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Whenever Kathryn Hahn shows up in any TV show or movie I'm watching, my first thought is always, "Oh, now the party's started." Her balls-to-the-wall acting makes every single one of her projects — whether it's a raunchy comedy, a star-studded drama, or an action-packed comic book series — completely unforgettable. And more often than not, her hair makes just as much of an on-screen impact as she does; just take her sleek, sculpted waves from Parks and Recreation, for example. Or her comically massive bun and visor from We're the Millers. Or (most importantly), the numerous period-accurate styles she wore in Marvel's Wandavision.
Hahn's hair, if you ask me, is a character all on its own. When she and I talked via Zoom to discuss her partnership with Procter & Gamble's new household brand 9 Elements, I got to tell her that myself. If her reactionary chuckle and nod are anything to go by, she's in complete agreement.
"Hair is an enormous part of a character. Ask any actor," she says. In many of Hahn's prior roles, the hair you see on screen is all her own, but the "havoc" all that color-treating and heat-styling can wreak on her hair have ultimately convinced her to start wearing more wigs on set going forward. Luckily, the folks from Marvel whom she worked with while playing nosy-neighbor-turned-otherworldly-villain Agatha Harkness are experts in that department.
"[Wandavision] was the first time I really felt comfortable wearing wigs; it felt like they were realistic; it felt like a part of my personhood," Hahn recalls of the show, which required her to drastically change hairstyles between episodes as the plot progressed from the 1950s all the way to modern day. "They were everything to Agatha for transforming into each decade, so they were as important as the costume."
Though the characters she plays clearly have a flair for the dramatic when it comes to hair, Hahn couldn't be more opposite in real life. "I rarely brush [my hair] to be totally honest with you," she laughs. "It's a total disaster."
Because she spends so much time having her hair heat-styled while on the job, she keeps her at-home hair maintenance at an absolute minimum. "I wash it and I put a real heavy-duty conditioner on it once or twice a week." To combat extra dryness or heat damage, she'll also apply the Leonor Greyl Masque Quintessence from time to time (and yes, she knows her tastes are a little expensive). "I'll just put it on on a Sunday [and leave it on] all day long, then rinse it," she explains.
And she always, always lets her hair air-dry when off-duty. "I don't even own a hair-dryer," Hahn deadpans.
For those wondering (which I'm pretty sure is everyone), her skin-care routine is equally hands-off. "I have a cleanser from my dermatologist, and I sometimes use a toner when [my skin] doesn't feel too dry," Hahn explains. "I always use a lip balm — I love By Terry Baume De Rose." A potent moisturizer is another non-negotiable part of her routine; most of the time, she's using her favorite face oil, Vinter's Daughter Active Botanical Serum. Otherwise, "if I'm feeling luxurious, [I use] Augustinus Bader The Cream."
None of these products, however, are as important to Hahn as sunscreen, which she truly never leaves the house without. "I always use sunscreen. Always, always, always, always, always, always," she says. "I'm never in the sun without sunscreen on. And I always have a huge garden hat on like a grandma." She name-drops M.D. Forte's Aftercare Environmental Protection Sunscreen as her go-to. Sadly it's been discontinued, but EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 is a fantastic alternative if you ask Allure editors — just be sure to use the dermatologist-recommended SPF level of 30 or higher.
If there's one piece of beauty advice Hahn wants to pass along to all of us, it's that less really can be more sometimes. "I used to pack on the [matte] foundation when I was in my twenties, and it was just chalky," she says. Clearly, she doesn't do that anymore, as the complexion she has during our interview looks fresh, natural, and just a bit dewy.
Whatever Hahn's doing with her hair, skin, and makeup, it's obviously working for her — so any time she wants to drop some more beauty wisdom on me, I'm listening. Hell, I'm taking notes.
More celebrity beauty tips:
- At Home With Martha Stewart
- Emilia Clarke Finally Figured Out How to Apply Bronzer
- Hunter Schafer's Face Is Her Favorite Sketchbook
Now, see Alicia Keys's low-key daily beauty routine:
