Measure the metal wire so that it fits across the head of the person who will be wearing the hat. Cut two pieces this size, then cut two more pieces about an inch smaller in circumference. Then, cut another two pieces an inch larger in circumference.
Wrap each of the wires so that they form a hoop.
Cut off a few pieces of duct tape and tape each set of hoops together to form a cylinder. When done, each cylinder should resemble a hamster cage.
Tape all three cylinders together so that the largest is at the bottom and the smallest at the top. When taped, it should resemble the layers of a wedding cake.
Place the stack of cylinders over the straw hat. Trim away any excess straw protruding past the bottom layer. The hat will reinforce the wires, making them stand up in a stack like a proper Devo hat.
Measure each cylinder and cut pieces from the cardboard to match the measurements. Wrap the cardboard pieces around the wire cylinders and secure with duct tape. Keep doing this until every layer is covered in cardboard.
Spread newspapers out over a work area and spray paint the entire hat red. Allow to dry fully before wearing.