My Mane Method
Our hair care routines are deeply personal. From our first salon experience to the first product we fell in love with, every moment is a part of our hair story. At Byrdie, we're fascinated by the entire journey—the styling triumphs and the lessons we've learned from wash day disasters. With My Mane Method, we're bringing you the tried-and-true products, rituals, and recommendations your favorite celebrities, founders, and influencers swear by.
On a sunny Friday afternoon, I’m ushered into a suite at the Baccarat Hotel. The room is full of cream-colored furniture and dark wood finishings, with hints of crystal scattered across the space. Kate Hudson greets me in an all-white power suit, which felt fitting for the setting, but also reminded me of something her character, Isla, would wear in Running Point. I immediately notice her signature long blonde hair. It has that sort of effortless wave to it that feels equal parts sophisticated and laid-back.
Contrary to how it appears, Hudson tells me styling her hair has never come easy. “I'm one of those people that has challenging hair and I need people to help me [style it]. If I'm not being helped, it's going up in a bun,” she explains. “I love talking about hair because I am one of those people that needs products.”
Those defining qualities are exactly why Hudson was the perfect choice to be Joico’s first-ever global celebrity spokesperson. “I've been using the Joico K-Pak Collection for forever, so I was excited that I could partner with a brand that I love to use,” she says. The campaign not only celebrates the brand's 50th anniversary but also focuses on the joy people feel from doing their hair—something Hudson learned from a young age. “I'll never forget, I was 19 watching an actress I was working with blow dry her hair, and it was [instantly] gorgeous. I was so jealous because my hair would never do that,” she recalls. “I have to diffuse it for an hour or blow it out. It's a whole process. So when I get my hair done, it’s a really good day—I have so much joy.” Ahead, Hudson shares the top products in her hair routine, her favorite hair style to date, and much more.
About Her Hair
"I have curly hair. It has gotten less curly after my second baby, but it still has texture. Some days, depending on the weather, I'll get little curly cues. Half of my head will be straight and frizzy, and then half of it's curly. So [on those days], I just gotta lean in. I'm either gonna diffuse it and let it be or commit to a style. That's why most of the time, you just see my hair in a bun."
Her Evolving Routine
"I just worked on a film, and it was the first time I had to wash my hair every day because I used my own hair—no extensions. My hair has never been healthier. It went against what I thought to be true, meaning you're not supposed to wash your hair that often. Before, I wouldn’t wash it for four or five days, I’d only get it wet. Now that I’ve been washing my hair every other day, it has become healthier and stronger.
I'll always put something in [my hair]. Right now, I’ve been using the Joico Defy Damage Sleepover Overnight Nourishing Treatment and the Defy Damage Shield for a blow out or even to air dry, just for a little something extra."
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/JOICO-KATE-HUDSON-KBOND20-smaller-22a2fedfb1ec42cabf641074f81c470c.jpg "Kate Hudson Swears by Frequent Wash Days and This Must-Have Hydrating Hair Product (1)")
Her Main Hair Concern
"[My routine is] all about damage and color control. Especially when it comes to how I color my hair and what kind of product my stylist is using. Joico has an amazing color line that is focused on keeping your hair healthy. It can be really brutal when working with different people [who aren’t worried about your hair health]. That’s why I love the Joico Defy Damage KBOND20 Power Masque. I have high heat on my hair all the time, and sometimes, you need to give it a rest and take care of it a little."
One Step She Never Skips
"I always have an intense conditioner, especially when I travel. If I don't have one, then that's problematic [laughs].You never know what conditioner you'll get in hotels or gyms. I always bring something that can weigh [my hair] down. Usually, when I am traveling, I bring the Sleepover Overnight Nourishing Treatment because it’s small."
Her Hair Pet Peeves
"I can’t stand it when people back-comb my hair. Sometimes they have to do it when they're putting in extensions or coloring it, but I hate it. I just think it's so terrible for your hair. I also really don't like it when hairstylists cut extensions on your head because I'm always terrified that they're gonna chop my hair. I have had that happen to me before!"
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/JOICOxKATE-HEROSHOT-Cropped-c3637bd6800949248f2b9f094c38a8cb.jpg "Kate Hudson Swears by Frequent Wash Days and This Must-Have Hydrating Hair Product (2)")
The Best Hair Advice She Has Ever Received
"The best hair advice I ever received was from my hairdresser, Johnny [Villanueva], who I work with on films. He told me not to do anything to my hair when I don’t have to. Just be nice and give it a rest when you can. On those days, he told me to wake up in the morning, put in big dry curlers, and let my hair air dry. Then I put a little heat or a cold shock on it if I need to and brush it out. When it’s done, you have a nice body to your hair."
On Her Favorite Hair Style
"I’m an Aries, I get bored. One minute, I want to do a big ponytail down to my butt and then it’s like no I want to do a bob. I love my hair the way it is right now, right in the middle [between long and short length], because you can do anything with it. You can blend it into really long [extensions] or do a little under-flip at the ends. [That being said,] buzzing my head was the best thing I have ever done—I loved every second of having no hair. Then it grew out into the short pixie, and that was my favorite hair I’ve ever had. The problem with that is there’s no flexibility. When it started to grow out, I would slick it back and sometimes put little pins in it. I just loved it."
