Plus, the beauty tip she’d give her 2004 self
Gabrielle Solis (AKA one of the iconic Desperate Housewives) had everything from killer one-liners to outfits we’re still envying decades later. But the thing we must admit we were always most jealous of? Her hair.
Whilst we were making every effort to emulate Gabby’s voluminous strands, Eva Longoria herself was originally less excited about the look. In fact, she found herself “freaking out” about what the creators of the show asked her to do to her precious hair to initially get into character…
Gabrielle Solis hair
In a chat with People Magazine about her most iconic looks, Eva was happy to take a trip down memory (or rather, Wisteria) lane.
“Oh, let me tell you something: I had jet black hair when I was on Young and The Restless, and then I get Desperate Housewives and they said, “your hair’s too dense for camera”, so they made me highlight it, and this was the highlights”, she explained, referring to the show’s OG promo pics.
“I was freaking out because I’d never had highlights in my life”, she admitted. Her hair may still appear pretty dark, but if you look closely, there’s definitely dimension in there. And if you’ve never lifted your colour before, it can definitely be a little on the stressful side.
The colour wasn’t all she called out, though. “This is my pageant hair”, Eva laughed about the look’s style. “I have a bit of volume up at the top. My pageant pose is going on. But this was the first photo shoot we did on Wisteria Lane. They just needed quick photos of us for PR purposes. Literally they just pulled me off to the side and I took this. I think I even did my own hair and makeup.”
Gabrielle Solis makeup
We were super fans of the makeup moments Gabby turned out every week too. Eva, however, was a bit unsure about why she chose this specific ‘lip colour and bouffant’ combo for photos that have stuck around so long.
“Clearly there’s some Texas left in me in this moment”, she chuckled. “My hair has some volume; I have a red lip. I mean, who has a red lip? Yeah, I’ve definitely evolved from this moment.”
Eva’s biggest gripe overall? Her brows. It was a different time, okay?! Thin brows were everything to us all. “I didn’t do my eyebrows – look how thin my eyebrows are. My advice to her is ‘fill in your eyebrows, girl’. ‘Girl, get an eyebrow pencil’.
And yes, before you ask, we do happen to know the brow pencil Eva eventually added to her beauty bag.
She’s admitted to being “obsessed” with the Huda Beauty #Bomb Brows Microshade Brow Pencil ($25.50, usually $30 at ASOS) – it’s near impossible to find these days, but you can still nab one on ASOS. And it’s on sale, so go quickly, before it’s too late.
And just FYI, you can find the rest of her makeup routine right here.
Eva Longoria hair
Now, Eva clearly came around on the highlights front – by season 2 and 3, she was firmly in bronde territory (and she’s turned to a lighter hair hue a few times off-set as well).
But there’s no doubt the first time bleaching jet black hair would be scary – especially when you know it’s going to be filmed.
Luckily, the show, Eva’s character and her hair and makeup moments continue to live on as some of the greatest to grace television screens. The pageant queen volume only made Gabby more iconic!
Main image credit: Getty
Did you watch Desperate Housewives? Which character’s beauty look was your fave?
I don’t recall her hair stood out to me in the show.
Neither me, but it does look like but nothing out of the ordinary for TV hairstyles
Love her hair!
Yes it is lovely. She is lovely.
She has beautiful hair, such a gorgeous lady
Don’t know about her hair but I loved her role in Desperate Housewives, Gabrielle Solis was my favourite <3
I never watched the show, I wonder if she has stocked up on the brow pencil?
I never watched the show
Was never into this show
No They are so unreal !!
I loved watching Desperate Housewives. I was glued to it.
I didn’t watch this as an on going thing, just saw the odd episode but did love all the outfits and hair styles
Loved this show as a teen at the time, loved her she was my fav Character but don’t remember her hair craze.
Haahahha she definitely looks like she’s having more fun in the second photo! Quite serious in the first.
Don’t watch it -Seriously !!
How come?
Shes an iconic beauty
i never watched the show so cant comment but its interesting to show hopw fashions change over the years especially with eyebrows
Her hair looks so healthy and shiny, especially when it’s in the darker shades.
Yes the darker shades suit her best I think.
I think that look – incljuding the big hair – was perfect for the character – at that point, an ex-model obsessed with appearance.
Highlights do what they say they do
She looks fab no matter what colour hair she has.
She is stunning
I loved her in this show
ME! What’s wrong with a red lip?
I’ve never seen the show.
This was a great show and I love a red lip. It’s me!
She is very stylish and has great hair
I don’t watch the show.