The red carpet at the Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, is always a showcase of standout beauty moments, and this year’s ceremony was no exception. From sculpted natural texture to soft, nostalgic blow-dries, celebrities embraced a mix of timeless glamour and modern styling.
Here, industry experts break down some of the most memorable looks from the red carpet, and share how stylists can recreate them in salons...
Odessa A’zion
Jude Taylor, OSMO Curl Expert, says:
“It was so refreshing to see natural texture so beautifully represented on the Oscars red carpet. For curls like Odessa’s, I would always say the cut is just as important as the styling. I would suggest cutting dry and working curl by curl. That way, you can see exactly how each curl is sitting, where the volume naturally falls and how to shape it properly.
“With a look like this, I would create a rounded shape with lots of bespoke layering, because that helps keep the curls full and lifted without letting the hair fall into that wider triangle shape that curly-haired clients often want to avoid. Around the face, I’d keep the shape soft and rounded, which is always really flattering on curls. To encourage definition while styling, I would suggest OSMO’s Curl Revival Re-Energising Gel.”
Teyana Taylor
Alex Thaddeus, Stylist & Owner of Alex Thaddeus Hairdressing, says:
“For the Oscars, Teyana Taylor went for a wavy pixie that felt modern and very on trend. The style had shorter sides with length on top, creating a strong contrast that made the shape really striking. There was a clear 90s Halle Berry vibe, but it felt completely current and wearable.
"What stood out was how the waves added texture and movement, showing that shorter styles can be just as chic and refined as longer ones. The cut highlights how versatile textured hair can be, proving it can absolutely rock these kinds of statement shapes. With its bold shape and playful finish, it’s a style that’s likely to be popular in salons this year.”
Nicole Kidman
Virtue Labs Creative Director and Celebrity Hairstylist Adir Abergel styled award-winning actresses Nicole Kidman and Kristen Wiig for the 98th Academy Awards, using Virtue and Denman products to achieve the looks.
For Nicole Kidman, Adir opted for an extra-long tousled blowout with loose cascading layers that frame the face, finished with soft middle-parted bangs. To create a soft shape, he used the Denman D3 Curl Definer and Styler Brush while blow-drying, alongside Virtue’s 6-in-1 Styler from mids to ends to create memory, shine and texture where needed.
Wunmi Mosaku
Chris Grimley, Textured Hair Specialist, owner of Fusion Hair Co & Texture Curl Academy, says:
“Wunmi Mosaku looked absolutely sensational on the red carpet, and it was a real highlight to see textured hair celebrated in such a beautiful way. Her hair had been shaped into soft, sculptural sections that really showcased the richness of her natural texture. It felt strong in its silhouette, but still very true to the character of the hair itself.
“It’s always great to see natural texture embraced on a stage like this. Styles like this show just how striking textured hair can be when it’s thoughtfully shaped and allowed to take centre stage. The way it was arranged framed her face so nicely and gave the whole look a real sense of balance.
"She was also glowing with her baby bump, which brought such a lovely warmth to the moment. Altogether it felt like a really special red carpet appearance, confident, elegant and a great celebration of natural texture.”
Emma Stone
Andy Heasman, International Creative Director at Rush Hair, says:
“Emma Stone’s 90s blow-dry was paired with a chic, soft bob, showcasing touchable movement and airy volume. The ends of the hair are feathered instead of being cut dead straight, which amplifies the hair’s texture and adds movement.
“Emma’s look was on-trend and timeless, focusing on soft volume that makes a statement with subtle bends in the hair and flipped-out ends for added depth. A gorgeous blow-dry looks best with no pesky flyaways – I’d recommend Kérastase’s Gloss Absolut Glaze Drops Hair Oil for smoothness and shine. This cut was coupled with a deep side parting and Emma’s signature auburn locks – she was the epitome of effortless glam on the Oscars red carpet.”
Kate Hudson
Bruno Marc Giamattei, Senior Creative Director JOICO EMEA, says:
“On the Oscars red carpet, one trend reigned supreme – the side parting. Having been overshadowed by the middle parting for the past few years, the side parting instantly adds movement and shape to any style.
“Kate Hudson wore her golden blonde locks in soft, luminous waves paired with a deep side parting, infusing the essence of Old Hollywood glamour with her Californian charm. To achieve a look like this, I would recommend JOICO’s Dream Blowout Glass 72 hr Frizz Fighter. This product doubles as a heat protectant and a humidity blocker, helping to seal in moisture and fighting frizz. The addition of the deep side parting harmonises Kate’s oval face shape and defining features, making for a gorgeous look which felt undone, yet polished and pristine.”
Lead image credit/provider: Etienne Laurent / The Academy
