Who better to look to than celebrities and their red carpet hairstyles for your own hair inspiration. Whether you’re attending a formal event, heading to a special occasion or even your own wedding, celebrity red carpet hairstyles can help you decide how to style your own hair.
We’ve gathered the best celebrity red carpet hairstyles for every hair length which you can take to your hair salon to get your hairdresser to work their magic on your tresses:
From updos to waves, with each red carpet hairstyle we’ve included what you (or your hairdresser) should be doing to get the look.
10 Red Carpet Hairstyles for Short Hair
1. Halle Berry’s Pixie Cut
This remains Halle Berry’s most iconic look. Add volume and texture to those short layers by applying some mousse to get that lightly soft tousled look. Timeless.
2. Kate Hudson’s Ribbon
After Kate had shaved her head for a movie role, she shared her worries about that ‘in-between-grow-out-stage’ on The Ellen Show. To get her look with a difficult style, rub mousse through your hair to create volume and texture, then tie a ribbon around your head. Kate also added a subtle ombre colour to her hair that made the lighter pieces pop.
3. Charlize Theron’s Boyish Glamour
The South African actress pulled off a boy cut that looked so dolled up and glam. Ask your stylist for tightly cropped sides and extra length on top. Opt for some texture paste or some wax to create that messy texture at the front.
4. Emma Watson’s Sleek Hair
If you want to make a high impact entrance, section your pixie hair on your preferred side, making sure the heavier part is the side that looks most flattering on you. Continue to gel it down with a small-tooth-comb to hold it into place. Easy.
5. Mia Wasikowska’s Bob
A short bob takes only a few minutes to flat iron, making it one of the most time-saving hairstyles. Get Mia’s look by parting your hair deeply to the side. Always use heat protectant sprays or serums to keep your hair healthy and shiny. Those flat irons can wreak havoc to unprotected hair!
6. Diane Kruger’s Wavy Bob
‘The National Treasure’ actress looks fab in an extreme side part with loose, low maintenance looking waves. Add just a little bit of volume on the top and spritz some texturizing spray to hair that’s already been curled. This will give your curls a little bit of hold with an airy texture. Just as though you’ve been at the beach all day.
7. Michelle Williams’ Fringe
Hide a high forehead with a fringe. Go for longer length on the top of your pixie and sweep the longer hair forward. It’s important to straighten your hair for this style, so use heat protectant sprays and hair sprays to keep it in place. Classic.
8. Jamie Alexander’s Short Up do
Who says you can’t wear up dos with short hair? Part your hair into three sides and use a volumizing mist for the centre. Instead of pulling the shorter pieces of hair on the sides upwards, try twisting them just above the ears to keep them in place.
9. Danai Gurira’s Shaved Head
‘The Black Panther’ actress rocks her shaved head with elegance by adding sharp and sculpted cuts. Ask your stylist for help on what designs and shapes suit you.
10. Ashleigh Brewer’s Slick Back Hair
Comb your hair towards the back and use pomade or wax to style it. Apply a pea-sized amount and spread it throughout, continuing to pull your hair backwards. This gives you a more controlled and elegant look when you step onto the red carpet. Sleek.
10 Red Carpet Hairstyles for Medium Hair
1. Jennifer Lawrence’s Soft Waves
One of J-Law’s best red carpet hair is the platinum bob she wowed us with at the premier of ‘The X-Men Apocalypse’. Part your hair slightly off centre and use a large curling wand to get those loose soft waves. Bit of hairspray and presto.
2. Bella Hadid’s Wet Look
Start with damp hair and achieve the glossy texture by adding lots of pomade using your fingers. Comb it throughout the back and let it curve around the base of your head for flare. It’s just like you’ve stepped out of a shower… it’s kind of a thing. No, really.
3. Emma Stone’s Classic Look
Emma’s classic look is one of the best red carpet hairstyles for medium hair. Apply mousse to your damp hair as it adds texture and definition into your curls. Part your hair to the side, add a little side swept fringe, and create an ‘S’ curl to achieve those waves. Stunning.
4. Margot Robbie’s Long Bob
Create a deep side part and start straightening your hair to create an angled bob. Tuck hair strands behind your ears to show off your bone structure. Apply mousse near your roots for volume and finish off with oil for added shine. Sharp and edgy.
