When Kate Hudson made her appearance as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 11, all eyes were on her, mesmerized by her stunning gingham bubble dress. However, it wasn’t just the dress that captured everyone’s attention—it was her hair, a mesmerizing cascade of airy curls with elegant curtain bangs that exuded effortless glamour fit for a drag stage.
Celebrity hairstylist Marcus Francis was the mastermind behind Hudson’s iconic hairstyle, drawing inspiration from the legendary hair muses of the 1970s, Donna Summer and Jerry Hall. For Francis, styling Hudson’s hair for RuPaul’s Drag Race was a dream come true. “It’s always a dream to have a client be a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race,” he expressed. “We all had an absolute blast that day, especially since we all got to flex our glam skills for the show that welcomes being extra.”
Hudson’s gingham bubble dress set the creative tone, and Francis knew the hair had to match its boldness. He began on damp hair, combing Joico Dream Blowout Thermal Protection Crème ($27) through from roots to ends, then layering in Joico Power Whip Whipped Foam ($23) to build volume and hold from the foundation up. He kept Hudson’s signature curtain bangs smooth and controlled with a small round brush, while rough-drying the rest of her hair to preserve its natural texture—a technique that gives the finished look a lived-in quality rather than a stiff, over-worked finish.
Then came the curls. Working in half-inch sections with a quarter-inch curling iron, Francis wrapped each section away from the face, sealing each one with a spritz of Joico Heat Hero Glossing Thermal Protector ($24). After allowing every curl to cool completely, he separated them by hand to achieve that airy, frothy volume—keeping the roots deliberately flatter near the crown so the shape reads as effortlessly glamorous rather than overwrought.
To finish, Francis styled the bangs, positioned Hudson’s playful sailor hat, and locked the whole creation in place with Joico Hold Hero High Hold + Shine Boosting Finishing Spray ($23), ensuring the look would hold up under the bright lights and high-energy atmosphere of a Drag Race taping. The result was a masterclass in retro-modern glamour—a hair look that felt at home alongside the show’s most extravagant queens.