Celebrity Hairstylist Devante Turnbull Reveals How He Created SZA’s Show-Stopping Red Super Bowl Curls

SZA never fails to serve a killer hair look, even when she’s performing on one of the world’s biggest stages.

The “Saturn” singer came through looking extra fierce in monochromatic red from head-to-toe when she joined long-time collaborator Kendrick Lamar on-stage for his highly anticipated Super Bowl LIX Halftime performance in New Orleans, last night. Not only did she deliver stellar vocals while performing “Luther” and “All the Stars,” but she also blessed us with an equally stunning hairdo.

For her big night, her hairstylist Devante Turnbull opted for a fresh twist on the star’s trademark curly hairstyle by creating voluminous fiery-red curls for the event. “We wanted to stay true to her signature big hair while elevating it with extra length and some color to spice things up,” he said. 

To bring his vision to life, Turnbull utilized a variety of ghd tools as well as Redken and K18 products—inclduing the brand’s K18REPAIR™ Service to ensure SZA’s hair health even before coloring and styling.

Given how obsessed we are with SZA’s curls, The Tease made sure to get all the details from Turnbull on how he crafted the singer’s show-stopping red curls for her big night.

Get the Look:

1. Turnbull set the stage for styling SZA’s look by utilizing K18REPAIR™, an in-salon service that works to repair hair from the inside out. First, to strengthen and protect the hair, he sprayed the K18 Professional Molecular Repair Mist evenly throughout the hair to strengthen and prepare it for chemical processing. Let it sit for at least 4 minutes before proceeding. Do not rinse out.
2. Next Turnbull lightened the hair. In a mixing bowl , he combined the Redken Flash Lift 8 Hair Lightener with Pro-Oxide 20 Volume Developer until he achieved a smooth consistency. Then he applied the bleach evenly on the hair, allowing it to process for 30 minutes to achieve a level 6 dark blonde base. 
3. After that, he rinsed and shampooed the hair with the K18 PEPTIDE PREP™ Detox Shampoo ($38.00) and allowed the hair to air dry.
4. Then, it was time to color.  Turnbull combined the Redken Color Fusion 6RR + 20 Volume Pro-Oxide Developer in a 1:1 ratio. He applied  the mixture evenly throughout the hair, ensuring full saturation. He let it process for 35 minutes before rinsing and toning the roots with Redken Shades EQ 05RV.
5. He then treated the hair by applying the K18 Molecular Repair Mask ($75.00) to restore hydration and strength. He let that sit for 4 minutes.
6. Then, Turnbull blowdried the hair using the ghd Helios Hair Dryer ($279.00) and the Professional Diffuser ($30.00) attachment to maintain natural movement and definition on the hair.
7. To create a unique texture, Turnbull alternated between using two curlers — ghd’s Curve Creative Curl Wand ($209.00) and Thin Wand ($209.00) to curl the hair in different directions and add more dimension.
8. To maximize volume, Turnbull used his fingers to separate and blend the curls. Then he brushed through the hair using the ghd Paddle Brush ($35.00) and applied the K18 Molecular Repair Hail Oil ($65.00) for added shine, frizz control, and movement.

If you recreate this look on a client, or yourself, be sure to tag us at @readthetease on Instagram.