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Ariana Madix has always been a star, but it’s no secret that she catapulted into the public consciousness thanks to a certain earth-shaking event. Obviously, we’re talking about her debut as the host of Love Island USA.
Madix took the star spot in 2024, during the show’s incredibly popular sixth season. This past summer, the show became Peacock’s most-watched original season ever. In addition to all the talk about the drama on the show, Madix’s looks caused quite a stir online, wowing both viewers and show contestants (we’re looking at you, Austin).
A key part of those iconic looks? Madix’s gorgeous hair. She is, of course, no stranger to great hair, from her show-stopping looks on Love Island to her Broadway bob. So, it only makes sense that in addition to reality star, performer, and sandwich entrepreneur, Madix added hair icon to her résumé thanks to a partnership with TRESemmé.
Teen Vogue caught up with Madix during BravoCon at TRESemmé’s Viva Gloss Vegas activation in support of their Lamellar Gloss collection. Sitting in the touch up chairs in the TRESemmé salon amid all the Bravo action, Madix offered some hair pro-tips, opened up about how she finds confidence, and named the thing about Love Island that surprised her the most.
Ariana Madix: I've always wanted to kind of play around more. Obviously, I've played around with the cut, I’ve had long and quite I’ve wanted to do something in this realm and change color and stuff for a long time. So finally, we're going to the holidays and I have time. I can do it now without [it being a continuity issue on television] and things like that.
AM: Thanks, I love it too.
AM: This line of TRESemmé [Lamellar Gloss] products I keep with me. I do a lot of updos when it's just me, because I'm not doing hair. So, yeah thank God for [the Lamellar Gloss Finishing Oil] because the TRESemmé product gives me the shine. When I do a slicked back bun or something, it looks really polished, which is great because I don't know how to do any other styles, really.
AM: The humidity is very intense. It's a lot of product [when we’re shooting]. Then when I'm on a day off, I'm constantly washing my hair because we're using so much product on set. TRESemmé has a color safe shampoo and conditioner that I use so that way, on my day off, I just let [my hair] do nothing. I try to make sure I'm not going in the pool or things like that. I just try to let it have a little bit of a break.
AM: I think what makes it helpful for me is not seeing it as, once I find it, I have to hold on to it. It's knowing that it is kind of an everyday thing, and going through it in baby steps. If there's something that you can find to feel confident about that day, I think if we can take it in micro[doses], it makes it a little bit easier to achieve. Then eventually, the bigger part [will come].
I still feel like every day there might be something that I want to hyperfixate on that's negative. I'm like, “Oh, I don't like this. We don't like that.” [Instead, it’s] trying to just focus on those things that I do love and I do feel good about, then each day kind of try to expand on that.
AM: Honestly, I woke up feeling good about the fact that I was getting to have my glam done from my awesome team and that we’re all here together. I think that was what made me feel good about going into today, because things like this can be very stressful. There can be a lot of photos that are taken and you're going to be on display, and that can be a lot.
AM: I mean, sometimes I don't cope. I definitely have days where things get the best of me and I just need to have a day to myself where I'm, you know, focusing on touching grass. So, yeah, it's not always great, but I think, honestly, I’m just trying to take it day by day, little by little. If I do feel like I'm having a day where I'm not coping very well, I just let myself have it. Just being gentle with yourself and allowing those feelings.
AM: Oh, my gosh, yeah. It was a huge honor. I've been following that list for years and to be honest, it was really, really, really huge for me. There's so many incredible people on it every year.
AM: I think there are so many instances where people want us or everyone to live quietly. But I think that representation is everything. It's something that you don't necessarily think about every day, and then when you see it, when you see someone who's like you, you realize, ‘I'm not alone. If this person's out, I can be out.’ Especially right now, there are so many attacks on the LGBTQ community in so many ways, and I just feel like it's important to live out and proud.
AM: Honestly, I feel like it's a bit surprising just how much fun it is. They say to never meet your heroes, and it's my favorite show, so people have been like, “It might not be what you thought.” But it's actually a really, really fun time and I love being there and seeing how they create these challenges in like a day. The art department is incredible. Just watching how all of the many moving parts come together to make this awesome show. So I feel like that was a little bit surprising.
AM: [Laughs] It's hard sometimes.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
