Kaia Gerber’s Hair Colorist Jenna Perry Shares Her Tips

Kaia Gerber was born to be an it-girl. Beyond her famous parents, everything about her just exudes classic Hollywood glam. The woman behind her trademark brunette hair: celebrity colorist Jenna Perry, who’s also responsible for the color on some of pop culture’s most prominent heads, like Emily Ratajkowski (remember when she went red?), Chloe Sevigny, Kendall Jenner, Camilla Morrone, and Bella Hadid.

Gerber is one of Perry’s most loyal celebrity clients, continually tapping the expert to test out different shades of brunette. With the pressure that comes with doing the hair for Hollywood’s elite, we figured Perry must have collected a veritable treasure trove of hair secrets, so we went directly to the source. Keep reading for her top hair tips, from how to keep your color shiny to the right brush to use with extensions.

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Jenna Perry is a celebrity hair colorist and owner of Jenna Perry Hair Studio in SoHo New York.

Tip 1: Get Professional Hydrating Treatments

Perry says that going to the salon for a regular hydrating treatments — in addition to at-home treatments — is the key to strong and shiny hair. “I always recommend my celebrity clients to come into the salon for a professional Olaplex treatment,” she says. “The hydrating treatments help to protect and refresh all of the damaged hair. It’s even better if they follow up at home with a hydrating mask, and the Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Hair Oil ($30) for everyday styling.”

Tip 2: Don’t Always Follow the Trends

Perry explains that while trends like super ashy blond and chunky highlights can be fun, they often don’t translate to a luxurious look. Instead, consider your skin tone and lifestyle. “I love a seamless looking blonde, something that feels timeless and cohesive,” she says. This is the approach she takes for clients like Chloe Sevigny.

Tip 3: Try Hair Oiling For Extra Shine

“Shiny hair is all about closing your hair cuticle,” Perry says. “Oiling your scalp, using hair masks, and hair oil are all TikTok trends that will actually work to keep your hair shiny.” She says that staying away from heat styling, and instead focusing more on products that add moisture and protect the hair will help give lasting shine.

Tip 4: Swap Your Hair Elastic for a Silk One

For those of you who love a slick-back style, Perry says that it’s super important to take extra care both to preserve your hair while in the style and after you take it out. “In general I love having a really good clarifying shampoo in my hair routine,” she says. “The Olaplex clarifying shampoo ($30) is going to help remove all that extra product buildup without drying your hair out. Using a claw clip instead of a classic elastic — or a silk hair tie — is really going to help protect your hair from extra damage in those slicked back styles, too.”

Tip 5: Don’t Get Extensions If You Don’t Have a Good Brush

“You absolutely must get a good brush for your extensions,” says Perry. “I love the mini Mason Pearson brush ($140). It’s gentle on the bond but really helps to get through any little or big tangle.” She also says that the extension specialist you choose is just as important as the upkeep, so make sure to do your research.

Tip 6: Remember You Can Always Go Back

Whether it’s a big color transformation or a new tone, Perry says: “If you’re committing, then commit and just know that if you do it in a responsible way, you can always go back to the color you had.”

Aviel Kanter is the director of branded content for Vox Media and oversees lifestyle content across the portfolio of brands. She manages a team of editors who write articles in the wellness, fitness, beauty, fashion, health, entertaining, pets, and finance categories. She is also a beauty enthusiast and contributes many articles to the POPSUGAR Beauty editorial site.