5. Rose Byrne’s Wave
To emphasize the depth and highlights of your hair, part it to the side to complement a long face. Recreate the curls using rollers or a curling wand and finish off with hair spray.
6. Gal Gadot’s Slicked Back Hair
If you’re feeling confident, create a side part and start applying lots of serums or pomade following the hair line to get a slicked back look. Use a large-teeth-comb for a looser finish. You can’t hide any imperfections with this style so your make-up needs to be just right.
7. Chrissy Teigen’s Wavy Lob
Blow dry your hair with medium heat and add volumizing mist to your roots. Start creating soft bends in your hair and style it into shape by using a flat iron. Set the look with a generous amount of hair spray and you’re ready to go.
8. Anne Hathaway’s Low Bun
Part your hair at the centre before creating a low ponytail near the nape and start twisting it into a bun. Secure with an elastic and hair pins, and cover it with a few strands of your hair. Start pulling out a few strands and loosen up the bun to add volume. This look is very dramatic.
9. Kim Kardashian’s Neat Updo
Apply oil mist to your damp hair before brushing it all back, making sure there is no stray hair out of place. Create a low bun and tuck loose ends under the base and secure with pins. As an added bonus this look creates the look of a mini face lift.
10. Ashley Benson’s Bed Hair
No need for flat irons and curling wands with Ashley Benson’s waves. Use some texture paste for volume and part it to the extreme side for this messy just-got-out-of-bed-look.
10 Red Carpet Hairstyles for Long Hair
1. Katherine Langford’s Side Waves
Show off your long thick hair by styling it dramatically to one side. Blow dry your hair to give your roots a lift after adding some hairspray, apply some oil on the ends of your hair to make it more manageable and smooth then take medium sections of hair and wrap it around your curling iron. To complete the look, fasten it to one side with a dramatic hair pin.
2. Nicole Kidman’s Tousled Braid
Get Nicole Kidman’s hairstyle by prepping your hair with curl-enhancing products before putting them in a braid to achieve imperfect waves. So simple and carefree.
3. Slicked-back Hair Sections
Gwyneth Paltrow’s long sectioned hair can be done under 10-minutes. Divide your hair into a reverse half ponytail and secure the bottom inner section with a ponytail, then style the top layer using some wax to get rid of those pesky stray hairs. This is a very sleek style that shows off your face.
4. Isla Fisher’s Hollywood Glam Waves
This style is one of the most popular red carpet hairstyles for long hair. You’ll need a lot of layers and hair extensions to make sure your hair is thick and full. Then curl, add volume with mousse put on your frock and you’re ready to go.
5. Jennifer Lopez’ High Ponytail
Brush your hair back together near your crown and put it into a high ponytail. Add some mousse for texture and start creating waves using a large curling wand. This is another look that achieves a mini face lift look.
6. Sultry Long Wave
Rita Ora was a stunner at the 2018 Grammys. Spray some hydration mist to dampen hair before sectioning it for a blow dry using a round brush. This instantly adds lift and texture. Start curling hair away from your face and apply some conditioner through from your mid-length to the ends. Very Sultry.
7. Dakota Johnson’s Perfect Fringe
The secret to the perfect fringe is to avoid hairspray. Dakota Johnson’s fringe always look soft yet casual. Avoid cutting your fringe to one length instead opt for layers to make it look more natural. A straight cut fringe along your eyebrows is a whole other look that doesn’t suit all face shapes. Take that as a warning.
8. Camila Cabello’s Low Braided Ponytail
Add some mousse on your damp hair before blow drying it to create volume. Curl your hair in different directions to create loose waves before putting it in a low ponytail. Continue braiding it and add some oil for shine… and you’re ready for your night out.
9. Jennifer Lawrence’s Lioness Look
Looks like Jennifer Lawrence brought the hair crimper back at the 2018 Oscars. Apply some heat protectant spray to your towel-dry hair and use a three-barrel-crimper to quickly achieve this look. She looks effortless…yet ‘done’.
10. Natalie Portman’s Hair Band
Perfect for windy days we’d have to say. Add some mousse for soft tousled hair, twist it into a bun, and add a hairband. Don’t let the ease of this style mislead you. It is sleek, stylish and classic.
