Whether they went home with awards noting their on-screen performances or not, these leading ladies were style standouts for their red carpet ‘dos at last night’s 84th Annual Academy Awards.
With shiny, long, rich hair like Sandra Bullock’s, celebrity stylist David Babaii’s job was clear: keep it simple to showcase its natural luxury. For colorists looking replicate a similar deep mocha shade, the stylist suggests using IT&LY Hairfashion Colorly 20/20 Mocha Series. To create the sleek ponytail Babaii began by applying his eponymous Miracle Oil to gently towel dried hair. He ensured that the hair dried perfectly straight by separating it into four sections—crown, sides and nape—before using a medium paddle brush and blow dryer with a nozzle attachment to smooth strands dry. Before lifting dry hair into the high ponytail, he spritzed it with IT&LY Hairfashion Purity Design Pure Definition Hairspray. “I love this hairspray because it is light and a great working spray, yet has fabulous memory hold,” Babaii says. Once the ponytail was fastened, he wrapped a weft of hair around the band to hide it and pinned that section in with bobby pins. For added shine, he combined Miracle Oil and Purity Design Pure Definition Hairspray in his palms and ran his hands down Bullocks mane before adding a decorative pin for a final touch.
Also rocking the red carpet boasting a flirty ponytail, Leslie Mann’s youthful style provided a nice contrast to her elegant strapless gown embellished heavily with sequins. Stylist Rod Ortega for Wella Professionals had intended to create a chignon, but decided this playful look would create a flattering silhouette for her face shape. To achieve to look, he prepped wet hair with Wella Professionals Velvet Amplifier throughout and just a small amount of Mirror Polish Shine Serum on ends to enhance smoothness and shine. Using a 2 1/2 –inch T3 AntiGravity Barrel Brush at the roots to create texture and a Mason Pearson paddle brush from mid-lengths to ends to prevent curl, Ortega blew the hair dry with the new T3 Professional Evolution LongLife Dryer, while back combing the roots for added volume. To add extra body near the roots around the face, he used the T3 SinglePass Compact Flat Iron to add lift while removing frizz. He then pulled the hair into a ponytail near the crown of the back of the head and secured it, using a T3 Sectioning Comb to leave out the front and side sections. The sections left out were then smoothed out and wrapped around the elastic to keep it from showing. For a medium hold that enabled natural movement, but kept the look in place, he sprayed the completed ponytail with Wella Professionals Stay Essential Finishing Spray.
Opting to flaunt a more timeless hairstyle, Olivia Wilde and Wella Professioanls Stylist Davy Newkirk collaborated in the creation of this roughed-up take on a glamorous updo. Wanting to create an effortless style to pair with her strapless black gown, Newkirk used Pearl Styler to add extra texture to Wilde’s hair before rough drying it. Gathering her hair at the crown, he secured the look in place with a bungee cord and teased the ends to create an edgy texture. He then loosely twisted the hair around the bungee for a loose structure that he secured with pins. For a touch of added sheen and long-lasting hold, Newkirk sprayed the style with Dynamic Fix hairspray and lightly tousled the hair at the root and around the bun with his fingers
Wilde wasn’t the only starlet to appear wearing a 70s inspired updo. Shailene Woodley’s stunning, more controlled bun was the work of Stylist Campbell McAuley for Matrix. Playing on the texture of her high neckline Valentino Couture gown, McAuley wanted the wrapped pieces of the chignon to act as a mirror, making the style really pop. He began by prepping wet hair with Matrix Total Results Amplify Wonder Boost Root Lifter. Next, he blew hair dry using a round brush for added texture before setting hair in Velcro rollers for one hour. He incorporated Total Results Sleek Silk Wonder Smoothing Oil from roots to ends for added shine as he brushed curls out. Gathering all the hair, he secured it into a textured ponytail at the crown of the head. To create the round shape, he twisted small wefts of hair and wrapped them up to the base of the ponytail. Once half the ponytail had been twisted, he wrapped the remaining sections around the circular shape to create a crisscross texture and finished with Design Pulse Hard Lock Hairspray.
Set to begin filming her next Parisian movie, Bérénice Bejo appeared at the event with a new red hue. Having recently color treated her hair, Stylist Cydney Cornell used Caruso SalonPro Professional Molecular Steam Rollers because of the systems’ low impact, high shine results. “I have used the set for nearly 25 years and it still is the most portable and effective curl method,” Cornell says. Before setting, she prepped the hair with René Furterer Vegetal Mousse. To begin creating the braid, she separated a paisley-shaped section of hair, the widest point being at the far corner of Bejo’s forehead. She then created an inverted French braid along the hairline trailing off at the nape, keeping the bulky side underneath to add lift. Looking to also increase the volume of the unbraided hair, she used Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray at the root near the crown before teasing the remaining hair in the back. That section was then pulled back to join the tiny end of the braid and they were fastened together into a ponytail. Cornell wanted to keep the chignon fresh and smooth, so she brushed René Furterer Glossing Spray through hair until she achieved the smooth feel she wanted. Next, she covered the elastic with a ribbon of hair that she folded and twisted it into place with only four bobby pins. The final touch was adding a spritz of satin finish with René Furterer Laque Vegetale.
Dazzling crowds with a look of 1950s-inspired Hollywood Glamour, Penelope Cruz can thank Andy LeCompte, celebrity stylist for Wella Professionals, for the look that paired so elegantly with her Armani Privé gown. To channel Grace Kelly and recreate this look, start out with dry hair and add a small amount of Wella Professionals Natural Volume Styling Mousse to just the roots. For the soft curls that frame her face, pull sections back and set them with steam hot rollers, using smaller rollers for a tighter curl in the back. Once set, pin the hair underneath into a faux bob. Lightly mist Dynamic Fix 45 Second Crafting Spray over the look before teasing the root for additional volume. Finally, brush the finger waves into place and set with Stay Essential Finishing Spray.
Michelle Williams once again took the red carpet modeling her signature short style. The modern, sophisticated look was again created by celebrity stylist Chris McMillan for Wella Professionals (he also created her adorned look for the Golden Globes), who started by applying Sebastian Professional Mousse Forte to her wet hair. Once it had air dried, he used a small round brush to give body and form to her bangs and add height to the crown. Using a dash of Stay Essential Finishing Spray, he set the part and bangs in place using just his hands.