Here’s Exactly How to Get Zendaya’s 2024 Met Gala Hair Look

the 2024 met gala
Exclusive: Get Zendaya’s 2024 Met Gala Hair LookAliah Anderson - Getty Images


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Emmy award-winning actress Zendaya is known for her showstopping fashion and beauty looks, and Monday night's 2024 Met Gala red carpet was no exception. Along with Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, and Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya served as co-chair for this year's event, which means the star upped the ante once again for its "Garden of Time" dress code and "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" theme.

2024 costume institute benefit sleeping beauties reawakening fashion
ZendayaSean Zanni - Getty Images

For a behind-the-scenes look at Zendaya's getting ready process for the gala, Bazaar spoke exclusively with her hairstylist Ursula Stephen ahead of the event to learn more about her beauty prep process. Here, Stephens shares the inspiration behind Zendaya's final styles, along with the product staples she used to prep and create them before and during the Met Gala.


How early did you and Zendaya start planning for her Met Gala look? Did you coordinate with the rest of her glam team?

We began Met Gala preparations at the end of March while we were on our international press tour for Challengers!

Did you all use any reference images to channel her final look?

I created a beautiful Pinterest board with a mix of beautiful images. One image of Paloma Picasso I loved not because of the hair but because of the energy she possesses in the photo. I wanted to bring that to life.

zendaya 2024 met gala hair look
Stephen finesses Zendaya’s hair ahead of the main eventUrsula Stephen

In what ways does Zendaya’s hair look complement her outfit for the red carpet?

The floral hair design was crafted to subtly complement the outfit, aiming for a delicate yet confident aesthetic.

How did Pinterest inform your creative planning process for the Met Gala?

Pinterest serves as the launching pad for my inspiration journey. I look for everything from old hair and fashion magazines to cartoons and architectural details. When it came to organizing my inspirations, I pinned everything in one place without any particular order, mirroring the flow of my thoughts. The platform's layout transforms the mix of pins into a visually captivating mosaic. As we near the event, I get even more creative. I discover myself pinning not just my visions but also the energy I aim to convey through the final looks.

zendaya 2024 met gala hair look
Ursula Stephen

As Zendaya recently dyed her hair blonde, did you all shift your original hairstyle plan at all?

No. The Met look came after the color—blonde was always in the cards.

Could you briefly describe some of the key products and tools used to create Zendaya’s hairstyles?

After shampooing Zendaya's hair, I applied Living Proof's Triple Bond Complex to strengthen and protect the strands. Using the Dyson SuperSonic R hair dryer, I blow-dried the hair until it was completely dry. Next, I applied the Living Proof 5-in-1 Styling Treatment to add hydration and shine. Gathering the hair into a low bun, I secured it with a hair tie and then twisted and pinned it into a beautiful shape, drawing inspiration from the elegant calla lily flower. To add volume and texture, I fussed up the top layer of hair, separating it from the rest. Finally, I curled any flyaways to create a soft and angelic finish and kept them in place with Flex Hairspray.

zendaya 2024 met gala hair look
A closer look at the product and tool essentials in Stephen’s 2024 Met Gala beauty kitUrsula Stephen

Were there any current trends that helped inform this year’s final Met Gala hair decision?

Engaging in collaborative and enriching conversations with wonderful people in inspiring spaces brought a lot of clarity to the final decision about Zendaya's Met hairstyles.

zendaya 2024 met gala hair look
Theo Wargo/GA - Getty Images

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