The road of denial can take many forms. For those who choose to fight their hair’s naturally curly texture, the path can include standing, biweekly blowout appointments, purposeful avoidance of tropical vacations, and a lifetime of practice mastering the chignon. The only real solution, of course, is acceptance — to live sans hair censorship (or, at the very least, to let curls free on occasion). To help those in denial accept a more natural look, VIOLET GREY turned to hairstylist Christian Wood. Wood has spent years encouraging clients like Thandie Newton, Sarah Jessica Parker and Nicole Richie to eschew the straight and narrow, and this curl whisperer knows what it takes to keep corkscrews in shape. His tips and tricks, along with The Violet Code–approved products necessary to carry them out, below.