‘Empire’ Stars Makeup and Grooming Looks

Terrence Howard

Image Credit: Photo Credit: Christopher Fragapane/FOX

"Lucious Lyon is introduced — he's got a lot of hair, he's very well groomed, he looks flawless. At the end of the season you see him go to jail. Season two opens with shiny skin, he’s not so groomed, he’s going to have absolutely no hair because he’s coming out of jail. He’s on a rampage of revenge, so we were very cautious to make the hair and makeup reflect what he’s going through. He's not looking his best as we go into season two; his character has arced over more to the dark side."
Grace Gealey

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"Grace is also very interesting in the second season. She’s always been a classic flawless beauty — Lee Daniels was imperative that her makeup, nails, hair were always perfect. Second season her character has arced in a very dramatic way and you’re going to see a whole different side — her makeup being broken down, her hair, her clothes. She will no longer be so perfect."
Serayah

Image Credit: Photo Credit: Chuck Hodes/FOX

"She is really coming into her own, becoming more and more of a powerhouse. She’s only going to become more beautiful in season two — she is a stunning beauty. And that is all her hair! Flawless skin, gorgeous hair, gorgeous body and gorgeous person, inside and out. As she does more musical performances we really get experimental with her hair and makeup, very pop. She’s kind of like the Rihanna of the show. We did a very interesting '80s flashback scene with very strong colors and I used a Kryolan palette. Serayah always looks great with a softer lip, and we use a lot of the MAC Vamplify lip glosses ($20)."
Gabourey Sidibe

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"Gabby now has a new role as head of A&R at Empire. The first season she was young and more fashion-forward with her makeup, but now that she has a serious role you’re going to see this reflected in her hair, makeup and wardrobe. Her makeup has gone more classic and natural. She’s got a professional look."
Jussie Smollett

Image Credit: Photo Credit: Christopher Fragapane/FOX

"We see him as a young man in the first season, struggling with sexuality and his relationship with father. He’s rebellious, he has close cropped hair and no facial hair. At the end of the season he’s awarded CEO of the company, so now we’re arcing him into more of a powerhouse man and you’ll see that reflected in wearing his hair longer and a full beard. Now he’s making a statement, 'I am CEO and I am powerful,' and that is reflected in his grooming and facial hair. I use the Dove Men+Care Ultra Hydrating Cream ($9) on all the men because it has a matte finish which is great on camera and hydrates for 24 hours. Moisturizer is everything on me. If I have to fix the hair on set I use that moisturizer to calm flyaways, and I use it all over their body, when they’re showing skin, because we don’t want it looking shiny."
Courtney Love

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"She was a very fun character. We like to cast people as who they are in life and make it almost a parody, so Courtney Love was cast as an aging R&B singer who has a heroin problem. Her first day on set we had to turn her back into the heroin addict she was famously known for. She was up for no makeup and letting me make her look super strung out and compromised, and then after rehab we got to arc her to be the gorgeous singer that she once was, making a comeback. We did jewels in her eyes, glittery eyelashes, Armani Foundation ($62) because it gives a lot of coverage. And I love the MAC Pro Lip palettes and concealers. We got to do a lot of fun looks."
Trai Byers

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"He’s very much a minimalist, but you’ll see a big change in his facial hair — he’s wearing a full-on beard. In season two he’s struggling to get back into his father’s good graces, so always dressed to the nines, with a very tight and groomed haircut. You’ll see the comeback in his facial hair. I use the Dove Men+Care Sensitive Wash ($6.50), Hydrate Shave Cream ($6.50) and the moisturizer. And no makeup. None of the guys we put makeup on — the men need to be authentic, because in real life they don’t walk around in makeup."
Rita Ora

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"Oh my god, what a stunning beauty and talent she is! She was performing in her episode, so I wanted to give her the most glamorous, sexy look possible. I did MAC Ruby Woo lipstick ($17) and a beautiful cat eye, Armani foundation for full coverage, and really made her brows stand out. Because she’s a classic-modern-retro look she looks great with that big cat eye and red lip. It’s almost like Grace’s makeup to the nines, maxed out."
Bryshere Grey

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"He’s like the old-school cool guy. He’s channeling the ‘80s haircut, higher on top and cutout designs on the side. Every episode we have a different cut out, and we slice his eyebrow like an ode to the '80s. He is my best actor when it comes to skincare, he does my three-step process. We always have to shave his sides and a lot of African American men tend to have ingrown hairs, which is why it’s imperative to use hydrating shave cream to prevent problems."
Ne-Yo

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"Ne-Yo is such a wonderful human being. He’s naturally beautiful. We did the same three-step process with him — he’s a clean, natural and authentic look because he’s actually playing himself on the show. He’s always wearing hats, his hair is shaved almost all the way down."

Terrence Howard

Grace Gealey

Serayah

Gabourey Sidibe

Jussie Smollett

Courtney Love

Trai Byers

Rita Ora

Bryshere Grey

Ne-Yo