Experience the WOW Effect with Styling Tips from Chris Appleton
- 4 min reading time
On 8 June 2026, we attended the Color Wow event at the Rosewood Hotel in Amsterdam. A special setting for an equally special launch: Color Wow with L’Oréal Groupe. The event focused entirely on shiny, healthy, and effortlessly styled hair. And who better to talk about this than Chris Appleton?
As Global Ambassador for Color Wow and hairstylist behind some of the most iconic Hollywood looks, Chris Appleton knows exactly how to make hair shine. During his masterclass in Amsterdam, he shared his favourite styling techniques, product tips, and his viSie on radiant hair. We’ll bring you the key tips so you can experience the true WOW effect at home.
Chris Appleton’s viSie on modern glamour hair
According to the hairstylist behind looks for Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez, modern glamour hair in 2026 no longer means Perfect fixed curls or overstyled looks. It should look softer, healthier, and more natural. Think shiny hair, smooth movement, and a finish that looks luxurious without feeling heavy or stiff. What we took away from Chris Appleton’s masterclass? The WOW effect isn’t in just one product or styling tool. It’s all about the combination of good preparation, protection, technique, and finish.
Tip 1: Rescue a bad hair day with a polished finish
Chris Appleton’s ultimate rescue tip is to focus on the finish rather than redo your entire look. Smooth the hair surface, add shine, and reshape lengths and ends. For this, the Color Wow One-Minute Transformation Styling Cream is perfect. A small amount applied to dry, frizzy or stubborn hair will make your look more polished within minutes.
Tip 2: Heat protection is always a must
Another key tip from Chris Appleton is never to skip heat protection. Especially if you regularly blow-dry, curl, or straighten, heat can affect your hair’s shine, softness, and condition over time.
Chris stresses heat protection is essential if you want your hair to look healthy and luxurious in the long run. The great news? Every styling product from Color Wow includes at least two levels of built-in heat protection. So you’re not only working on your style but protecting your hair as you style.
Tip 3: Create more volume with the right curling technique
During the masterclass, Chris also showed how important technique is when adding volume. One of his tips was to use two different curling wand sizes.
Start with a smaller wand to add definition and strength to the hair. Then use a larger wand to create softer movement and a more luxurious finish. Combining these two techniques gives hair more dimenSie while keeping the look light and natural rather than fake.
Tip 4: Lift at the roots for a face-framing effect
Another technique Chris demonstrated is Perfect for more volume around the face. He first curled the front sections upward at the roots before styling the rest of the strand. Lifting the roots first creates more volume around the face, giving your hair a fuller effect and a soft face-framing look. It’s a small detail but one that instantly makes your style look salon-worthy.
The popular Color Wow products
Several Color Wow products took centre stage at the event:
The Color Wow Dream Coat is the brand’s most iconic product. This Spray smooths frizzy hair and adds a shiny finish. For best results, apply Dream Coat on towel-dried hair before blow-drying. Heat activates the product, giving your hair that signature smooth and shiny finish.
Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer
Want volume without sticky or heavy hair? The Bombshell Volumizer is a must-have. It helps your hair look fuller while staying light and flexible. Apply to towel-dried or dry hair at the roots and through the lengths before blow-drying. Perfect for a bouncy blowout or as prep for Chris’s volume technique.
Style On Steroids
Style On Steroids is perfect when you want more texture, grip, and hold without a hard or crunchy finish. Use this texturSpray before curling or to give waves more shape and strength. The great thing about this product is that your hair stays movable—you get hold without that stiff hairspray feeling.
For styles that need extra long-lasting hold, Texas Hold ’em Spray is ideal. This hairSpray offers hold and keeps your hair in shape for a long time without making your style feel heavy.
Money Mist is a lightweight leave-in conditioner designed to instantly strengthen and add shine to your hair. This nourishing, super-hydrating leave-in reduces breakage and frizz after just one use.
The success of Color Wow and the acquisition
The success of Color Wow didn’t come out of nowhere. Sind since its founding in 2013 by Gail Federici, the brand has focused on its main drivers: frizz-free, shiny hair and voluminous styles. In 2025, Color Wow became part of L’Oréal Groupe, marking a new chapter for the brand. With L’Oréal’s acquisition, Color Wow gains the Perfecte baSis to grow further, keep innovating, and strengthen its worldwide success.
