Ashley Graham's Hairstylist Spills Her 11 On-Set Must Haves
The Expert Edit features interviews with specialists about the products they swear by in their chosen field. For the latest installment, we spoke with celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of Highlight Artists Justine Marjan about her beauty product recommendations and must haves while she's on set.
Celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan's career path began when she was hired as a salon receptionist in college. While she grew up spending hours in front of the mirror before school constructing elaborate hairstyles on herself, she never imagined she'd find herself in LA as a beauty industry savant. In 11 years, the personal brand she built led her to major gigs at Fashion Week, the Oscars, and the Met Gala; Bravo's "Project Runway," where she oversaw the hair department for two seasons; and Highlight Artists, a company she founded with industry veterans Jen Atkin and Mary Phillips to help mentor the next generation of hair and makeup artists.
"The biggest learning has been to go with the ebbs and flows of life," Marjan tells PS of her experience thus far. "As a freelance artist, it can be hard to navigate the ups and downs of the industry and the rejection that we all face constantly. I try to appreciate the slow moments just as much as the busy and not compare myself to anyone else's journey as we are all on our own paths, and there is no straight line to success."
Marjan has worked with plenty of Hollywood A-listers, from Ashley Graham and Eva Longoria to Gwen Stefani and Khloé Kardashian, so you can imagine she likes to keep herself humble. "Never think you are too good for anything, be helpful to everyone in the room, reach out to people doing the job you want to be doing and find out how to assist them, and be kind to everyone," she says. She keeps herself grounded by meditating to stay in a positive headspace, doing Pilates at the Alo Gym, going for acupuncture sessions, and taking vitamins and supplements daily.
Ahead, she reveals the 11 items she always has with her on set, from a leaf blower (yes, really) to a can of Celsius and all the highly-rated beauty products in between. Scroll to shop her picks.
Extra Hold Hairspray
Tresemmé Extra Hold Hairspray ($7)
"I love how this locks in a style without making it stiff or sticky," Marjan says, deeming it an essential in her kit. She depends on it to make sure the hairstyle she's working on will stay all night, no matter what the forthcoming festivities entail. "I also will make a tool to shape curls with a wire hanger and fishnet tights that allows me to spray [the hairspray] through."
Heat Protectant Spray
Tresemmé Protecting Heat Spray ($8)
"I take the integrity of my client's hair seriously, and protecting from damage is so important to me," Marjan says. She uses this Keratin Smooth Spray for doing just that — and it also works to tame frizz and reduce breakage, according to the brand. This Tresemmé spray protects up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, which is typically the highest hot tools go.
Mega Control Hair Gel
Tresemmé Mega Control Hair Gel ($8)
"I love this for slick styles like a high pony, sleek bun, or braid," Marjan says, deeming it essential for holiday hairstyling. It promises 24-hour frizz control, contains coconut oil for a sleek shine, and is alcohol-free.
Energy Drink
Celsius Functional Essential Energy Drink ($20)
"These drinks keep me going on long and busy days," Marjan says of the popular energy drink brand. "I'm honestly obsessed." This 12-pack variety comes in some of the most popular flavors. Celsius is kosher, vegan, and gluten-free — just watch out if you're sensitive to caffeine, and definitely don't exceed more than one serving a day, especially if you're also a coffee drinker.
Creaseless Clips
Emi Jay Popstar Clips ($32)
Marjan loves Emi Jay because the clips are cute, stylish, and work well to shape hair without leaving dents or creases. They're crafted from biodegradable acetate and metal alloy and measure two and three-eighths inches in size. Purchasing one pack gets you a set of four to style with.
Bond Repairing Treatment
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna The Comeback Kid Instant Damage Repair Treatment ($36)
Marjan swears this product produces visible results with just one use. Available in both a five-ounce and two-ounce size, the formula can be left in or rinsed out. It works well with all hair types but is specifically crafted for strands damaged from heat styling, chemical services, and coloring. You can use it in place of your conditioner if you choose.
Leaf Blower For Photo Shoots
Makita Cordless Handheld Leaf Blower ($87)
As funny as it may seem, Marjan relies on a leaf blower during photo shoots. "I always use a small Makita leaf blower on set to help add wind and movement to the hair," she says. "Also, a toothbrush or small makeup brush to tame flyaways." This little tip clearly comes in handy, judging from Marjan's Instagram feed. The Makita has three air volume settings and is compact and lightweight with an ergonomic grip.
Customized Pouch
Stoney Clover Lane Stuff Embroidered Small Pouch ($98)
"I love how cute these are," Marjan says of the Stoney Clover Lane customized pouches. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as several colorways with adorable embroidery options. "I use the patches to label everything in my kit, so everything stays organized. They are so durable and last forever." Whether you use it for tech essentials, makeup, hair accessories, or skin-care products, it's an instant compliment magnet.
Hair Accessories
Jennifer Behr Wide Velvet Bow Barrette ($178)
"[Jennifer Behr] makes the most beautiful bows and hair accessories," Marjan says. "They really elevate any look for party season." This classic velvet bow, in particular, is available in nine different colors and handmade in the brand's Brooklyn-based studio. It features a French barrette closure and measures six by nine inches.
Clip-In Hair Extensions
Bellami Hair Silk Seam Clip-In Extension ($210)
"I couldn't do my job without extensions. They really allow me the versatility to make any hairstyle worth it," Marjan says. Bellami offers many different lengths and shades, made from 100 percent Remy human hair. The extensions use Invisi-Weft technology, making them 30 percent thinner than classic lace wefts. If you're unsure of your color, you can even get color-matched with the Bellami Color Concierge.
Motion-Responsive Hair Iron
GHD Chronos Styler ($329)
Marjan recommends the GHD Styler because it "styles the hair so much faster, makes the hair shinier, and has no extreme heat damage, which is so important to me and my clients." Our editor tried it and felt similarly, writing in her GHD Chronos review that "it features fancy-sounding HD motion-response technology that adapts to your movements, so you're able to get your desired style with just one stroke." The iron heats up to 365 degrees in 20 seconds and switches off automatically after 10 minutes of inactivity.
Sarah Wasilak (she/her) is the associate director of Shopping at PS. With plenty of experience in the commerce market, a keen interest in SEO, and 10 years as an editor at the brand, she enjoys writing across the lifestyle and health-and-fitness categories. She has bylines at PS, InStyle, Elle, Refinery29, Who What Wear, Elite Daily, Byrdie, and The Quality Edit and aims to amplify minority voices in all her work.