EXCLUSIVE: Why Christian Wilkins feared he’d lose his job after a bold style decision meant he almost had to shave off his iconic long hair
Christian Wilkins is known for his luscious long locks – a growth journey that has taken place over the past seven years.
But the Sydney-based TV personality, 26, feared he’d lose his job as Pantene’s first male ambassador in Australia due to a recent hair mishap.
The son of Today Extra host Richard Wilkins was preparing to shave his head after heavily bleached it for an acting role last year when Pantene got in touch.
Scroll down for video
EXCLUSIVE ‘I thought there was no coming back from that’: Christian Wilkins (pictured) feared he’d lose his amazing Pantene ambassadorship after bold hairdo had him close to SHAVING off his luscious long locks for good
Christian debuted his bleached white hair and eyebrows in August, while filming Stan Original series Eden in Byron Bay.
‘I was halfway through filming Eden when my hair was white and I admittedly was really sad because I thought that I wouldn’t be able to do it [work with Pantene],’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I just assumed having my hair literally bleached to white that I would have to shave my head. I thought there was no coming back from that,’ he added.
Christian explained: ‘My hair was so brittle and dry, it felt dead, and it had absolutely no life or anything to it, and it felt like straw! I assumed that was the end of that hair.’
‘I just assumed I would have to shave my head’: Christian said his hair was so ‘brittle and dry’ and ‘felt like straw’ when he heavily bleached it in 2020 (right). Pictured left: May 2020
‘I was so amazed that these treatments were able to save my hair!’ When Christian raised his hair concerns with Pantene they decided to use his journey as the perfect way to test their new Miracle Treatments collection, and later debuted him as an official ambassador in January
But when he raised his concerns with Pantene, they decided to use his hair journey as the perfect way to test their new Miracle Treatments collection.
He used the product on his brittle, bleached hair and was amazed with the results.
‘It worked! It looks gorgeous. I was so amazed that these three small treatments, realistically, were able to save my hair,’ Christian boasted.
Speaking of his famous father, the former Dancing with the Stars contestant said: ‘He understands this ambassadorship because I think hair is large identifier with out family, and with so many people.
‘He is really proud to see how I’ve embraced that, and I guess I am following in his hair footsteps,’ he laughed.
While Christian is known for his long straight hair, his father is famous for his bouffant ‘do – a throwback to his days as a pop star.
‘He is really proud’: Speaking of his famous father, Today Extra host Richard ‘Dickie’ Wilkins, Christian joked that he was ‘following in his hair footsteps’
Meanwhile, the model said it was ‘an absolute dream come true’ and ‘pinch-me moment’ to be announced as Pantene’s first male ambassador in January.
Christian, who came out as gay in 2018, never shies away from bold colours, textures and patterns, pushing the envelope in terms of both style and gender stereotypes.
He also often wears gender-defying skirts and frocks.
‘People used to call me a girl all the time because I was a gay guy who was very flamboyant, and did dance and singing,’ he said in 2020.
Christian and Pantene are hosting a free #DareToDoXtra pop up salon in Sydney’s Paddington from Friday, May 7, to Sunday, May 9. Register here.
Get in quick! Christian and Pantene are hosting a free #DareToDoXtra pop up salon in Sydney’s Paddington from Friday May 7 to Sunday May 9