Take it from me—when you first meet supermodel Ashley Graham, you’re immediately taken aback by her unreal beauty. But shortly after, you’ll be even more enraptured by her hilarious, bubbly, down-to-earth personality. When I got the chance to sit down with the mom-of-three in the chic, speakeasy-like basement of Jac’s On Bond to celebrate Graham’s partnership with Revlon’s iconic Colorsilk line, it felt like catching up with an old friend. Revlon’s Colorsilk line of at-home hair color products has been an industry leader for years. Graham took to New York City on her Revlon ambassador duties to promote an even more exciting addition to the Colorsilk family: Revlon Colorsilk with Bond Repair ($6), aimed at providing radiant, lasting color while repairing damaged hair for your most vibrant strands yet.
While you might think that someone as effortlessly chic and cool as Graham would be immune to the beauty trials and tribulations we all face, the model was more than happy to share her beauty journey with me during our chat, from her struggles with postpartum hair loss to cosmetic treatments and the beauty lessons she wished she learned sooner.
You’re the new face of Revlon’s ColorSilk Bond Repair Line, which is all about bright, lasting color with minimal damage. To you, what does healthy, vibrant hair mean for your confidence and how you see yourself?
“I’m the kind of girl that could leave the house in sweatpants and no makeup, as long as my skin’s hydrated and my hair is done. I mean, hair is everything. I didn’t start taking care of my hair, though, until later in life because I didn’t understand it all—the masks, the conditioning, the power of a good cut—and I really regret that. So, to all of you young people out there listening, take care of your hair now.
I had my hair fall out from children. It doesn’t happen to everyone, but it happens to a lot of people, and it happened to me. I have three children, but I had two pregnancies, and because they’re twins, each time my whole hairline shedded and now it doesn’t all grow back all the time either. So, I’m dealing with all of that as well, and I just have to say you just don’t know what you’re going to lose later, so enjoy it and take care of what you have now.”
Throughout your career as a model, have there been any bumps in the road for you on your hair journey that made you understand the true power of healthy hair?
“The postpartum hair loss was a really big one and and I’ve taken care of my hair and been on that hair journey that so many are on. Another one is just the heat that I’ve done over the years. That and being on birth control and then going off birth control and all the hormone changes played a big role in understanding my hair and hair health in general. Just knowing what you’re putting in your body, the kind of heat you’re putting on it, and how you can protect it, it’s all important. I had never dyed my hair until a year and a half ago, too, and now I can’t go back. I went a little darker and now I can’t unsee it [laughs].”
Revlon Colorsilk makes hair coloring fool-proof, but are there any hair styles or techniques you still haven’t mastered?
“I just can’t figure out those air wraps! Every time I put it to my hair, it’s not as easy as it seems. It’s just not my thing. I tried it and I think I’ll stick to curling my hair with Hot Tools. I think I’m really good at clipping in extensions, though!”
It feels like the way we view beauty and the array of ‘aesthetics’ out there is constantly changing—in this moment, how would you describe your beauty aesthetic?
“Clean, glossy, gorgeous skin and hydrated, healthy hair. I’m also into giving myself a facelift without getting a facelift by using makeup, which can be as simple as a little extra mascara at the ends of the lashes to bring everything up. I don’t have Botox or filler, so I also overdraw my upper lip, always. For me, it’s all about enhancing what you already have.”
If you were on a desert island and could only pack three skin-care products and three makeup products, what would they be?
“Revlon Rose Glow Face Mist ($17), a Korean SPF and the specific face oil my acupuncturist makes—it’s a Chinese herbal oil. For makeup, Revlon Superlustrous Lipstick in Bare It All ($10) is my favorite lipstick of all time, and the ColorStay FlexWear Concealer ($13) too. The Illuminance Gel Serum Blush ($15) is so good too because you can use it as a cheek and lip.”
My personal fascination—do you have a signature scent? If not, what would you call your fragrance sun, moon and rising?
“My moon—so my deepest, most inner self—would be the Le Labo Santal dupe [laughs]. It’s Dossier Woody Sandalwood ($49). My rising is literally a TikTok perfume, but it’s an oil which I love. It’s a vanilla musk, and I mix it with my lotion and put it everywhere. My sun would be this floral fragrance my husband picked out for me—it’s his favorite.”
What beauty advice would you give your younger self?
“Start gua sha-ing your face now so you don’t have to get a facelift in your 40s. Take that with a grain of salt, though—I’m not going into my 40s thinking ‘I’m going to get a facelift,’ but if I was doing the skin care I’m doing now in my 20s, I think there’d be a difference.”
