If you’ve ever scrolled through Instagram or binged a season of No Demo Reno, you’ve seen it. That vibrant, copper-red mane that seems to defy the laws of humidity and gravity. Jennifer Todryk, better known to her millions of followers as The Rambling Redhead, has turned her hair into a central character of her brand.
But with hair that thick and a color that striking, the internet does what it does best: it doubts. People constantly ask: Is Jennifer Todryk hair real? Is it a wig? Are there thousands of dollars of extensions hidden under those loose curls?
Honestly, the answer is simpler than the conspiracy theories suggest, but it also comes with some "influencer secrets" she’s been pretty open about over the years.
The Truth About the Red
First off, let’s talk about the color. Red is the hardest color to maintain. It fades if you even look at a swimming pool. It turns brassy. It’s a high-maintenance nightmare for most mortals.
Jenn is a natural redhead. That’s the foundation. However, anyone who knows anything about television lighting knows that "natural" often needs a boost to keep from looking washed out under those heavy studio LEDs. While she was born with the ginger gene—a rare trait that only about 2% of the population shares—she has admitted to using professional color to enhance the vibrancy.
She often jokes about her "roots" or needing a "refresh," which is basically code for: yes, her stylist helps mother nature along.
Extensions: The Great Debate
This is where the "Is it real?" question gets tricky. Most people see volume like hers and immediately think "beaded rows" or "tape-ins."
For a long time, Jenn has maintained that her hair's length is mostly due to a very specific, somewhat lazy strategy: she doesn't cut it. She has famously shared that her "trick" to long hair is simply avoiding the salon chair for trims as much as humanly possible.
But does she use extensions?
In the world of HGTV, hair extensions are almost a job requirement. They provide the "heft" needed for hair to look good on camera for 12-hour shooting days. While Jenn primarily rocks her natural hair, she has been known to use clip-in extensions for added volume during filming or special events. She’s a fan of the "extra" look, but unlike many other stars, she hasn't made permanent hand-tied extensions a part of her daily identity.
The "No Wash" Routine
If you want to know why her hair looks the way it does, you have to look at her (lack of) routine. Jenn is the queen of the dry shampoo life.
She has gone on record multiple times—usually while sitting in her car or hiding from her "child beasts"—stating that she only washes her hair about once a week. Sometimes longer.
- Day 1: Freshly washed, usually a bit too "fluffy."
- Day 2-3: The sweet spot. This is when those signature curls actually hold.
- Day 4-7: Heavy reliance on Klorane or Living Proof dry shampoo.
This infrequent washing is actually a huge reason her hair stays healthy. Red hair tends to be coarser and drier than other shades. Over-washing strips the natural oils, leading to breakage. By being "lazy," she's actually practicing elite hair care.
Those Signature Curls
People often assume her hair is naturally wavy. It isn’t. Left to its own devices, it’s relatively straight with a bit of a chaotic frizz factor.
The look you see on No Demo Reno is achieved with a very specific tool: an extra-long barrel curling iron. Because her hair is so long, a standard iron doesn't have enough surface area to heat the strand evenly. She curls away from the face, leaves the ends out for a more modern look, and—this is the key—uses no hairspray. She wants the "bounce." She’s mentioned that she prefers the curls to fall naturally throughout the day rather than being frozen in a "crunchy" state.
Products She Actually Uses
Jenn is an affiliate marketing powerhouse, but she tends to stick to a core group of "holy grail" items. If you’re trying to replicate the look, these are the names that pop up in her "Mane Maintenance" lists:
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- Unite 7Seconds Detangler: A staple for keeping those long strands from knotting.
- Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil: She uses this for scalp health and growth.
- Verb Ghost Oil: To tame the frizz without weighing down the red.
- Klorane Dry Shampoo: Her literal lifeline for the "no-wash" weeks.
The Filter Controversy
We have to address the elephant in the room. Some corners of the internet (looking at you, Reddit) accuse her of using heavy filters that distort her hair color and skin texture.
Does she use filters? Yes. She’s an influencer; it’s practically in the terms of service. These filters can make her hair look more "neon" than it is in real life. However, when you see her on HGTV, where the editing is handled by a professional crew rather than an iPhone app, the hair is still there. It’s still thick. It’s still red.
The "realness" isn't a lie; it's just occasionally "enhanced" for the 'gram.
How to get the "Todryk" Look
If you're aiming for that Rambling Redhead volume, you don't necessarily need a wig or a team of stylists. You do, however, need patience.
- Stop cutting it. If you want length like Jenn’s, you have to endure the "awkward stages" and stop getting trims every six weeks.
- Invest in a long-barrel iron. If your hair is past your shoulders, a 1-inch or 1.25-inch extra-long barrel is a game changer.
- Embrace the grease. Train your hair to go 4-5 days between washes. It’ll feel gross for the first month, but your hair health will skyrocket.
- Scalp care is hair care. Use oils like rosemary or pumpkin seed to keep the follicles active.
The reality is that Jennifer Todryk’s hair is largely real, natural, and the result of a very specific, low-intervention lifestyle. It’s a mix of good genetics, strategic coloring, and the occasional clip-in for that TV-ready "oomph."
Check your local beauty supply for a 1.25-inch curling iron and start stretching out those wash days. That’s the most authentic way to channel your inner Rambling Redhead without spending a fortune at the salon.