We’ve been wondering for a long time what the hell is up with Jay Manuel’s style. The clothes, the hair — it’s a lot to take in. So when we caught him at the GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday, we started small and just asked about the hair. Jay acknowledged that Sisqó went silver first, but the real reason for his silver coif? Tyra Banks. “I actually did it on a dare from Tyra,” he explained. “When we were shooting season one of Top Model, we were talking one night while Flash Gordon was on. I saw his white hair and said, ‘I would love to do my hair that color.’ And she goes, ‘Oh, you should do it right now.’ I said, ‘No, we’re in the middle of taping the show, how are we going to explain this? I promise you the day after we wrap I’ll do it.’ So a week later, after we wrapped the show, I colored my hair. I saw Tyra in L.A. and she said, ‘Ya did it, all right, now that’s your trademark.’” The genius behind the Flash Gordon pigment is New York–based stylist Oscar James, who does Tyra’s hair (or weave) as well. His services are very exclusive. “He actually doesn’t work at a salon,” explained Jay. “Because, you know, he works on Tyra, celebrities, blah blah blah.” Exactly.
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