I Encountered Ashley Graham at a Speakeasy and Discovered All Her Hair and Skin Secrets—Each Honest Tip

      Welcome to Beauty's Night Out, a series focused on the essential beauty discussions that are shaping the nightlife scene. Expect an introductory glimpse at emerging trends, behind-the-scenes tutorials, and plenty of inspiration for your night out—as long as you have your favorite playlist ready. This time, we're joining supermodel Ashley Graham, a global brand ambassador for Revlon, for a peek into her night out. Meeting Ashley Graham at NYC's Keys & Heels is quite the contrast. The cocktail lounge, styled like a speakeasy and tucked away behind a locksmith shop, has an air of mystery, almost like a maze, until you enter and are welcomed by luxurious velvet sofas and a backlit bar. In contrast, Graham is immediately inviting as she gestures for me to join her in a corner booth, insisting I try a glass of Lucci, her dry sparkling Italian Lambrusco. "I never forget a face," she says, recalling our last chat two years ago at an Ulta event. Her authenticity shines through; with Graham, there's no pretense—she is a grounded, confident, and approachable person you would definitely enjoy having drinks with.

      As we toast to Revlon ColorSilk's After Care Collection and chat about her beauty essentials for a night out (perfectly timed for our evening together), she quickly shares a funny going-out memory that most celebrities might keep to themselves. "One of the first dates my husband [Justin Ervin] took me on was karaoke with friends. I was really into it because I’m a karaoke lover, singing Beyoncé," she shares. "I got down on my knees, and my pants ripped from the back seam to the front. I was so embarrassed. Everyone laughed, I laughed too, to the point where my husband actually took a picture. We still have that photo 17 years later." I imagine she keeps it in an album alongside her glamorous red carpet outfits, like her recent Met Gala look, which included a custom Di Petsa gown, Zales jewelry, and a chrome "dipped" manicure. Talk about versatility! Today, picking the right playlist is still key to her beauty routine ("Everything revolves around the music," she remarks), and she hopes for fewer wardrobe mishaps, along with a set of hair, skin, and makeup products she can't do without. Check out all her straightforward tips and recommendations below.

      Graham's going-out preparation begins with hair, and when asked about her go-to style, she promptly replies, "Definitely a bouncy blowout." That’s just what she’s showcasing during our conversation—an easy, airy look with long, face-framing layers. While her hair maintains its blowout well ("I can usually stretch it to day two or three, depending on my workout," she notes), she emphasizes that freshly washed hair is crucial. Any stylist would agree: a great hair day starts in the shower. The Revlon ColorSilk After Color Shampoo and Conditioner have been her go-to products since they were introduced last January, as they both help preserve vibrant color and repair damage—and healthier, stronger hair certainly looks shinier. "I've been asking them for years to create the conditioner since I started using the dye," she adds. "It only came in a tiny packet. I said, 'This should be in a jar!' And finally, they did it. So, you're welcome!" To enjoy its shine-enhancing advantages on the go, she applies (and reapplies) the brand’s After Color Serum, which also seals split ends and smooths frizz.

      While her hair sets and cools, she shifts to makeup before hopping into the shower. Yes, I also had to take a moment to process that. "I know it sounds odd, but I believe the steam gives it a glowy and dewy finish," Graham explains. "It's a bit like using rose water on your face before or after makeup. It just sets it beautifully and keeps it from looking too cakey." My beauty-editor instincts are, for lack of a better word, perplexed. I ask if this is some sort of insider makeup artist trick that hasn't reached the general public, but no—the routine has been her method since middle school. "I thought, 'Oh, I forgot to wash my body.' Then I looked in the mirror and realized, 'Oh, my makeup looks great!' It was a little epiphany," she adds.

      Despite this, Graham enjoys using a rose water mist for touch-ups and often keeps one in her going-out bag. "When I went to Korea, I found so many different rose water sprays," she recalls, recently favoring D'Alba's White Truffle First Spray. Also in her bag are two lip products—Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick in Bare It All and the PhotoReady Instant Plump Serum in Magically Inflated. "I wore this one at the Met," she mentions about the