions to enhance the curl pattern.

4. To add increased volume to the curls, wrap the hair over the iron so that the iron starts underneath the section. Then, once the hair is completely wrapped, roll the iron as close to the head as possible, hold the section and then release.

5. To finish the look, wrap a long headband or piece of fabric around the bun and spray with CHI Magnified Volume Spray. Watch how Anna added the headband below!

Sleek + Smooth For Natural Curls

1. Prep hair with Deep Brilliance shampoo and conditioner, rough-dry with a towel and then blow-dry strands until 100 percent dry.

2. Once dry, apply the CHI Deep Brilliance Shine Serum. “A little goes a long way—two pumps will work for an entire head,” said Anna. Emulsify the product into hands and apply it by polishing it through and down the hair shaft.

3. Then, moving section by section, run the CHI LAVA Hairstyling Iron slowly and softly from roots to ends. Anna says one pass will create a smooth, sleek look, but adding another pass allows you to add volume for a more blown-out end result.

4. Watch the video below for Anna’s tips on creating that sleek-but-voluminous finished style.

Peep the slideshow below for some behind-the-scenes action during the photo shoot! In addition to Anna and Kára, Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters was on set, styled by Farouk Artist Melissa Reyes, as well as CEO and Founder Farouk Shami and President of Innovation Lisa Marie Garcia.