Gemma Collins is undergoing a huge transformation ahead of her 2026 wedding.
Not only has the former The Only Way Is Essex star dropped two dress sizes, but she’s ditched the hair extensions to embrace her natural beauty. However, The GC, who is now sporting a chic bob, has had a bit of a nightmare when it comes to her locks. This week, she admitted she’s suffering with hair breakage and is undergoing treatment for hair growth. A source tells new this hasn’t been an easy process for the 44-year-old Essex native.
“Gemma is so used to being glamorous, it’s not been easy to strip it all back and embrace her natural look,” said the source. “Hair breakage is devastating for her – having extensions does take its toll on your real hair.”
Taking to Instagram last week, Gemma showed off her shorter blonde tresses and admitted hair issues can be “upsetting”.
“I’m on a hair growth journey – and look how much my hair has grown already!” Gemma told followers.
The star is engaged to businessman Rami Hawash, and is a doting stepmum to his son, Tristan. Her hair transformation is all part of her bridal preparation for their wedding next year. “She really wants to look her best for the wedding and be as fabulous as possible,” said the source. “But this is a new look for her. She’s used to being ultra-glam, so it’s not been easy. But the hair growth sessions are working and it’s just about getting past that in-between stage.”
In January, Gemma revealed she was having hair growth treatments with trichologist Natalia Souza, filming herself in Reflect Hair Clinic.
“I’ve got naturally thick hair, but I’ve got a real problem with it growing,” she said. “I’ve got quite a lot of breakage from the dyeing, which needs to be sorted out.”
Natalia says embracing her natural beauty has actually given Gemma some more confidence as the treatments take action. “Being able to remove her extensions and embrace her natural hair has been a huge step for Gemma,” Natalia told new. “Beyond just the physical transformation, there’s a sense of empowerment.”
Adding that hair breakage and loss isn’t easy for celebrities to deal with, Natalia said, “When people experience hair thinning or damage, it can deeply affect their self-esteem and emotional wellbeing. Many of our clients, including Gemma, experience a huge boost in confidence once they see their hair improving and becoming healthier.”
Gemma isn’t the only one impacted by overtreating their hair. Katie Price has previously been left devastated when she suffered traction alopecia caused by using extensions and over-bleaching her hair.
Back in 2011, it was reported Katie was left “disgusted” after spending thousands of pounds on her hair, only to suffer loss and breakage. She allegedly said at the time, “My hair is f*****d! I have bald patches at the sides! It’s awful, my hair is my life – without it, I feel disgusting.”
Explaining this is a frequent issue among A-listers, hair specialist Kate Ross says, “It’s more common than people think. Celebs are under pressure to switch up their looks constantly, so they’re more likely to push their hair to the limit with extensions and colour (take Kim Kardashian ’s continuously bleached hair, for example). I’ve worked with stylists who’ve seen A-listers quietly tackling thinning edges or brittle strands.”
It seems Gemma is aiming for an all-over transformation, as she recently revealed she’s also dropped two dress sizes after using weight-loss jabs.
“This has been life-changing for me,” Gemma told fans in January. “I’m going to look like a Victoria’s Secret model! But not only that – I feel healthier, I feel happier. I’m really looking forward to this year, I may finally be able to wear a bikini again.
“This was a big thing for me to come on here because I just wanted to share with you my journey. I’ve been bullied and tortured all my life for being overweight. I can’t tell you how good I feel right now, like a massive weight’s been lifted off my shoulders.”
Admitting how much she’s struggled with her weight, Gemma added, “This is for anyone who knows the struggle is real. Only if you’re overweight do you know the struggle – you know the downfalls and what you go through.”
It seems 2025 will be the year of self-love and growth for The GC.
Comments
Leave a Comment