From my perch in the fifth row of Las Vegas's Dolby Theater this June, I couldn't believe I was this close to my all-time favorite pop diva. Hi, I'm Sam, a lifelong Lady Gaga fan who had the opportunity to see her live for the first time (!) on the opening night of her Jazz & Piano show (!!). While a full Gaga setlist wasn't in the cards, she and her band performed jazz renditions of her chart-topping hits and paid homage to classics. Don't get it twisted, though. Jazz & Piano still screamed Gaga, from her feathery outfits to her platinum-blonde hair streaked with black. (And of course, no Gaga stage look is complete without fabulous headpieces—which is why she had several.)
Each Gaga project takes on an entirely different aesthetic, which can be attributed to her collaborative efforts with the Haus of Gaga. Because behind every massive star is... well, a glam team made up of other stars that shine just as bright. The proof is in the multihyphenate's Haus, which includes Frederic Aspiras, her longtime hairstylist, wig master, and Sebastian Professional's newly minted Global Creative & Culture Director. In transforming Gaga's tresses through every era, he scored an Oscar nomination for turning her into House of Gucci's protagonist and real-life subject, Patritzia Reggiani (you know, a totally casual achievement).
After the opening night of Gaga's Jazz & Piano Vegas residency, Frederic sat down with Cosmo to spill his secrets on styling the star over the years, tap into his creative process and artistry, and let us in on his go-to products for styles that'll stay stunning all day long.
We’ve seen so many sides of Gaga throughout her career, especially through her hairstyles. What is it like building certain worlds and aesthetics with an artist like her?
Well, I’ll tell you this, it keeps you on your feet. As a creative, it allows you to open your mind and your spirit into a world of experimentation and freedom. I'm very privileged to have this type of relationship and artistry with her through the years. It’s a challenge because as an artist, you have to be able to shape-shift and pick up on the different roles and nuances of every single genre. That’s something I prepared for my entire life—my entire career, actually.
I remember referencing and studying the little things, like the history of certain types of pomades and what they used to create styles in the 16th century, stuff like that. It just intrigues me, so it helped in the long run because I studied foundational things that allowed me to present unique ideas to the table.
How did you conceptualize Gaga’s black and platinum blonde look for her Jazz & Piano shows in Vegas?
I did a black-and-white version of this—and a lot of fans are bringing it up—for Born This Way, which is one of my favorite eras. That was about 15 years ago now, and I didn't think I would bring it back. It just happened. I wasn’t fresh out of ideas, it was just something I missed and I really liked that part of my artistry.
I love the clash of the two tones. I wanted to bring back those colors again and see how it could evolve. You don't have to constantly challenge yourself to a point where you're stuck because you start to doubt yourself rather than take something you love and reinterpret it into another message. I can tell the message again in a different way. I did it in a pop version, now I'm going to do it in a jazz version.
What’s your creative process like when styling hair and wigs? How does it differ when it comes to styling pop Gaga versus classic jazz Gaga?
Wigs are a great palette and canvas to allow yourself to run wild. You have the freedom to express yourself in a way you never could before because you don't have to damage or color your hair. In the beginning, I was constantly turning it out and it was exciting because I was like 'Ooh, I feel this. Let me create this and I'll put this wig out here and see if she likes it.' There was a story—a piece and an element that I could contribute to. I always had something ready, or we would collaborate on concepts. I would translate ideas onto a blank canvas, then get knee-deep into it, crafting and building it. It became a madhouse, but it was fun for me. In terms of genres, I don't think about it like that. I’m given an assignment, and I show up.
How do makeup, clothing, and accessories play into the process?
The wardrobe department has to find the perfect garment and fit. Everything they do is brilliant. I observe during meetings and start to paint in my head, where all of the references, libraries, and knowledge come trickling through.
Years of experience in this industry allow you to start this process where you create and meet with the team, and it becomes 20 different variations of the same wig where only one or two get chosen. When it's done, I always consider what I want to fix, add, or change. Once you let it out into the universe, it no longer belongs to you. That's art.
It’s safe to say Gaga is an incredible performer who gives her all on stage. Do you have any go-to products or techniques that help keep styles in place throughout live shows?
