Exclusive: ‘Queer Eye’ Star Jonathan Van Ness Has Spoken, and the Best Way to Style Your Hair This Summer Is…

As Queer Eye’s resident grooming expert, we look to Jonathan Van Ness and his luscious brown locks for all the hair secrets. (He was, after all, a hairstylist long before he was a Fab Five member.)

When PureWow sat down with the 32-year-old author right before he officiated a lucky couple’s wedding, we obviously wanted to talk hair. So, what’s on JVN’s radar for summer? The Queer Eye star says he’s all about texture right now.  

“Natural texture is very in. Whether you’re big and wavy or you’re more straight naturally, it’s all about embracing what you have,” Van Ness explained during an interview for his partnership with Elysian Brewing in honor of Pride month. “It’s a longer lasting wear, especially in summer months with humidity. If your hair is really fine and straight, it’s not the day to do a whole big curly set. Embrace what your hair is, because we know that that’s going to last all day, you’re not going to go back and regret your pictures.”

So how does one embrace natural texture without looking like a wet poodle? According to JVN, it all starts with a primer. “If you have naturally waving hair, using a primer on your hair when it’s wet will help set it up for a good day,” he said.

Van Ness went on to explain that “any foundational prep mist, detangler or air-dry product” will do, but he does have a couple of favorites that you can snag for yourself.

“Ouai makes a great detangler [$26] and air-dry foam [$28]. Shu Uemura makes an air-dry/blow dry primer [$30]. It’s a spray you put in wet. Or there’s the Bumble & Bumble curl primer [$28] or the R&Co detangler [$24],” he shared.

Hey, anything that will save us from a blow-dryer is great in our book.