First Look Fridays: Hairstylist Daniel Koye

Do I ever have a treat for you today! The fabulous, amazing, unbelievably talented hairstylist Daniel Koye sat down with me for First Look Fridays. Daniel is currently working on the smash Broadway show Hair. (Which I've seen and am here to tell you is INCREDIBLE. See it immediately if not sooner. But I digress.) He's also worked on Gypsy starring Patti Lupone, Spring Awakening, Chicago and Jersey Boys, just to name a few. Not to mention he is super sweet and funny! Find out how he gets the actors in and out of their wigs, the product he can't live without and so much more after the jump.

What is your favorite thing about working on Hair?
It's a Broadway show! Working with professionals and creating great looks for the show, to have people enjoy the theater.

 
What is the process for creating the various characters’ looks?
There are a couple things that go into making a character's look. You have the actor, the costume designer, director and wig designer. They all sit down and discuss how the character will be -- [how the character will] look, act on stage.

How long does it take to get each person into his or her hair for the show?
My track on the show starts an hour before curtain. Each actor has a different prep. Some wear their microphone packs in their head (so you don’t see the wires during the naked scene). Each wig takes anywhere from 5-7 minutes.

Conversely, what’s the process for removing wigs and hairpieces at the end of the show?
Most just rip the wig off! Then I clean and take off the wig.

Claude goes through a major hair change in the second act. How do you achieve this?
Well I must say that I do need to keep that a secret. That is the MAGIC of Broadway! Hehehe. [Editor’s note: I’m sad! I really want to know how that happens!]


What are your favorite products?

Redken Hair Spray 25


Bumble and bumble Let it Shine on (and on...) Finishing Spray


Bumble and bumble Surf Spray

What are your top 3 hair tips?
1) When blowdrying your hair, make sure that you get about 80 percent dry before you start with your round brush! This will save time and your arm!

2) If you spray your hair with a little shine spray while it is wet, you will have silky, smooth hair.

3) For short hair I love to use short sexy hair gel!

For more information on Daniel Koye, check out danielkoye.com. You can also read his fabulous blog, Celebrity Hair By You, and follow him on Twitter here.