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E! illustration/Liane Hentscher/Prime, IGK, SACHAJUAN
You're not alone. We too are obsessed with Allie Hayes' hair in Off Campus. Played by Mika Abdalla, there's something about the textured, slightly messy, and voluminous hair with the killer bangs and golden honey highlights that captured the hearts of absolutely everyone (not just Dean Di Laurentis).
We took a break from rewatching the Prime Video original series and tapped the originators of the hairstyle to get all the details of how to recreate the look at home. E! spoke with the actor's long-time hair stylists Marisa Mitchell, her stylist and dry cutting specialist, and Madison Alexis, her colorist, at HEAVEN Studios in LA.
"I feel like people like the undone, kind of free-spirited look that the cut embodies. It’s not self-serious; it’s cool without trying; it’s imperfect." Mitchell told E!.
"Everyone wants to see a little more of that in themselves, even if it’s just for a night," Alexis told E!. "Somehow, it’s reinventing something we’ve seen for years and love, but it is presented in a way that seems more tangible to everyone."
Keep reading to learn more about how they created, styled, and protected the color of this iconic look.
- To achieve Allie Hayes' hair look, start with the IGK GOOD BEHAVIOR Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray as a leave-in spray and heat protectant.
- Add some bounce and wake up your waves with the Oribe Curl Shaping Mousse.
- Layer two texturizing sprays to create beach waves and add that messy volume: IGK BEACH CLUB Volumizing Texture Spray & SACHAJUAN Ocean Mist Sea Salt Spray
Off Campus Season 1
You can watch Off Campus on Amazon Prime Video with a 30-day free trial.
How Did You Create Allie Hayes’ Off Campus Hair?
While Mitchell and Alexis were the hands behind Allie Hayes' iconic hair look, the idea came straight from the actor herself.
"Mika has always come in with a plan," Mitchell told E!. "She said she wanted a really drastic shag. Short layers, especially through the crown, and a heavier bang. After she explained Allie’s character, this plan for the cut made perfect sense."
As for the color, placement is everything. The goal is to make the layers stand out. "Mika really wanted to showcase her haircut and bring it to life by adding contoured highlights and dimension," Alexis told E!.
"Super layered cuts, or even lightly layered cuts, can read really flat both in person and on camera without having ribbons of dimension. We really wanted you to see the movement her hair has even when not in motion."
How Can I Style My Hair Like Allie Hayes from Off Campus?
If you already rock the layered shag look Allie has on the show, you'll still need to style your hair as she does. Mitchell told us it's all in the layering of texturizing sprays and taking your time with diffusing.
Her go-to products for Allie's look were IGK’s ‘Good Behavior’ as a leave-in conditioner and heat protector, Oribe's Curl Mousse, finishing off with IGK’s Beach Club Texture Spray and Sacha Juan’s ocean mist. Then, she flips her upside down and diffuses.
"Remember that when you diffuse your hair, it always looks bad before it looks good. You gotta push through to the other side!" Mitchell told E!.
IGK GOOD BEHAVIOR Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray
This IGK spray can be applied to damp or dry hair and promises to give your locks keratin-like shine and smoothness—while protecting them from heat and frizz.
Oribe Curl Shaping Mousse
This curl mousse gives you hydrated, shiny, and bouncy curls that hold their shape throughout any frat party or Shakespeare monologue, with no frizz in sight.
IGK BEACH CLUB Volumizing Texture Spray
Perfect for any hair type, the IGK Beach Club spray creates instant beach waves and textured volume. Plus, it promises to keep your hair crunch-free and soft.
SACHAJUAN Ocean Mist Sea Salt Spray
This sea salt spray adds effortless volume, texture, and grip to your hair, creating a wavy, slightly messy look with a matte finish.
Universal Hair Diffuser
If your hair dryer didn't already come with a diffuser attachment, this one for under $30 is a perfect option with its high rating and over 18K reviews. Plus, it comes in seven shades to choose from!
How Can I Best Protect My Hair Color?
The rich brown color and golden honey highlights from Allie's look need to be protected, just like any other hair color. "Hair is a lot like skin, and color ultimately changes the chemical makeup of your hair. Color-treated hair needs hydration, protection, and protein," Alexis told E!.
To protect your hair, she recommends a leave-in conditioner and heat protectant after washing and conditioning—yes, even if you're just air-drying it. "I can’t live without IGK's Good Behavior 4-in-1 Prep Spray," she said. "It’s moisturizing, protects from hot tools, protects from the sun and is great for all hair types."
Her other favorite? K18's Molecular Repair Hair Mask. "Every color client gets the full treatment in my chair and is advised to use it at home for at least the first month after color," she explained. "It rebuilds the proteins that get broken down when you color your hair, so that you can continue to color treat your hair throughout your lifetime."
Alexis also recommends K18's protective shampoo and conditioner. "You can’t go wrong with K18. While you’re at it, grab their damage shield shampoo and conditioner as well," she said.
IGK GOOD BEHAVIOR 4-in-1 Prep Spray
Infused with spirulina protein and coconut oil, this spray promises to detangle and smooth your hair, while giving it 24-hour frizz control, heat protection for up to 450 degrees, and shine.
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
Made with K18's signature peptide formula, this leave-in hair mask repairs your locks at a molecular level to repair and reverse damage from bleach and color.
K18 Damage Shield Protective Shampoo
Designed for damaged and colored hair, this protective shampoo uses plant-derived surfactants and a pH-optimized formula to gently and powerfully cleanse your locks.
What Else Should I Keep In Mind Before Trying Allie Haye's Hair Look?
Before trying Allie Hayes' hair look, remember you need to style your bangs. Still, don't be afraid of them. They aren't impossible to master. If you decide to skip blowdrying, they'll look just like how they're airdrying for the rest of the day.
"So, if you have a cowlick, they need to be blow-dried," Mitchell told E!. "It’s easy, though. Back and forth with your fingers to get them to lay forward. If you’re going to air-dry the bangs, just make sure you comb them into the position you want them to dry in while they are still wet. Patience is a virtue."
As for the color, Alexis reminded us that the cut and color are a unit. We have to pick a highlighter shade that complements our haircut, not one that works against it. "Trust your stylist. Don’t be afraid of a little warmth. It looks healthier that way!" she told E!.
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