Olivia Colman's Long Salt-and-Pepper 'Wicker Curls' Are the Grey-Hair Moment of the Year — Her Stylist's Exact Routine

Olivia Colman has spent years as the face of the short, low-fuss pixie cut. So when she arrived on the Wicker press tour with long, salt-and-pepper curls, beauty editors noticed fast. Allure and Vogue both ran interviews with her hairstylist, Clayton Hawkins, on October 15, and the "wicker curls" are now one of the most talked-about celebrity hair moments of the month.

Here's exactly how Hawkins creates the look, the products he uses, and his advice for anyone embracing grey hair.

Why 'wicker curls'?

The name comes from her new film. Wicker is a romantic fantasy in which Colman plays a lonely woman whose husband, made of wicker and played by Alexander Skarsgård, comes to life. Hawkins told Allure that he and Colman landed on "big, sexy romantic curls" for her public appearances as a nod to the film's unconventional romance.

"She has gorgeous natural curls that I played up this week," Hawkins told both publications.

The step-by-step routine

Allure and Vogue report the same process, in five steps.

Prep: Hawkins starts with Amika's Frizz-Me-Not hydrating anti-frizz treatment to smooth the hair and control puffiness.

Diffuse: He dries the hair with a L'Oréal AirLight Pro hair dryer and diffuser to encourage her natural curl pattern instead of blowing it straight.

Curl: He takes a 0.5-inch curling iron and wraps sections in random directions. "Wrapped in random directions to keep it wild and sexy," he told Vogue. Mixing directions stops the curls from clumping into uniform ringlets.

Volume: He adds a pouf of Sexy Hair's Powder Play Lite volumizing powder at the roots, then teases and rakes through the hair with a wide-tooth comb.

Finish: A drop or two of Dove's 10-in-1 serum adds shine. Hawkins told Vogue it is "the best and lightest hair oil, and it's cheap AF from the drugstore."

Fans have been asking how Colman went from a pixie cut, spotted as recently as May, to shoulder-length curls in a few months. Vogue put the question to Hawkins. His answer: "Medical mystery!" He didn't say whether extensions or a wig were involved.

Allure notes that Colman's character also has curls in the film, though at a much shorter length.

The 'quiet silver' advice

Hawkins, who also has silver hair, shared tips with Allure for anyone growing out grey. "If you take care of gray hair and keep it silvery, there's nothing better, in my opinion," he said.

Purple shampoo is the obvious first step for grey, white or blonde hair, but he also recommends protecting it from the sun to stop brassiness. His pick is Dove's UV Repair & Glow UV Defense Serum, a brand he often works with. Allure suggests Coola's Scalp & Hair Mist Sunscreen as an alternative.

It's a timely message. Silver hair is having a moment on red carpets, and Colman's long, voluminous take makes a case for grey that feels glamorous rather than practical.

How to ask for the look at home

You don't need Colman's exact length to try this. The technique works on shoulder-length or longer hair with some natural wave.

Start with an anti-frizz treatment on damp hair, and diffuse rather than air-dry. Use a small-barrel iron of around half an inch on random sections, alternating directions. Add texture powder at the roots, and don't brush the curls out. Rake them with a wide-tooth comb instead. Finish with a light oil only on the ends.

If your hair is grey or silver, add a purple shampoo and a heat or UV protectant to your routine to keep the colour clean.

When to see Wicker

Allure says Wicker opens in theatres on October 23, while Vogue gives the date as October 30. Either way, Colman's press tour has a couple of weeks left, so expect more curls.

Her style has been on a winning streak this season. Earlier this month, she made her runway debut, which we covered in "Olivia Colman Makes Her Runway Debut at Miu Miu in a Leather Skirt Suit."

FAQ

Who styles Olivia Colman's hair?

Hairstylist Clayton Hawkins has worked with her throughout the Wicker press tour.

What products are used for Olivia Colman's curls?

Amika Frizz-Me-Not, a L'Oréal AirLight Pro dryer, a 0.5-inch curling iron, Sexy Hair Powder Play Lite and Dove 10-in-1 serum.

Is Olivia Colman's long hair real?

Her stylist didn't say. Asked how her hair grew so fast, Hawkins joked to Vogue: "Medical mystery!"

What is Wicker about?

A lonely woman, played by Colman, whose wicker husband, played by Alexander Skarsgård, comes to life.

Cover photo: Raph_PH / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0