This Colorful Spray-On Headband Is Worth a Double Take

Ever since Kanye West’s colorist Daniel Moon used model Adwoa Aboah’s buzz cut as a canvas for a kaleidoscopic neon mural, graffiti hair has emerged as the subversive color statement of the moment. And much like it does on the streets, the spray-on art form tends to take on a life of its own in the salon, too.

Case in point: One afternoon, Bumble and Bumble stylist Allen Thomas Wood set out to experiment with this makeup-for-hair technique, with hopes of creating a monochrome stenciled headband on a fellow colleague. But as it goes, the look transformed into something much more psychedelic in the end. “I decided to [incorporate] multiple Kryolan colors and then started layering them until it evolved into this gradient rainbow,” he explains.

Because smooth texture with minimal movement is the ideal base for this look, Wood began by using a flat brush to blow dry the hair off his friend’s face as if it were actually being held back by the elastic accessory. Once the slicked hair was secured with a mist of Strong Finish hairspray, Wood turned to plastic wrap for help. With it, he was able to block out bands of all sizes before filling them in freehand with different spray-on shades, including cobalt blue, AstroTurf green, ultraviolet purple, and fire engine red. “To create the ombré effect without muddying it up, you have to use just the right amount of pigment to saturate the color before transitioning it.” In other words, proceed with caution.

The temporary, peroxide-free treatment allows for high-octane experimentation but without the damage or commitment, due to the spray paint’s easy-to-wash-out properties. That said, you can’t exactly throw caution to the wind if you’re a human graffiti wall. “I wouldn’t recommend getting caught in the rain in this,” says Wood. “But if you’re careful and cognizant of the artwork in your hair, you can keep it for a night out.” Upkeep aside, we’re ready to paint the town rainbow.