The Secret Behind Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s Iconic Hairstyles Unveiled

In the world of fashion and beauty, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have long been recognized as trendsetters, with their signature hairstyles becoming as iconic as their designer fashion brand, The Row.

Celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend, who has been collaborating with the Olsen twins for over two decades, recently shared fascinating insights into their hair styling evolution during an episode of the Gloss Angeles podcast on March 14.

The journey of creating their signature waves has been anything but simple. Townsend revealed that the twins’ hair preparation has dramatically transformed over the years. In the past, their styling routine was a competitive process, with both sisters rushing to be the first in his styling chair.

Initially, their technique involved a meticulous process: sitting down with wet hair, receiving a full blowout, and then using a hair iron by wrapping hair around it without opening the clamp. The final touch included dry shampoo at the roots and a combination of salty spray, serum, or cream on the hair ends to create their distinctive look.

As time progressed, the Olsen twins began embracing more natural styling methods, particularly air-drying. A memorable moment Townsend recalled was during the 2013 Met Gala, where Ashley, wearing an intricate vintage Dior gown, wanted a minimalist hairstyle without heat or tools. His ingenious solution was to set her hair with clips and let it air-dry, resulting in a perfect, effortless look.

Interestingly, despite their similar appearance and coordinated styles, Townsend emphasized that Mary-Kate and Ashley have distinctly different hair textures. Ashley’s hair is curlier and darker, while Mary-Kate’s hair is more coarse. This unique difference requires Townsend to approach each twin’s hair styling with individualized product selections.

Back in 2013, Townsend spoke to PEOPLE about his collaboration with the twins, highlighting their exceptional and personal style. He noted that they don’t merely follow trends—they set them, always prioritizing what looks and works best for them, a philosophy that extends to their hair styling choices.

The Olsen twins continue to inspire the fashion and beauty world with their unique approach to personal style, proving that true trendsetting goes beyond following the crowd and instead focuses on individual expression.