It’s all in a week’s work for the industry icon. Well, technically, a week and two days.
Just before the 98th annual Oscars, salon owner and Schwarzkopf Professional U.S. Creative Director of Color & Technique, made 10 house calls (bicoastal no less, spanning New York and Los Angeles) and 18 salon appointments at MèCHE — with clients including: Emma Stone, Anya Taylor-Joy, Kris Jenner, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Kate Hudson, Isla Fisher, Heidi Klum, and many more. In addition to Oscars prep, Cunningham also worked with clients for upcoming projects and slotted in personal appointments for Dakota Johnson, Khloé Kardashian, Zoey Deutch, Julia Garner, Lana Del Rey, Madelyn Cline, Ellen Pompeo, and others.
The Tease caught up with Cunningham in the thick of her week to get a better sense of the strategy behind Oscars color, the behind-the-scenes details that make the biggest impact, and what it really takes to deliver camera-ready hair for some of Hollywood’s VIPs on the entertainment industry’s biggest night. She also shares insights into Emma Stone and Priyanka Chopra-Jonas’s hair that you won’t see anywhere else!
Read on for our conversation.
The Tease: Let’s start at the beginning, how far in advance do you typically start preparing a client’s color ahead of the Oscars?
Tracey Cunningham: Preparation and having the right team make all the difference. My assistants know my rhythm so well that everything runs seamlessly, whether we’re in the salon or running between house calls. Major changes are usually done weeks in advance because I don’t love doing dramatic transformations right before the carpet – it’s risky. The final appointment typically happens a few days before the event so the color feels fresh and vibrant.
During Oscars week I’m often moving between my salon, Mèche in Beverly Hills, and house calls around Los Angeles, refining color, adjusting tone, and making sure everything looks luminous on camera.
Earlier this week started especially early — I was at Kris Jenner’s house at 5 AM to refresh her base color. Afterward, we took a moment to stop by the horses nearby in the neighborhood, which felt like such a peaceful and unexpected way to start the day. Those little pauses are what keep the week enjoyable in the middle of such a packed schedule.
Beyond prepping looks for the awards show and all the surrounding events, I’ve also been seeing clients who are getting ready for upcoming projects. Zoey Deutch came in to get camera-ready for her next film, Madelyn Cline stopped by for touch-ups while shooting a movie, Kathy Hilton was in the chair with lots of celebratory energy ahead of her March 13 birthday, and Julia Garner came by while preparing for an upcoming role. And despite the packed schedule, I still made time after work to practice on doll heads for an upcoming color class I’m teaching. These final days before the Oscars are always so energizing — they remind me exactly why I fell in love with hair color in the first place.
Ok, energizing or not, physically, that’s a lot of clients. How do you take care of yourself when you’re in the middle of this kind of rush, for lack of better phrasing? I imagine you’re caffeinating?
Cunningham: My go-to coffee at home right now is Copper Cow Coffee. It’s Vietnamese-style organic coffee and I’m completely obsessed with it. Hydration is another big one for me, so I’m constantly drinking water throughout the day. I keep simple snacks like nuts and dates nearby for quick energy, and when I need something more substantial, I usually get Goop Kitchen or DoorDash from Carla Cafe — their gluten-free burrito is my standard order.
I also never leave home without my OMI Hair Growth Peptides. They’re always in my bag — I take them every day without fail, and the new mixed berry flavor is so good I actually look forward to it. I keep them everywhere so I never forget.
Even during the chaos of Oscars week, life still finds a way to be very ‘me.’ One afternoon after work, I somehow squeezed in a dentist appointment for my cat, which feels perfectly on-brand for my life. I also carved out a little time to unwind before bed by watching ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ on Apple TV+. Judy Greer and Rita Wilson are both in it, they’re clients of mine, so it makes watching even more fun.
And in the middle of all of it, I’m incredibly grateful for my family. My cousin Eileen was visiting from France and came by with my sister Sandi, and we all went to dinner at Kismet with my son Max. That dinner truly saved me — there’s nothing better than that kind of moment in the middle of a hectic week.
What’s the biggest challenge when preparing hair color for an event like the Oscars?
