See How Kelly Clarkson's Hairstylist Gets Her Glam for The Voice

The superstar's hairstylist Robert Ramos shares exclusive behind-the-scenes details as he creates new looks on Clarkson for her role on The Voice judging panel

By Kaitlyn Frey
Updated December 16, 2020 09:30 AM
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Finale Week: The Inspiration

Credit: Robert Ramos

For the last show of the season, Clarkson went out with a bang, channeling the mood from the hit Whitney Houston song, "I'm Every Woman."

"Kelly wanted to look like a powerful diva for a powerful song. I decided to go with a crimped pompadour mohawk. We wanted a fierce edgy style with some major drama," says her hairstylist Robert Ramos.  

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Finale Week: The Breakdown

Credit: Robert Ramos

Since the look was all about volume and body, prep was key in starting off this look, says Ramos, who used his Robert Ramos Spray Leave-In, Robert Ramos Volumizer and Kevin Murphy Bodybuilder Mousse on her strands. Then he sectioned the hair into a mohawk, clipped it in place and left the side strands out so he could braid them to her nape. 

"I then used Pattern Beauty Edge Control to lay the little flyaways on the hairline," Ramos says. For length and texture, he clipped in extensions and crimped and lightly teased the hair. 

"Lastly I lightly teased and twisted the very front and pinned it to create the pompadour," he explains.

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Finale Week: The Final Look

Credit: Robert Ramos

Ramos says it took a "stressful" 45 minutes to complete the hairstyle, but once it came together, he and Clarkson were in love.

"I’ve been dying to crimp her hair," he says. "My dreams have come true!"

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Finale Week: The Inspiration

Credit: Robert Ramos

Originally, Clarkson's stylist Candice Lambert McAndrews chose a different dress for the first night of The Voice's finale week. But at the last minute, they decided to switch to a bold embroidered Raisa & Vanessa gown.

"We all did a quick pow-wow and came up with tonight’s look. I wanted a sharp and sleek look for this dress," Clarkson's hairstylist Robert Ramos tells PEOPLE. "It was amazing and fun. Challenge accepted!"

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Finale Week: The Breakdown

Credit: Robert Ramos

To create a faux "chin-length bob," Ramos sectioned off the top half of Clarkson's hair and braided the rest flat to her head so he could clip short extensions directly in. "Before I braided the hair, I used a little of the Robert Ramos Keratin Moisture Masque on the ends of her hair to help keep it in good condition since it's being styled almost every day," he says. 

After blow drying and flat ironing both Clarkson's natural hair and extensions, he placed the hair in and "trimmed them up wherever needed." Ramos says, "We only have an hour and fifteen minutes for hair and makeup, so this has to be done quickly and efficiently."

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Finale Week: The Final Look

Credit: Robert Ramos

"Kelly was really feeling her short hair," Ramos says. "I love doing something completely different. It's the favorite part of my job."

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Week Two: The Inspiration

Credit: Robert Ramos

Playing off of the singer's "beautiful" scalloped lace Gemy Maalouf red ballgown and matching crimson lip, hairstylist Robert Ramos wanted to make sure her hair didn't "compete with the gown, but complement it." 

"I went with a parted-down-the-middle, super-long hair look. Shiny glossy and luxurious!" he tells PEOPLE exclusively.

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Week Two: The Breakdown

Credit: Robert Ramos

Since this look was all about length, Ramos made sure to have plenty of hair extension options on-hand. "I clipped the extensions in lower than usual to make sure to achieve the super long and dramatic look," he explains. 

He also straightened both Clarkson's natural hair and the extensions before clipping them in to make everything look "silky straight" and blend seamlessly.

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Week Two: The Final Look

Credit: Robert Ramos

Ramos says that The Voice star "loved" the sleek and smooth look. He adds, "Who doesn’t love long silky hair?!"

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Week Two: The Inspiration

Credit: Robert Ramos

Since Clarkson selected an '80s-inspired shoulder-padded Vetements dress and her makeup artist Gloria Elias-Foeillet gave her a deep plum lip, hairstylist Robert Ramos "wanted to make sure the hair was a bit more subtle, but still fierce." He decided to give her some length with extensions (see right) and pull the hair back for what he calls a "warrior queen look."

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Week Two: The Breakdown

Credit: Robert Ramos

After Ramos' usual hair prep and blow dry, he flat ironed Clarkson's hair (and her extensions!) with the Bio Ionic One Pass Styling Iron. Then he clipped them in and used some of his own Robert Ramos Texture Paste to give the strands a piece-y look. 

"Next, I pulled back the hair and twisted it behind her head with large bob pins. I left some face framing pieces loose and used a little Robert Ramos Styling Spray for hold," he says. 

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Week Two: The Final Look

Credit: Trae Patton/NBC

Ramos loved the way the style highlighted Clarkson's features. "I love when Kelly’s hair is pulled off of her face. I think she is so beautiful, inside and out!" he says. 

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Week One: The Inspiration

Credit: Robert Ramos

To complement her smoky eyeshadow and high-low Bronx & Banco dress, hairstylist Robert Ramos wanted The Voice judge to channel Stevie Nicks with her hair. 

"I wanted the rocker goddess long Hair! A modern-day Stevie Nicks that's sexy and cool," he tells PEOPLE.

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Week One: The Breakdown

Credit: Robert Ramos

Once he prepped the hair with the Eleven Miracle Hair Treatment, Ramos blew it out straight using a large boar bristle brush for a smooth finish and slight volume. Then he flat ironed and began clipping in two different lengths of hair extensions which give Clarkson a "choppy look."

"At the very end, I decided to give a slight bend for some movement using a 1.5-inch Hot Tools Curling Iron," Ramos explains.

He finished off the look with a bit of theRobert Ramos Texture Paste on her ends and the Robert Ramos Styling Spray all over to lock it in. 
 

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Week One: The Final Look

Credit: Robert Ramos

When it all came together, both Ramos and Clarkson loved how "effortlessly cool" this glam rocker style felt. 

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Week One: The Inspiration

Credit: robert ramos

Inspired by Kelly Clarkson's plunging patent leather Saint Laurent dress, hairstylist Robert Ramos kicked off night one of The Voice's live shows with an edgy up-do he described as "chic rocker glam."

"The outfit plays a big part in what the hair will look like," Ramos tells PEOPLE. "It's a team effort. Kelly's stylist Candice Lambert McAndrews picks the dress and then makeup artist Gloria Elias-Foeillet and myself discuss what the look should be. We all take each other's ideas into consideration."

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Week One: The Breakdown

Credit: robert ramos

After prepping the star's strands with his own Robert Ramos Spray Leave-In and Volumizer, the pro blow dried her hair while simultaneously scrunching it for texture. "Then I used a 1-inch curling iron by Hot Tools to create more bend at the root," he explains.

When it came time to pull the hair up, Ramos secured it with "small and large bobby pins and left some stray pieces out to create the low-textured knot." He finished with the Robert Ramos Texture Paste and Kevin Murphy Bedroom Hair Texturizing Hairspray for more grit and hold.

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Week One: The Final Look

Credit: robert ramos

Working at a "super quick pace," Ramos completed Clarkson's rocker hairstyle in just about 45 minutes. "I love that she looks beautiful and super cool," he says. "She was excited when she saw the finished result."

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