The Top 10 Hair Looks of the 2021 Met Gala

The 2021 Met Gala invited A-listers and fashion royalty to celebrate American fashion with the theme “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.” The fashion, as per usual, was jaw-dropping, but attendees’ hair and makeup acted as the cherry on top of the bravura cake.

We have rounded up some of the best hair looks from the red carpet to create for your clients.  

Ilana Glazer

Ilana Glazer walked the Met Gala red carpet with a soft, curly bob styled by Sabrina Rowe using amika.

Get the look:

1. Start the look by spraying The Wizard Detangling Primer and Power Hour Curl Refreshing Spray plus a touch of Brooklyn Bombshell Blowout Spray to prep the hair for the style.
2. Apply Blockade Heat Defense Serum to further protect delicate hair from heat styling.
3. Mix Curl Corps Defining Cream with a bit of Curl Corps Enhancing Gel and apply from the top of the crown and back while manipulating curls with your fingers to form them into the perfect shape. 
4. Diffuse hair using the Mighty Mini Dryer on medium-high heat to add volume.
5. Use the smallest tapered wand in The Chameleon Interchangeable Barrel Curling Kit to define some of the curls. 
6. Pull apart and tease curls while spraying with Un.Done Volume and Matte Texture Spray to add some fun frizz in the back and set the look with Fluxus Touchable Hairspray.
7. Carefully pin the hair to tuck behind the ears.  

Lourdes Leon 

Long and sleek was the name of the hair game for Lourdes Leon on the red carpet. Styled by Evanie Frausto using René Furterer products, the look was completed with extensions for added length. 

Get the look:

1. Start with a blow-dry using the René Furterer Thermal Protecting Spray and Style Sculpting Mousse.
2. Use a flat iron section-by-section with Style Shine Mist.
3. To clean up parting and flyaways, use Style Finishing Spray.
4. To finish the look, use the Style Modeling Paste to accent baby hairs. 

Dasha Zhukova

The founder of the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art and Garage Magazine, Dasha Zhukova opted for a side-swept braid created by Graham Nation using UNITE Hair products.

Get the look:

1. Start by prepping damp hair with 7SECONDS Detangler to instantly detangle, hydrate and protect your hair from heat styling and UVs.
2. Next, while your hair is still damp, apply BOOSTA Volumizing Spray at the roots for a boost of weightless volume and definition.
3. Give a full but smooth blow dry.
4. After your hair is completely dry, apply SMOOTH SHINE from mid-lengths to ends and section off for a braid. This versatile styling cream contains Argan Oil, crushed pearls and coconut to hydrate, nourish, protect, and shine, and organic Hawaiian white honey to revitalize and add strength. It also quickly smooths dry and damaged ends.
5. Next, apply ELEVATE Mousse to your braid and let the product dry, then begin piecing out hair for a more undone look.
6. Finish off the look with the 3-in-1 customizable strength GO365 Hairspray for a day-to-night hold.

Olivia Rodrigo

The singer went for a clean, chic look styled by Clay Hawkins for Dyson. Hawkins used Oribe product to help achieve the look.

Get the look:

1. Start by brushing out damp hair with the Tangle Teezer Ultimate Detangler and apply Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream from mid-shafts to ends.
2. Then, with the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, blow straight.
3. Once dry, straighten the hair in small sections with the Dyson Corrale hair straightener. 
4. Then coat hair with Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil and rake it through with the Tangle Teezer Ultimate Finisher to smooth.
5. Next, create sleek and chic knots in the back and secure them with hair pins, letting the ends spike out on the sides. 
6. Use Oribe Superfine Hairspray to lock everything into place and complete the look by applying Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil to palms and smooth onto hairline for a reflective sheen. 

Naomi Osaka

The tennis star’s hair was inspired by “Haitian school girl style and Onna-Musha warriors of Japan.” Marty Harper for Dyson used Nature Lab products while creating this hair look.

Get the look: 

1. To begin, cleanse hair with NatureLab. Tokyo Perfect Texture Shampoo and Conditioner to get a clean and weightless texture. 
2. Then prep the hair with the NatureLab. Tokyo Perfect Smooth Blow Out Lotion and blow out hair in 1-inch sections using the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer.
3. After blowing the hair, apply NatureLab. Tokyo Perfect Smooth Hair Oil from mid-shaft through the ends. Then take ½ -inch sections of hair and press them using the Dyson Corrale hair straightener until achieving the desired smoothness.
4. From there, section the hair from ear to ear and smooth both sections into two ponytails, using a cocktail of Perfect Smooth Hair Oil and NatureLab. Tokyo Perfect Shine Oil Mist.
5. Braid both ponytails and pose into desired architectural shape, finishing the braids with a final spray of the Perfect Shine Oil Mist.

Lupita Nyong’o 

The actress celebrated her textured hair with a powerful look created by Vernon Francois for Dyson using Redken products. 

