Alycia Debnam-Carey’s hair stylist answered all our need-to-know styling questions…

How do you think you would feel if you could be in a room with Alycia Debnam-Carey? TBH, we’re confident her radiant aura would have us completely lost for words. Thankfully for Brad Mullins, that wasn’t the case, as he’s used to being surrounded by some of the most beautiful people in the biz, even earning himself the title of 'Alycia Debnam-Carey's hair stylist'.

As a hair stylist to the stars, he’s spent years training and perfecting his signature look. And we’re not convinced that he's not been blessed with the hands of the gods (have you seen his work?). He's worked on everyone from celebrities, style icons and it-girls alike, to give them the glossiest, effortless tresses we can only dream of.

So of course, when we were given the chance, we knew we had to get Mullins to spill all his styling secrets...

Brad Mullins’ hair styling tips

On his signature style:

When creating his stunning styles, Mullins is big on “working with client’s natural hair” and wherever possible, he incorporates their natural hair texture into the style. When asked to put a label on it, he called his signature style an “effortless, undone look” where he placed some serious emphasis on keeping the hair “healthy and natural”.

But how does he manage to keep the hair so healthy?

“Treatments, Treatments, Treatments!”. Mullins recommends using a “hair treatment at least once a week” to support your stands between salon visits. His top nourishing treatment rec? The range of ultra-affordable HASK Deep Conditioning masks ($6 at HASK) are “perfect for any hair type and ideal to take with you [when] you travel”.

What’s your #1 hair secret?

“One top hair secret I would share is when you go to the beach, pop on a conditioning mask from the mid-lengths of your hair to the very ends and leave it in”, says Mullins. Ingenious, truly. This hair-caring hack “protects and nourishes the hair” while you enjoy the beach, leaving your strands “soft, smooth and hydrated”.

Is there a major styling sin we’re all committing?

We’re in an era where styled-to-perfection strands are in, and while the bouncy blowout of your dreams might look incredible, it’s damaging your strands. Mullins tells us that the “biggest styling sin many of us commit is using too many heat styling tools”, that is, without first “using a good heat protectant”.

Mullins’ top tips for ensuring you get the look you’re after without damaging your hair is to not use “heated styling tools more than once a day and always use a good heat protectant before styling or applying heat”. He swears by the HASK Nourishing Coconut Oil 5-in-1 Leave on Spray ($17 at HASK) to protect your strands.

How can we create chic looks (and keep hair healthy) without spending the earth?

Mullins loves “a snatched glossy pony”, as he says the easy, chic, and versatile look “works so well on so many”. His top tips for creating any salon-quality look at home includes ensuring “the hair is well prepped” before styling. He advises to “start by adding moisture to the hair”, whether that be with a treatment, serum, or even just starting off with a good shampoo and conditioner base. Allowing your hair to dry naturally as often as possible is also important.

Mullins knows the call of salon-exclusive brands is tempting, but you don’t have to spend up big to create a luxurious look. His fave affordable brand? HASK! Since adding their cult-classic products into his kit, he’s found them to be “just as good” as the exxy alternatives.

We know you love to style natural hair; do you have any tips for our curly girls?

The main thing Mullins wants you to remember when it comes to nourishing curly hair is that “curls need moisture”. “Using a combination of leave-in creams and hair oils” is the key to keeping “curls glossy and hydrated”, he tells BEAUTYcrew. Because curls and textured hair requires more moisture, Mullins wants you to “treat your hair more frequently than your straight-haired friends”, opting for ‘curl-specific’ ranges and adding cream-based products into your routine. He recommends the new HASK Repair Series - Bond Building Leave-In Treatment Cream ($27 at HASK) to “help repair damaged strands”.

Main Image Credit: @alyciajasmin / @bradmullinshair

Want more insider intel? Check out our chat with Michael Brennan...