Eartha! Josephine! Whitney! The Icon-Inspired Beauty Secrets From Keke Palmer's July Cover Shoot

Take a scroll through our stunning July cover starring Keke Palmer, and you'll be treated to roughly 100 years of star-studded time travel. Palmer, with her current shade of scarlet hair, headlines the piece before segueing into a meaningful tribute to three iconic Black women who have deeply inspired her: a 1920s Josephine Baker, a 1960s Eartha Kitt, and a 1980s and 1990s Whitney Houston. As told in Palmer's cover interview, embodying these icons was not just about copying their looks—it was about bringing to life the spirit of each woman's impact. "These women found a way to articulate themselves in a world that had no space for them," Palmer explained. "They were always so much more than what the world wanted them to be."

Wardrobe, of course, played a pivotal role during the shoot, but the hair and makeup transformations were equally pivotal and an experience that was deeply meaningful to hairstylist Kira Hameed and makeup artist Kenya Alexis.

"Each look was deeply rooted in cultural nostalgia and legacy—it was such a full-circle moment for me," Hameed tells me. "As a Black woman, being able to honor these iconic figures through hair was more than styling—it was storytelling. I thought about my roots, my grandma doing hair in the kitchen, and all the tools and traditions passed down. It reminded me that hair is history. It's legacy. And I'm grateful to help tell that story through my work."

"This shoot was more than just glam," adds Alexis. "It was a celebration of legacy, power, and storytelling. Watching Keke transform into each of these iconic women was inspiring, and I'm honored to have helped bring that vision to life through makeup."

Below, we're breaking down each of the three looks, taking a look at their power and inspiration in addition to the artistic tips and products that proved essential. Keep scrolling for more.

To create Eartha Kitt's signature crop of curls, Hameed says the goal was to keep the look sleek, timeless, and sultry. "It was all about the finger waves paired with a dramatic side part to capture Kitt's trademark feline allure," she tells me. (One of her most iconic acting roles was Catwoman circa the 1960s television series Batman.)

Throughout the shoot, Hameed tapped into old-school techniques to ensure supreme authenticity to Palmer's variety of hair looks (think hot tools on the stove, traditional rollers, and pressing combs), much like Hameed's grandmother used. Key on-set products included Kenra's Volume Spray ($22) for long-lasting hold with touchable softness, KeraCare's Oil Sheen ($11) for lightweight hydration and shine, and The Frontal Queen's Lace Melting Spray ($21), a go-to alcohol-free adhesive spray for lace installs.

For makeup, Alexis says it was all about precision when it came to capturing Kitt's essence on-set: "minimal eye makeup, sharply drawn dark brows, and a bold red matte lip for timeless elegance." To create a great base for all three looks, Alexis relied on a handful of cult-loved skincare classics like Tatcha's Luminous Dewy Skin Mist ($49), Embryolisse's Lait-Crème Concentré ($17), and Milk Makeup's best-selling Hydro Grip Makeup Primer ($29) to lock everything in.

When Palmer initially shared her vision to celebrate three iconic women who paved the way in the industry, wardrobe, hair, and makeup all brought specific ideas to the table. "From a hair perspective, this shoot was about creating silhouettes and textures that would be immediately recognizable," Hameed tells me. "When you see these styles, you know exactly who they represent. Josephine Baker's look was all about vintage glamour, so we leaned into sculpted waves and precision."

Hameed notes that they also made the intentional choice to shift Keke's signature red strands to jet black. "This wasn't about trend, it was about tribute," she explains. "Black hair felt like the proper nod to the women we were honoring. I studied historic photos, vintage films, and even beauty supply catalogs from the past to fully immerse myself in their eras."

When I ask Alexis which of the three looks was the most fun to re-create via makeup, she immediately cites Josephine Baker. "Hands down, it was bold, glamorous, and gave me room to play with structure and pigment," she says. I especially loved doing the thin black brows—they carried so much attitude and really completed the transformation." Alexis brought full vintage drama via matte skin, tons of berry-toned blush and contour, the aforementioned black curved brows, and Baker's signature deep lip. Despite the outside inspiration for the three looks, though, Alexis still leaned into her favorite features of Palmer's: her eyes and cheekbones.

"She's so expressive, and I love using soft, smoked liners and lashes to enhance her gaze," Alexis tells me. "I always layer cream and powder blush to bring warmth and dimension to her face. It's a signature technique I love using on her."

One would think maneuvering between multiple looks across wardrobe, makeup, hair, and nails could get complicated on set, but Hameed tells me it was anything but. "The collaboration was seamless. Most of us had worked together before, so there was already a creative rhythm and trust. Keke set the tone with her vision, and we built around that. We all made sure our work complemented, not competed. Everyone brought their A-game and respected each other's craft."

When it came time for Palmer to emulate Whitney Houston, Hameed says she went with voluminous, tousled curls—her signature '80s glam—styled with a hot comb, foam wrap lotion, and large rollers to give body. For makeup, Alexis envisioned the look as simple, but flawless: matte skin, a glossy red lip, and soft lashes to capture Houston's early '90s beauty.

"Each glam was rooted in research," Alexis explains. "I pulled from archival photos, performances, and vintage editorials to really tap into each woman's aesthetic. I wanted to honor their essence while keeping Keke's beauty at the center." The result? A stunning dose of nostalgia punctuated with a modern, editorial twist.