Month: May 2019

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Zendaya Used These 6 Drugstore Beauty Products to Create Her Met Gala Hairstyle

If you’ve been anywhere near a TV, movie, or runway lately, you know 22-year-old former Disney channel star, Zendaya, is a triple (quadruple?) threat. The actor/singer/dancer and radiant beauty has had her hands in an array of projects lately, from her captivating role as a trapeze artist in The Greatest Showman to the Zendaya x Tommy collab for Tommy Hilfiger’s SS’19 runway collection, and upcoming HBO series, Euphoria, Zendaya’s already bright star is even more on the rise. Which, of course, is why we were elated to have the opportunity to get the inside scoop on her fairytale-inspired hairstyle for tonight’s Met Gala. 

Known for having fun with fashion and her chameleon-like hair and makeup looks, it’s no surprise that Zendaya aced this year’s “Camp” theme in true Disney princess fashion. Teaming up again with her longtime hairstylist, Ursula Stephen, and image architect, Law Roach, Zendaya’s head-to-toe supercharged Cinderella look by Tommy Hilfiger fit in (or should we say, stood out!) perfectly on the pink carpet of the Met steps.

When asked how this dynamic duo of fairy godmothers helps to prepare Zendaya for a major event, Ursula noted, “With Zendaya, fashion really leads the way! The hairstyle is usually based on what she’s planning on wearing on the red carpet.” She went on further to explain that Law’s idea for the full look usually includes hair, so it’s really a team effort to bring that vision to life. We’ve gotta say: this electrified homage to one of Disney’s original ingénues is proof that Zendaya and her team always give 110%. 

While last year’s Joan of Arc-themed ensemble included a blunt bob and mini bangs (a favorite of Ursula’s), this year’s inspo was a literal translation of the Met Gala’s over-the-top theme, which encouraged Ursula and her team to push the envelope even more than usual. She explains, “Given this year’s Costume Institute’s exhibit, “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” we really tried to step outside of the boundaries of what society typically expects. So, with that said, this year’s inspiration is something we’re all very familiar with—Cinderella!” 

Even more remarkable is that Ursula achieved this voluminous bouffant using six drugstore products, including hairspray, dry shampoo, and super moisturizing shampoo and conditioner formulated especially for natural hair. 

Read on below for the how-to, plus the totally affordable products used to achieve Zendaya’s truly enchanting Met Gala hairstyle. 

Here’s the step-by-step for how Ursula Stephen created Zendaya’s perfect Cinderella moment: 

First, she shampooed and conditioned an amazing hairpiece from HairSoFab with Suave Professionals shampoo and conditioner for Natural Hair.  

After the hair was properly cleansed, she added Love Beauty and Planet hair milk, a heat protectant, before drying it.

Once the hair was dry, Ursula curled large sections of hair then applied Dove Care dry shampoo to create volume before brushing it out with a Tangle Teezer detangling brush.

To build the French twist, Ursula teased Zendaya’s hair at the root and brushed it into the twist, securing with bobby pins.

Once the twist was where they wanted it, Ursula pulled out Zendaya’s natural bang a bit and played with it to frame her face perfectly.

Ursula locked the look in place with the look TRESemmé hairspray before adding her headband and sending her off to the ball. 

Magical! 

Ursula always carries the TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hair Spray Hold for curls, and the companion Unscented Extra Hold Hair Spray in her styling kit. 

This hairspray duo is also great for touch-ups, so Ursula and her team are always sure to have it on-the-go to give Zendaya a final spritz before she hits the red carpet.

Ursula says she absolutely loves Dove’s new dry shampoo, which does double duty as a styling product, adding volume while keeping hair light, free and movable. 

This hair milk can be used on any style or texture of hair and provides a great prep and prime solution before using hot tools. Bonus: this brand is also cruelty-free, paraben-free, silicone-free, dye-free, alcohol-free, & formulated without phthalates.

Of course, as the go-to expert for stars with curly, natural, or otherwise textured hair, we trust Ursula when she recommends this combo of shampoo and conditioner. 

In addition to working with Zendaya, Ursula Stephen’s clients include Rihanna, Kerry Washington, and Laverne Cox. If these drugstore products are good enough for them, we’re ready to buy in bulk! 

Looking for more hair tips, tricks, and product recommendations from the experts? We’ve got you covered: 

I Attended Over 30 NYFW Shows: This 5-Minute Hairstyle Got Me Through 

I Asked a Celeb Hairstylist How to Make My Hair Grow Faster—Here’s What She Said

19 Beauty Items Stylists Would Buy at CVS vs. 20 They’d Buy at Sephora

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Every Product Behind Ella Balinska’s Old Hollywood-Inspired Met Gala Look

“On the morning of a big day like the Met Gala, I love to box. I love boxing because it clears my head and it’s important for me on a big day to walk into my client’s room with a clear and focused mind. “On a big red carpet day, it’s normal for me to not get a lot of sleep the night before. On the morning of, I use Lumify’s Redness Reliever Eye Drops ($13) from Bausch + Lomb. It helps reduce redness, leaving my eyes looking brighter and whiter for up to 8 hours.” 
“The Inspiration for Ella’s makeup was Anne Baxter from All About Eve meets Diana Ross. For a nod to classic Hollywood glamour, I created different liners and kept it modern by playing with different textures of silver on the eyes.”
“For Ella’s Camp-inspired makeup look, the focus was all on the eyes. I started by etching out the liners with the Shiseido MicroLiner Ink in Brown ($22) to create the shape. Once the shapes were established, I went over it with the Shiseido Archliner Ink Eyeliner ($24) to define the liners and give the eye depth. “In between the liners on the outer corners, I added a flick of the Shiseido Kajal InkArtist in Kabuki White ($25) and then rimmed her water line to brighten. For the gun metal effect on the eyes, I used the Shiseido Aura Dew in Lunar ($25). I wanted to play with all different textures of silver to tie into the beautiful dress. I finished the eyes with corner lashes and lots of coats of the Shiseido ControlledChaos Volumizing Mascara Ink in Black Pulse ($25). Using the Shiseido Brow Ink Trio in Ebony ($24), I created a straighter brow shape.”
“For skin, I concealed and highlighted with Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer ($30) and buffed the brand’s Sheer Glow Foundation ($47) all over her face. I highlighted with the Shiseido Inner Glow Cheek Powder in Inner Light ($29) and sculpted with the Shiseido Inner Glow Cheek Powder in Cocoa Dusk ($29).”
“With all the focus on the eyes, we wanted a very sheer nude lip. I used the Shiseido ColorGel Lip Balm in Bamboo ($26) to complete the look.” Next up, check out all the best beauty looks we saw on the 2019 Met Gala carpet.