Kate Hudson’s ‘Drag Race’ Hair Belongs in Studio 54

When Kate Hudson stepped onto the RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 11 stage as a guest judge, all eyes were on her—and not just because of her show-stopping gingham bubble dress. Her hair, a cascade of airy, frothy curls with smooth curtain bangs, commanded the room with the kind of effortless glamour that feels made for a drag stage.

The look was the work of celebrity hairstylist Marcus Francis, who drew inspiration from two of the most iconic hair muses of the 1970s: Donna Summer and Jerry Hall. For Francis, the assignment was a full-circle moment. “It’s always a dream to have a client be a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race,” he says. “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.