The recently concluded 2026 Met Gala was, without a doubt, a visual feast. This year’s theme, "Costume Art," blurred the boundaries between fashion and fine art; stars on the red carpet not only poured immense effort into their gowns, but their hairstyles emerged as the key element in completing their transformation into "walking works of art."
From sculptural silhouettes to the collision of vintage and futuristic aesthetics, here are the top five hairstyle trends from this year’s Met Gala red carpet that are most worth noting—along with how you can draw inspiration from these standout looks.
1. Sculptural Braids: Fluid Geometry
On this year’s red carpet, hairstyles ceased to be mere accessories; they became "sculptures" in their own right.
LISA: As one of the event’s co-chairs, LISA’s look was utterly captivating. She sported "wet-look" swirling baby hairs (known as "kiss curls") framing her face, while the back of her head featured a highly structured, asymmetrical "Princess Leia-style" bun—accented with tiny crystals—that perfectly fused Eastern dynamism with modern art.
Ariana Rose Philip: She transformed traditional cornrows into an intricate, spiraling "braided crown," where the trajectory of every single braid was executed with the precision of a mathematically calculated artistic line.
2. Long Live Short Hair: Dynamic and Edgy
If you’ve been hesitating about whether or not to cut your hair short, the 2026 Met Gala offers a resounding "yes." The red carpet proved it: the shorter the hair, the stronger the presence.
Keke Palmer: She stunned the crowd with a fiery "Red Velvet Pixie" cut; the vibrant hair color blended seamlessly with her gown, creating a look charged with intense visual energy.
Emma Chamberlain: She styled her signature platinum bob into a spiky, textured silhouette, creating a striking contrast—a blend of hard and soft—against her watercolor-patterned Mugler gown.
Sabrina Carpenter: By utilizing a "faux bob" technique, she channeled the aura of a vintage screen siren, proving that even those with long hair can perfectly master the sleek, sophisticated vibe of a short cut through clever styling alone. 3. Extreme Length: Cascading Like a Waterfall
Standing in striking contrast to the short-hair trend are ultra-long hair extensions, delivering a look of dramatic intensity.
Nicole Kidman: Appearing as a co-chair alongside her daughter, Nicole dazzled with a head of "butter-gold" extensions measuring nearly 120 centimeters in length. Paired with her signature bangs, the look exuded an ethereal, otherworldly aura—lending her the air of a mythical goddess.
4. 1920s Finger Waves: A Retro Revival
In keeping with the "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" theme, many celebrities chose to pay homage to the classic Art Deco era.
Cara Delevingne: Cara opted for the quintessential finger waves. These undulating ripples—styled to lie sleekly against the scalp with a glossy finish—were paired with a clean, neat bun at the back of the head. The look transported the style of a 1920s jazz diva into 2026, appearing simultaneously elegant and dangerously alluring.
5. Messy Aesthetics: Redefining "Perfection"
Not every look aimed for meticulous precision; this year, the beauty of "imperfection" also claimed its rightful place in the spotlight.
Kim Kardashian: Kim Kardashian made her entrance sporting a messy blonde lob (long bob). This slightly undone, voluminous texture stood out vividly against the polished backdrop of the red carpet, signaling a shift away from the "Clean Girl" aesthetic toward a more individualistic and lived-in style—be it "Wasteland Aesthetics" or "Lazy-Girl Chic."