Cunningham: Timing is always the biggest challenge. The days are long and there’s a lot happening in a short window. One morning might start with a house call before sunrise, then I’m at the salon all day, and later I’m driving across Los Angeles for another appointment. Having an incredible team and planning everything carefully is what makes it possible.
When you’re working with several clients attending the same event, how do you make sure each look feels distinct when they’re on the carpet or on stage as a presenter?
Cunningham: Personalization is everything. I look at each person’s skin tone, eye color, and style to create something that enhances their natural features. Even if two people are blonde, the tone, dimension, and placement can be completely different. Modern hair color is really about tailoring the shade to the individual.
Let’s talk Emma Stone for a minute. What was the starting point for her hair color? Was it inspired by the dress, the glam, or something else entirely?
Cunningham: With Emma, the inspiration really started with evolving her signature red in a way that felt fresh but still very Emma. She’s known for that beautiful auburn tone, so the goal was to refine it rather than change it. We wanted the shade to lean slightly more brownish and polished this time — something softer and richer while still keeping the warmth that suits her so well.
Earlier in the week, I was actually in New York doing house calls, and I stopped by Emma’s place for a quick appointment before heading to the next client. I used a Schwarzkopf Professional IGORA VIBRANCE gloss, which processes in about twenty minutes, to refresh the tone and add shine. It was one of those efficient New York moments – quick, precise, and her hair was gleaming when we finished.
That subtle refinement helped the color feel dimensional and sophisticated so it looked modern and polished on the red carpet while still feeling very true to her signature look.
How do you balance keeping a celebrity’s signature color while still making the look feel special for such a major event?
Cunningham: It’s about evolution, not reinvention. Most clients have a color that feels very ‘them,’ so the goal is to elevate it — maybe adding dimension, refining the tone, or boosting shine so it feels special for the carpet without losing their identity. The goal is always for the color to enhance the person rather than overshadow them.
What about Priyanka [Chopra-Jonas]?
Cunningham: With Priyanka, the goal is always to enhance her natural richness and shine. She has incredibly beautiful, deep brunette hair, so for the Oscars we focused on refining that depth while adding subtle dimension. During the appointment we did her base color and highlights around her face using Schwarzkopf, which adds movement and softly illuminates the color without taking away from that deep, glossy brunette she’s known for.
Her movie ‘The Bluff’ on Amazon Prime is the highest-rated movie right now with over 300 million views, by the way. She is incredible!
Was there a specific product you relied on for her color?
For Priyanka’s look, I relied on Schwarzkopf Professional to create depth and dimension while keeping the hair incredibly healthy. I built the base using IGORA ROYAL to maintain that rich brunette tone, then added soft highlights using IGORA VARIO Blond Super Plus to gently lift pieces and create movement.
To finish, I used a custom IGORA VIBRANCE gloss, blending 9-7, 9-0, and 0-00, to refine the tone and add shine. That gloss really pulls everything together and gives the hair that polished, reflective finish that looks incredible on the carpet.
For the clients attending the show, were there any subtle tweaks — like glossing, tonal shifts, or brightness adjustments — things that people might not notice but make a big difference on camera?
Cunningham: Definitely. Sometimes the biggest difference comes from the smallest adjustments, like a gloss to enhance shine or a slight tonal shift to neutralize warmth. I especially love Schwarzkopf Professional’s IGORA VIBRANCE 0-00 — it refreshes and enhances their existing color, adds shine, and maintains vibrancy without causing damage or changing the natural tone. Those subtle details are what make the hair look incredible under flash photography.
How do you ensure the color still looks fresh, days after processing, as well as after hours on the red carpet and throughout the ceremony?
Cunningham: The key is using high-performance color and maintaining the hair’s integrity. When the hair is healthy, the color reflects light better and lasts longer.
I rely heavily on Schwarzkopf Professional because the formulas are incredibly precise and protect the integrity of the hair. For many of these looks, Schwarzkopf Professional’s IGORA VIBRANCE is a favorite because it allows me to refine tone and add shine while keeping the hair healthy and dimensional.
Looking at this year’s carpet, what color trend do you think we might not realize we’re seeing yet?
Cunningham: The biggest trend right now is personalization. It’s less about one specific shade and more about color that enhances the individual – tones that complement skin, add dimension, and look healthy and natural. That’s really where modern hair color is heading.
If you’re not already, be sure to follow Cunningham on social media.
