View this post on Instagram
Gaga’s Chromatica Ball stadium tour exploded onto stages this year; and her longtime hairdresser — famed Joico Celebrity Artist, Frederic Aspiras – was there for every gorgeous moment. For Freddy, that meant blending the message of the show with a deeply meaningful aesthetic. “To me, Chromatic Ball means healing, unity, and bravery,” he explains. “A place where you come to rejoice and heal. The show really took me on an emotional ride; and [created] a state of understanding and patience for one’s own struggles.”
⭑ First up, those stadiums! How has this been different than Gaga’s previous tours?
“Not only was this [primarily] an outdoor stadium tour, but it was summer tour…with 60 ft. flames! All these elements make it quite different when designing a hairstyle. But the many years of trial and error with performance- geared hairstyles prepared me for such a undertaking.”
⭑ How DO you even prepare for something this huge?
“It took two months of planning the hairstyles for the show. After reviewing the story and concept in its entirety, I set out a plan and pitch with all the ideas and movements of the hair, for each dancer and for Gaga. [I used] many mood boards and film/fashion references.”
⭑ It was a massive job. How many looks did you create for Gaga on this tour?
“I started with 7 looks (wigs) that I presented in the months of the trial phase and rehearsals. The day before opening night, I had one last wig that I was working on – it was meticulous, because it was a very pure and a different look for Gaga. But, as I said, I’ve evolved in the years and my confidence in my work has grown. Gaga remembered I was working on this wig and thought we’d give it a run during a rehearsal…and just like that, the rest is history!”
View this post on Instagram
⭑ Tell us about this “winner wig!”
“It was a handmade, full lace wig, perfectly styled with dramatic comb marks; and styled to last through two hours of performance, at which point it was perfectly sprayed down and scrunched for the finale section of the show. I think Gaga told me it was her favorite wig she’s ever worn. That was the highest compliment I’ve received since I began working with her in 2009. I’ve evolved a lot as a hair artist; I can say that my work now evokes more confidence and freedom.”
⭑ Tell us about the challenges this tour posed to you as a hairdresser….
“The incredible and illusive heatwave and rain that the world has been experiencing played a big part in the production. The humidity was another level. What truly saved the day is Joico Humidity Blocker + Protective Finishing Spray. It kept Gaga’s hair smooth the whole show.”
⭑ And how about you? What was your favorite stop on the tour and why was it special?
“It was Oracle Park in my hometown of San Francisco. We performed to a sold- out audience. It was a full-circle moment to be in this place, remembering how I use to drive past Oracle Park almost every day with my mom to her hair salon. We would have conversations about my future and the dreams she would have for me, and I for myself. To know it came true — standing in that crowd of thousands of people, being part of such an amazing group of friends, family, and even my chosen family that I get to create with — gave me the biggest sense of gratitude. Then, to have a song as prolific and beautiful as “Born This Way” be dedicated to my your late mother and me…well, I fully lost it backstage. It was tears of joy and bittersweet memories. I told you this show was healing…but this was on another level!”
Use of any Joico products on or by any individuals does not warrant or constitute any endorsement except by official spokespersons and representatives of the brand.
