Celebrity Hairstylist Chase Kusero on Prepping Jared Leto for the Oscars

by Alexandra Tunell

Last night, Jared Leto took home the Oscar for best supporting actor, saved a slice of pizza for his mom, and rocked his best waves yet. In other words, a good night. I talked to Chase Kusero, Leto's hairstylist and colorist of five and a half of years, to get the scoop behind his Academy-Award winning look.

How far ahead do you plan the hair look? "Jared and I usually decide day of, though a couple of days ago we thought maybe we'd put his hair up. But when I saw the white Saint Laurent blazer, I thought, We've just got to go with him and what he's known for, which is his hair."

Where did you get ready? "At his home, in the movie-star room. Just kidding. In this little room off his kitchen."

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Be honest--are those waves natural? "The last time he had long hair was in the 2000s, and he used to razor and cut it a lot, but now he doesn't and has a lot more natural wave. I use a straightening iron--never a curling iron--to enhance the wave, and rough-dry it on low heat in twisted sections."

What products do you use? "The day before, I prep wet hair with Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Waves Primer Spray, then apply Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Waves Pomade to the length of the hair, which provides a flexible hold and soft, glossy curl definition. I create the desired part and let the hair air-dry. The next day, I spray Vidal Sassoon Pro Series ColorFinity Dry Shampoo in Rich Darks to the roots to refresh the hair. Then I spray Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Heat Protect & Shine Spray to the ends to protect the hair from heat before straightening it."

How often does he wash it? "He's a clean guy. I've gotten him to wash it a couple times per week, but by that I mean four to five times a week. He likes to wash his hair, but long hair has to be a little dirty."

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And color? "The last time I did it was around the VMAs, in September."

What was the vibe like as you got ready? "He was both nervous and excited. We're always really chill, and sometimes we talk a bit more, sometimes it's quieter. He was going over his speech. He's so humble, but he was going over it in case he won. He's so cool, calm, and collected."

Were you drinking champagne? "No, we were drinking water and eating vegan pancakes."

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