Get the look:

1. Lupita’s hair was colored ahead of time with Shades EQ 3N and 3NB, Shades EQ Bonder Inside 000, and Redken’s new Color Gels Lacquers 10 minutes.
2.  Use Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo and Conditioner to help add moisture and keep the hair looking healthy.
3. At the hair styling stage, prepare the hair with Mist Nourishing Water (from Vernon’s own hair care range), spritzing all over to gently wet the strands.
4. Then on a gentle speed, warm temperature, used Dyson Supersonic hair dryer with the wide-tooth comb attachment to help lengthen hair as it dries, giving hair the ability to be braided down.
5. Next up, the hair pieces. Lay all out and spray with Redken’s Quick Dry 18 Instant Finishing Spray and Triple Pure 32 High Hold Hairspray to help smooth and add hold, before setting in place with Dyson Supersonic hair dryer with the Diffuser attachment.
6. Once set, lift the hair pieces almost like a sheet of wrapping paper or a layer of crepe paper.
7. Next, shape, create and pin into your desired look as you wish.  When securely in place, use the diffuser and hairspray again for a secure and reliable hold. 
8. Use Dyson Corrale hair straightener to sculpt the crown section of the hair.  Vernon used a technique where the sides of the flat irons are used to mold, shape and contour.
9. Finish with Redken’s Shine Flash to give the hairstyle a red-carpet-ready glow. 

Leslie Grace 

The sleek hair vibes continued with Leslie Grace and her twisted double bun. The look was created by John D using the René Furterer STYLE collection. 

John's instructions for achieving the look:

1. Leslie has gorgeous naturally textured hair. For this look, we wanted the hair to be smoothed down. That means we’re using some heat in the hair to lay down the cuticle and add loads of shine. I used the René Furterer STYLE Thermal Protecting Spray throughout the hair to protect her hair from any excess heat. Just spritz throughout damp hair before beginning to style.
2.  I went through Leslie’s hair and blew it out using a comb attachment for my dryer. This removes any moisture and coaxes the hair into a smoother stage without applying too much tension to the hair. Once the hair was dried, I used a flat iron to really smooth the hair down and lock in shine.
3. Next up, I gathered/brushed Leslie’s hair to the top of her head and secured the hair into two ponytails using some elastic and tied the hair up nice and tight. I used a bit of the René Furterer STYLE Modeling Paste on the ends of a detail brush and smoothed away and loose flyaways.
4.  Next, I twisted the hair into twin tightly wrapped knots that were slightly offset from one another. And locked them in with a few hair pins. I wanted the twisted buns to have a bit of a cool effect by allowing some bits stick out. It was a cool juxtaposition to the sleek look of the style. I locked the whole style in by using a generous application of the René Furterer STYLE Finishing Spray all over.

Dan Levy

The actor opted for a slicked-back look styled by Laila Hayani using American Crew products.

Get the look:

1. Laila started with clean, wet hair and applied a pea size of the Fiber Grooming Foam as a primer, which also added volume.
2. She then applied a spritz of water to allow the hair to take to gel and to work it into the hair.
3. She mixed together Superglue and the Firm Hold Styling Cream and applied a generous amount through the hair to give it the wet look.
4. Once shaped, Laila continued to apply a spritzing of water to continue to comb through it and manipulate the shape before setting the style.
5. She finished by using a diffuser to apply heat and dry the look and ensure it set into place.
6. Lastly, she spritzed Alternator for shine and to officially set the look. 

Paloma Elsesser

A modern take on old Hollywood glamour was the chosen hair look for Paloma Elsesser. The hair was styled by Jawara using Fekkai and Dyson products.

Get the look:

1. Wash hair with Fekkai Shea Butter Shampoo and Shea Butter Conditioner. 
2. Comb through the hair with the Dyson Detangling comb to get the water out.
3. While damp, lightly mist in the Fekkai Shea Butter Curl Refresher. 
4. Using the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer with the Smoothing nozzle, blow dry smooth and add volume to the hair with the Vented barrel brush. 
5. Once hair is dry, create a center part. 
6. Before ironing, spray each section with the Fekkai Full Blown Volume Texturing Spray. 
7. From the crown back, use the Dyson Corrale hair straightener to create a classic set around the hairline, going horizontally. 
8. Let set and freeze dry with the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer and Diffuser attachment on low temperature to cool. 
9. Brush out with the Paddle brush and, around the face, mold hair into an S finger wave shape flat to the head. 
10. Finish with a small amount of Fekkai Shea Butter Intense Oil.  

Emma Chamberlain 

Embracing the mod feels of the 1906s, Emma Chamberlain’s hair was styled by Laura Polko using Aquage products.

Get the look:

1. Prep wet hair using the Aquage Uplifting Foam, starting from the back and working through to the front.
2. Set back of hair all the way up to the crown using Velcro rollers.
3. On the front of the hair, use the Aquage CBD Medium Hold Styling Gel to slick down the front and ensure the hair has a shiny finish.  
4. To set hair, hit it with heat using T3 Fit Dryer and hold it in place with Scunci setting clips 
5. From there, start from the bottom using the T3 Curl ID on heat setting 4 and flip the ends out.
6. Finish the look off with the Aquage Finishing Spray
7. At the crown of the head, used the Aquage Dry Texture Finishing Spray for hold and volume.