Red Carpet Hair Secrets From Celebrity Colorist Tracey Cunningham

When it comes to hair that stays glossy and glamourous under bright lights, celebrity colorist Tracey Cunningham has seen it all. Known for creating iconic shades for Hollywood’s stars, Cunningham spends her days making sure hair stays shiny and camera-ready even when it’s constantly being colored, blown-out and styled.

Hair Tip	What You Should Do
Protect your hair from heat	Always use a heat protectant before styling and keep hot tools around 320–340°F (160–170°C).
Don’t overwash your hair	Try washing your hair about 2–3 times a week. If it gets oily, use dry shampoo between washes.
Use gentle hair products	Choose a sulfate-free shampoo and always use conditioner to keep your hair smooth and hydrated.
Protect your hair while you sleep	Braid your hair before bed and sleep on a silk pillowcase or wear a silk bonnet to reduce frizz.
Brush your hair gently	Start brushing from the ends and work your way up to avoid pulling or breaking your hair.
Avoid super tight styles	Try not to wear tight ponytails or buns every day since they can stress your hair roots.
Support stronger hair growth	Take care of your hair daily and consider supplements like OMI Hair Growth Peptides to help support stronger strands over time.

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Q:  Healthy hair is easier to style. What are a few of your tips for keeping hair strong and manageable even when it’s being colored and styled?

A:  Always use a heat protectant before styling. Flat irons get extremely hot; they can literally burn your skin!. So protecting the hair before you use hot tools is essential. I often use the blow-dry spray from Olaplex because it protects the hair and adds shine at the same time.

I also like using the Olaplex 3 treatment; you apply it to your hair in the shower before shampooing and conditioning. It helps reconnect the broken bonds in your hair and when the bonds are repaired, you’ll see more shine and the hair can tolerate heat better. I also like applying a gloss over the hair.

OMI tip:

Also pay attention to the heat of your styling tools. Flat ironing, curling or blow-drying at super high temperatures can cause cracks in the cuticle and weaken the cortex. Over time, repeated exposure at 200 C or higher can permanently alter the internal protein structure, leaving hair brittle and prone to breakage.1 Combining heat protectants with lower styling temperatures greatly reduces the risk of damage to your hair.2 Aim for 160 to 170 C or 320 to 340 F. 

Q: What can you do in the days leading up to an event to boost the health and manageability of your hair?

A: Don’t overwash your hair. People with fine or oily hair may need to wash more often than those with dry, coarse or curly hair. But even if you have oily hair, you don’t necessarily need to wash it every day. You can use dry shampoo when needed.

I also love braiding your hair before bed, especially if you have wavy or curly hair. This keeps your hair from getting frizzy or messy while you sleep. And sleeping in a silk bonnet or on silk pillowcases helps preserve a blowout because it reduces friction between your hair and the pillow that can cause frizz.

OMI tip:

A few tips for washing your hair: In general, up to three washes a week are enough to keep your scalp cleansed and healthy. Use a sulfate-free shampoo to prevent stripping your hair of its natural oils and always condition! A conditioner helps smooth the cuticle, reduces tangles, and locks in moisture.3 If your hair is curly or thick, apply conditioner from roots to ends. If you have straight or fine hair, focus on applying it to the lower third of your strands.4

Q: We all want versatility when styling our hair. What habits help make hair more cooperative?

A: One simple habit that people overlook is brushing your hair regularly. Hair grows where blood flows; brushing helps stimulate circulation in the scalp which helps support healthy hair.

OMI tip:

The way you brush matters, too: Do it gently (you don’t need to brush 100 strokes a day), and when you’re detangling wet hair always start from the bottom and gently work your way up. If you start in the middle and work your way down, tangles can tighten and lead to breakage.5

Q: Are there styling habits people should be careful about?

A: Tight ponytails and buns can be tough on your hair if you wear them all the time. Constant tension can stress the hair follicles, and over time even lead to hair loss

OMI tip:

Ponytails or buns that tug at the scalp may lead to what’s called traction alopecia; a condition that’s caused when your hair follicles are chronically strained.6 Left untreated, it may lead to permanent hair loss in the spots where the hair is always tightly pulled.

Tight ponytails, buns, braids and other hair styles can be great for special occasions, but it’s better not to wear them super-tight every day.

Q: Have you noticed a difference when coloring the hair of clients who’ve been using OMI hair growth peptides?

A: Absolutely. When people take them consistently, every day, you start seeing stronger hair over time. It really starts from the inside. The roots become stronger first, then the hair that grows in becomes thicker and stronger. 

OMI tip:

When the hair itself is stronger, you can do more with it. It holds style and tolerates color better. When the hair is stronger from the follicle, everything you do in the salon works better.

The Takeaway

Red-carpet ready hair isn’t just about the right blowout or styling tool; it starts with healthy, resilient strands. As celebrity colorist Tracey Cunningham explains, protecting hair from heat styling, repairing internal bonds, avoiding overwashing and treating your hair gently day-to-day all help keep it shiny, strong and manageable. Strengthening hair from the inside out via good daily habits and consistent care means your hair can better withstand coloring and heat styling. When the hair itself is strong and healthy, getting that polished, camera-ready finish comes much easier.