HAIR CARE AS SELF-CARE

How Lily Collins Expresses Herself Through Hair

Emily in Paris actor and producer Lily Collins chats to Allure about her new partnership with Living Proof, wedding-day hairstyle, and favorite Met Gala looks.
A photo of Lily Collins for a Living Proof campaign smiling with her eyes closed with chestnut brown hair down to...
Courtesy of Living Proof

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"Your hair can make or break a look," Lily Collins assuredly tells me during a Zoom on a sunny Friday afternoon. "It can be a sad addition if it's not done properly, or it can be an extra cherry on top for an outfit," she adds. Few people know the sheer significance that hair holds, both on and off stage, better than Collins — who has been acting since she was merely two years old. Whether it's her wedding day or a press day for Emily in Paris, she and her team take the artistic direction of her hair very seriously.

"Hair adds so much character… to a character," she says while reminiscing about her previous Met Gala looks. Her gothic, Lady-Liberty-inspired and floral, Priscilla Presley-inspired looks for the 2018 and 2019 Met Galas, respectively, have not only stunned us but remain some of her personal favorite looks in a boundless archive of red-carpet appearances.

Courtesy of Living Proof

Even when planning her once-in-a-lifetime wedding look, she took all factors into consideration. Noting how she wasn't initially sure which direction she wanted to go in, she ultimately decided against a "more earthy and wavy" look because she didn't want the wind or need for touch-ups to get in the way of the celebrations. "I wanted my whole face to be seen, and the excitement and joy and all of that," Collins says, adding that the slicked-back low bun she ultimately ended up on was the best choice — as it allowed both the dress and accessories (including brooches her mom passed down to her) to shine.

From the left: Collins at the 2019 Met Gala, Collins at the 2018 Met Gala. 

Getty Images

Believe it or not, Collins's iconic curtain bangs were what she calls a "dedicated decision," she says. "I wanted to do this for years but never had the courage to take the plunge." But she's come a long way since her younger days when she felt like her hair was a safety blanket and was uneasy at the thought of changing up her style. "I see hair as an extension of your personality and how you're feeling about yourself, and if you're ready to make a change — like I was getting bangs," she divulges.

"Now, it feels like I've had them forever," Collins says of her bangs, which she was rocking during our interview, along with a full head of flawless, impeccably smooth waves. "I got used to them very quickly." She credits adding a few drops of Living Proof's No Frizz Vanishing Oil to the ends of her hair and bangs (and working the product partway up the hair's length) to perfect her look. "It locks in moisture and leaves a soft, silky feeling without adding too much oil and also taking away frizz." 

Lily Collins Interview: A yellowish bottle of Living Proof No Frizz Vanishing Oil on white background

Living Proof

Living Proof No Frizz Vanishing Oil

As a longtime fan of Living Proof products, it makes perfect sense why Collins is now the brand's newest ambassador. "[Living Proof] is not only science-based but also emotion-based — and it makes me feel my best," she tells me. I might never know what it's like to sit through an entire day of press interviews or pose on a red carpet, but as a beauty editor, I can definitely relate to the feeling when you discover a new favorite brand or product that seems like it was made for you.

In her downtime, Collins makes sure to use hair masks, a product she typically doesn't have time for during busy set schedules, once or twice a week to maintain the health of her hair in-between projects. "It's [about] repairing but also preparing for the damage that will probably come." (For the record, we like Olaplex No. 8 and TPH by Taraji Mask On.)

A white bottle of Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Hair Mask on white background

Olaplex

Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Hair Mask

A black tub of TPH Mask On Conditioning Mask on white background

TPH by Taraji

TPH Mask On Conditioning Mask

As for other beauty necessities, Collins counts a classic Burt's Bees lip balm, face mask (because her skin gets as dry as her hair, due to constant traveling and work), and mascara among her top three products. She names Lancôme's Monsieur Big and Hypnôse Drama mascaras as her go-tos — Collins has been an ambassador for the Parisian brand since 2014 — but we're also big fans of Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara and Maybelline New York Falsies Lash Lift Mascara for extra-fluttery lashes.

An yellow open tube of Burt's Bees Lip Balm on white background

Burt's Bees

Burt's Bees Lip Balm

A black tube of Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara on a white background

Lancôme

Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara

A purple and silver open tube of Maybelline New York Falsies Lash Lift Mascara on a white background

Maybelline New York

Maybelline New York Falsies Lash Lift Mascara

Of course, we can't discount the immense work that Collins's makeup and hairstyling teams put in — and neither does she. For example, on the set of Emily in Paris, Mike Desir is the "genius and tech wiz" behind many of the main character's looks — constantly creating mood boards, piecing together Collins's past looks and film references (both American and French, depending on season one or two), and even virtually trialing new looks. "It's all a constant collaboration and every single day I'm excited to go into the makeup trailer and see what Mike has created," she gushes.

To close out our conversation, I ask Collins to tell me about how her relationship with hair care has evolved and how it fits into her view of self-care. "Treating your hair well is a reflection of how you're treating yourself internally," Collins adds. "Before you've done anything at the start of the day, you can feel like the healthiest version of yourself, and it's important to know what products make you feel that way." It's evident that Collins knows her way around a hair-care routine and we're definitely taking notes.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.


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