Get The Look: Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s Winning Hairstyle

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray with Dr. Farouk Shami, the CEO and Founder of Farouk Systems USA. Photo by Mohammed F. Ghanayem.

From her viral #LavaWalk to now wearing #LavaWaves, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s crowning hairstyle became an overnight social media sensation. Her coiffure was perfect on Sunday night when she was crowned the 67th Miss Universe. But the audience did not know that Gray herself curled her own hair on the night of the pageant!

Using the CHI LAVA Pro Spin n Curl Iron from CHI Haircare, the official hairstylist of the 2018 Miss Universe Contest, Gray proved that if you have the right equipment and the proper training, you can style your own hair.

Her winning hairstyle was created by CHI Haircare’s new self-spinning hair curler. Made with volcanic lava combined with the power of CHI ceramic, the CHI LAVA Pro Spin n Curl created the lush, “Lava Waves” Gray wore Sunday night in Bangkok.

“Last week, our newly crowned Miss Universe had the opportunity to be a part of a new CHI commercial featuring the tool,” explains Lisa Maria Garcia, President of Innovation for Farouk Systems.

“She learned how easy it was to style her own hair into beautiful waves using it.” At the push of a button, the CHI LAVA Pro Spin N Curl pulls hair into its heat isolating curl chamber, spins it and releases a perfect, shiny wave. Lava offers a healthier heat, creating bouncy, sleek results without the damaging effects of high heat styling.

Lava Wave Step by Steps

Catriona Gray with CHI Hairstylists Julián Macías and Leonel Rodriguez

1. To create the foundation for her winning style, Catriona applied CHI 44 Iron Guard and used CHI’s Enviro 54 Hairspray Natural Hold all over for natural control.

2. Then, she divided her hair in two sections by using a middle parting.

3. She began taking 2-inch square sized subsections to curl the hair backwards and away from the face. She continued this step until all of her hair was done.

  • One of the key benefits of the CHI LAVA Pro Spin n Curl is that she could easily curl her hair backwards on both sides, just by using the two arrow buttons on the tool to pick which direction the iron will spin.

4. To complete, Catriona mixed a few drops of CHI Silk Infusion and CHI Pliable Polish for shine and to tame any flyaways for an HD finish.

5. When she made it to the Top 10 (also wearing her lava red gown!), Catriona asked CHI Hairstylists Julián Macías and Leonel Rodriguez to change her hair to a sexy retro side look. Quickly done during a commercial break, Julián and Leonel both used the CHI Turbo Backcomb Brush to make the parting and add volume at the root.

6. They then misted the Lava Waves with more CHI Enviro 54 Hairspray Natural Hold and combed the style in place.

7. To finish, they misted CHI Shine Infusion all over for a beautiful weightless, camera ready shine.

Catriona Gray

Catriona Gray, Miss Philippines 2018 on stage with musical guest Ne-Yo during the Top 3 Final Look segment of The MISS UNIVERSE® Competition airing on FOX at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, December 16, 2018 from the IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. Contestants from around the globe have spent the last few weeks touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe crown. HO/The Miss Universe Organization