Amandla Stenberg’s Hairstylist Created a Durag Out of Her Hair for the 2021 Met Gala
The 2021 Met Gala, unsurprisingly, saw some incredible hairstyles. Celebrities like Naomi Osaka, Maisie Williams, and Gigi Hadid stunned with their bold hair choices, which included sculptural works of art and major color changes. But the award for the most creative hairstyle may just have to go to Amandla Stenberg and their always-amazing stylist Vernon François.
Durags are typically a fabric head covering — one that serves both a practical and cultural purpose. It protects natural hair, but it has also served as a symbol of Black tradition. They’ve been worn to the Met Gala before — remember Solange’s goddess-like take in 2018? — but no one has ever paid tribute to the accessory the way Stenberg did this year.
“This is a first for me ~ creating a durag MADE WITH hair, instead of from material to cover the hair. It complements, elevates, and balances @amandlastenberg overall look, while reflecting the theme of the night,” François wrote in the caption of an Instagram post. “The tie at the back is transformed into a dramatic train. I love how Amandla takes full ownership of it.”
To create the look, Stenberg’s hair was braided and held in place with Redken Triple Pure 32 High Hold Hairspray and Quick Dry 18 Instant Finishing Spray before François used the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer with the diffuser attachment to completely dry their hair. He then shaped Stenberg’s hair into place with his fingers, also using the Dyson Corrale straightener to direct the hair in front into its final position.
As for Stenberg’s also-beautiful makeup, makeup artist Kali Kennedy combined Byredo Tears in Rain Mascara with false lashes for a spidery look — at the request of designer Thom Brown — which was made all the more intense with Byredo Technical Black Eyeliner.
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