Just weeks after Dua Lipa revealed her new deep red hair, we’re sitting on a couch in downtown Manhattan, sharing coffee. We live in a world where it seems like every time a pop star walks out the door we wonder — are they sending us a sign? — but Dua insists her makeover actually “wasn’t anything deep.” Really, no easter eggs hidden here…and I believe her.
“It was more like, I’d be in the studio working on songs [for my upcoming album], and I really resonated with the colour red,” she shares. “There’s this darker, earthy tone to it that I just felt really connected to. And I was like, you know what? I’m going to dye my hair red. That’s my new vibe and it’s what I want to do.” It wasn’t until, post-dye job, while looking back on old family photos that she realised “my mum had her hair dyed this red colour during my whole childhood.”
Now, the singer is having fun exploring beauty looks that match this new vibe. Especially given the recent announcement that, as well as being the face of YSL Beauty’s Libre fragrance, she now takes on the role of global beauty ambassador at the brand.
“Mascara has always been a non-negotiable for me,” she says of her routine, adding that she’s both a double-coater and a bottom lash applier. “When I was 16 or 17, I discovered the brown lip and I haven’t stopped using brown lipstick since.” It’s also her go-to for a night out. “If I know it’s going to be a sweaty dance night, less is more for sure. It’s a brown lipstick, highlighter and I’m out the door.”
For Dua, beauty — whether it’s make-up or surprising her fans with a hair makeover — it’s all just a new and fun way to express herself. “Some days, I really want to do a boyish look, and some days I want to feel really glamorous and feminine. Being able to play both of those sides of me and experiment is really fun.”