One of the most exciting things about working with Sebastian is that I'd use it growing up—it was and still is one of the most innovative brands. I used to go out to clubs a lot, so my hair had to be on point and stay up all night. I used to work the Craft Clay and Shaper hairspray into my hair like it was nobody’s business—those two together create the most insane sculpture, and that's what I do with some of Gaga’s looks. Craft Clay is good for lifting, molding, creating, and sculpting, which is everything you could ever want. The Shaper is one of the best hairsprays ever and has been one of my favorite go-to's for shows for the longest time. It's the best in terms of hold, especially for stage. It's not crispy and allows for a strong hold and humidity resistance, which is key, especially if you're always in different climates like we are.
Frederic's Sebastian Pro Recs, Right This Way
Sebastian Craft Clay Remoldable Texturizing Hair Clay
Sebastian Sebastian Professional Shaper 55%, Medium Hold Hairspray, 10.6 oz
Sebastian Potion 9 Wearable Styling Treatment
Sebastian Mousse Forte Whipped Creme
What’s a Frederic hair tip, trick, or product that everyone *needs* to know?
Having a foundational product—which is what you put in your hair before you actually style it—is essential. Whenever I start with hair, I always like to protect it. Potion 9 is a wearable conditioning treatment that provides moisture and acts as a thermal protection cream—it’s like applying hyaluronic acid and sunscreen when you do your skincare. It’s super versatile because I could also use it to finish the hair flyaways or to give the hair a soft, moisturized look for curls.
When I want to create something softer, I love using the Mousse Forte Whipped Creme, which is another really good foundational product. It's a very-light conditioning mousse that enhances natural textures but doesn't leave your hair weighed down. I like hair to have movement but also have some drama to it, and this mousse has some memory so that when you push it in and tease it up, it will stay like that without using multiple hairsprays and spraying it until it's crispy.
We have to get into the Gaga of it all. How does she inspire you?
Growing up, I was alone all the time. I was very reclusive, quiet, and shy.
I was not very popular or social, so my way of expressing myself was through my artistry: painting my face and doing my hair. It was all in my head, and through the years, I've been fortunate enough to meet wonderful people who allowed me to bring out these colors of my inner self and allow me to paint freely. Gaga is one of them.
I'm thankful and honored to be part of that journey with her and everybody in my life, even my mother, who was a wonderful person and an artist herself. I didn't feel like I existed until I found out about the beauty of art, transformation, hair, makeup, and fashion. I think people see it as just that, but it's not. It’s self-expression, which is extremely important in the development of a human and their identity.
Your mom was a hairdresser who grew her business with her salon, and you eventually started working there. Is there anything you learned from her that you still carry with you?
She was extremely smart but had such a big heart and she was so strong. Life wasn't handed to her in certain ways, so she made it possible for her children to have the opportunities that weren't given to her as a refugee from Vietnam. That’s the true testament of a very hard-working woman. I get to celebrate her every day. I get to hold the brush. I get to honor her by having conversations like this because no one knows about her.
She taught me how to be honest. I wouldn't be sitting here talking about the passion I have for my work because she was so passionate about life, and she taught me to be so brave. She brought me to my first gay pride rally, and she didn't know that I was gay, but she knew that I was different. She was more than just a teacher of hair—she was a teacher of life and strength.
I was blessed to have her as a mother, and I got blessed with the talent of expressing myself through an artistry that we both share—hair and beauty. I get to do that for the world now and share things I learned from her. She taught me to persevere and to be who I am because of the struggles and discrimination that she had to go through coming to this country. She told me, 'You have to be better than that. You have to rise above that and show them that you can.' I could hear her telling me that, like, 'You can't give up, you’ve got to keep going and do better for your life, for your future, for us.' I do that for her every day.
Parts of this interview have been edited and condensed for clarity.
Sam is an assistant news editor at Cosmo, covering all things pop culture, entertainment, and celebrity news. She previously covered those same topics along with health, lifestyle, and beauty at Seventeen. When she isn't draping her cheeks in blush, you can probably find her live-tweeting awards shows or making SwiftToks.
