All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
"Hair is such a big way of expressing yourself, especially on the stage," says the man behind Jennifer Lopez s epic Super Bowl waves, stylist Chris Appleton. "What it does as you perform can really help tell a story." That story—the one that was broadcast to millions tonight from Miami as the singer took the stage at the 2020 halftime show—was the result of a week of trial and error as the pair narrowed down the winning style.
"We had some fun trying different looks," says the pro, who s been in South Florida all week getting ready with Lopez. While Appleton normally preps the superstar s hair for a two-hour performance—taking sweat, wind machines and daring head flips into consideration—tonight there was an extra layer of complication: humidity. "Miami is the worst place for hair," Appleton jokes of the city s consistent high humidity and heat index. "As effortless as it looks, it s a lot of planning to make sure the hair moves right in those six crucial minutes."
After testing out a few signature "J.Lo" styles (i.e. the Barbie half-up and the slicked high ponytail) the duo decided on a set of volumized waist-grazing curls, which are set with Appleton s two-prong method. "It s all in the curling of the hair," he says. "[First,] I curl the hair with a one-inch small iron to get a really strong foundation. Then, I brush it out and go back in with a larger two-inch curling iron." The stylist strives for a "bounce," he says. "As she moves, the hair moves, it has to be simultaneous." To achieve a dynamic shape, he places clips at the root, then hits the whole head with cool air from a blow dryer to set it in place.
To prevent Miami s humidity from getting the best of Lopez s lengths, Appleton prepped with his trusty Color wow Dream Coat—a hardworking serum that "puts a protective waterproof layer on top of the hair." However, no method is completely foolproof: "It helps, but when she performs, she performs like an athlete, every hair flip, every move, she is full out."
Appleton finished off the curls backstage at the Hard Rock Stadium with a shine spray to ensure the lengths looked silky from every camera angle. "People expect a look," he explains. "This is the Super Bowl, go big or go home!"