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Welcome to Big Break, where some of the most influential figures in the beauty industry look back on the good, the bad, and all the moments in between. We share his journey to becoming a hairstyling star like Rodrigo and Dove Cameron.
Clayton Hawkins has a deep love for hair. The youngest of four siblings, Hawkins grew up in Los Angeles and made his passion for his family clear early on. “I get a wig from Santa every Christmas,” Hawkins told POPSUGAR. I did.”
Hawkins remembers watching the 1990 film Dick Tracy on repeat, just to get a glimpse of Madonna’s hair (“I was just in awe”). Then, after spending years styling wigs and his own hair in high school, he turned it into an informal side job. [hair] For the prom,” he said, adding that he often buys extensions and approach classmates if he thinks he can help groom his hair.
Hawkins was deeply involved in theater, and after high school he was accepted into NYU Tisch’s Collaborative Arts Project 21 (CAP 21), a prestigious musical theater program.Hair was his number one priority. Even when I was doing plays and musicals, even though I had a big role, I was like, ‘But I have to do everyone’s hair too.’ So I used to do everyone’s hair before the show. .
His professional training was a little unconventional. Hawkins learned how to apply purchased extensions by watching the reality show “Newlyweds” with Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. half, [Simpson] I had hair extensions with Ken Paves, so I recorded it on VHS, rewound it, and watched it.” Eventually, “he says.