The Best Celebrity Hair Extensions on the Met Gala Red Carpet

Jennifer Lopez

Celebrity hairstylist Lorenzo Martin helped create the A-lister’s Western-inspired look, and recommends using Great Lengths Hair Extensions to get this ponytail at home. 

“Blow-dry and comb out the hair with a round brush, then tape in Great Lengths 20” extensions—use shades BR03, RT7, BR08, and BR06 for a similar blended color—and tease hair at the roots before clipping back for an added hold.”

Martin then styled the look using Wella EIMI Dry Me Shampoo and Shape Shift Molding Gum with Shine Finish to create extra volume and texture. His final step was a bit of misting with Wella EIMI Glam Mist for a natural-looking, luminous shine.

Kim Petras

“As soon as I saw the dress, I knew I wanted to do a dramatic horse tail–inspired look in a color that complemented her dress. This look was perfect for Kim’s Met Gala debut!” says celebrity hairstylist Iggy Rosales.

“To start, I used the göt2b Metallics Permanent Hair Color in Real Red to color both Kim’s hair and the extensions from Hidden Crown. For this look, I used the Hidden Crown Clip Ins in Light Strawberry Blonde 27/613. Next, I applied the göt2b Spiking Glue to slick all of her hair down into a ponytail, including Kim’s signature widows peak, drying the product in for a flat, snatched ponytail!”

Rosales finished the look by spraying the göt2b Glued 2-in-1 Spray Wax (on position one) throughout Kim’s hair and the extensions for a flexible texture as she sculpted the long horse tail braid.

Emily Ratajkowski

“Emily is wearing this gorgeous Vera Wang gown, and there is this beautiful collar on the dress, so we went with effortless, beautiful, textured long hair,” says celebrity hairstylist Jennifer Yepez.

After applying TRESemmé Extra Hold Mousse all over from roots to ends, Yepez blow-dried Ratajkowski’s hair and made a clean section starting at the nape of the neck. “I like to tease lightly where I am clogging to place the hair extensions,” she says. “Today for Emily, I used Hidden Crown Hair Clip-in Extensions in color #2 & #3 in 22 inches. So make your section at the nape, clip in the extension, then make your way up, making clean sections and blending your hair with the extensions. Once hair is all clipped in, I like to take a flat iron and make slight waves in large sections, adding just a few bends throughout to give it some movement.” 

Next, Yepez sprayed TRESemmé Dry Texture Spray all over to give texture and volume.

Camila Cabello

The award-winning singer looked stunning in her sparkly purple gown, which she paired with long, Cher-like hair extensions and bold violet eyeshadow.

After applying Hidden Crown 26-inch Crown Clip Ins in Dark Brown-2, celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos added waves with ghd hair tools, and sprayed everything in place with L’Oréal Paris Elnett Strong/Extra Strong Hold Satin Hairspray.

Laura Harrier

Yepez also worked with actress Laura Harrier, who turned heads on the red carpet with her long, sleek strands and figure-hugging gold gown.

To achieve the straight style, Yepez first blow-dried Harrier’s hair using a large round brush. “Then I made clean sections at the nape of her neck to apply the Great Lengths Hair Extensions—I used 30-inch Tape-Ins in shades 1B (espresso) and 02 (cocoa rich) together.”

To use these tape-ins at home, these are Yepez’s instructions: “Make a 3 centimeter–wide section, lift the hair and place the tape adhesive side up, half a centimeter from the root. Then place the top adhesive facing downward, and then press together with the applicator tool to secure in place. Continue to repeat along the section—the key is to make clean sections. Once the hair extensions are all over head, go back and flat iron hair from the root down to the ends to get rid of flyaways.”

Kristen Stewart

“When I saw Kristen’s Chanel suit, I immediately looked at references of Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, Bettie Page, and those famous victory rolls that framed their faces for inspiration. Kristen embodies individuality, independence, strength and authenticity, and the definition of this iconic style was the reminder of strength and determination. Rosie the Riveter was a reference in my mind, as well as the impact and symbol of women’s independence,” says celebrity hairstylist Adir Abergel. 

To create this style, Abergel first saturated the hair with Virtue Volumizing Primer from roots to mid shaft to create memory and hold, followed by Virtue Healing Oil to protect, mend and add shine from the mid-lengths to the ends.

Next, he blow-dried the hair using his Ibiza round brush, and carved out the hair for the bangs, creating a V shape right in the front of the hairline. Then clipped away the bangs and curled the rest of her hair with a 0.25-inch curling iron, adding a few longer extensions—Extensionology Tape In Extensions—to add length, and pulled the hair into a high ponytail. To finish the look, Abergel rolled the V-shape faux bangs into a classic pin-up bang.

Ciara

“Ciara’s Peter Dundas dress design, as inspired by Geoffrey Beene, was such a beautiful color green, as a representation of American football and homage to her American Football Star husband Russell Wilson. I was inspired by the dress to try a new hair color we have never worn before,” says celebrity hairstylist Cesar DeLeon Ramirez.

Prior to the day of the event, Ramirez started prepping for the look by coloring three Wildform hair extensions—the stylist’s new brand launching in 2022—with “beautiful light-golden, cinnamon-brown hair colors from Paul Mitchell.”

On Met Gala Day, he started by center-parting and smoothing one extensions piece out using Paul Mitchell Straight Works Hair Gel with a few drops of the brand’s Super Skinny Serum. “Leaving the center part, I brushed everything into a low pony and secured it. I left out wispy strands around the face to come back to later,” Ramirez explains. “Next, I diffused my two other colored extension pieces using Sculpting Foam and Round Trip Curl Defining Serum to get a nice full, bouncy curl with volume. Once dried, I went through and added extra texture using my Pro Tools Express Ion Wave Press and Express Ion MiniWave Ceramic Deep Waver. I also went back, waving the wispy pieces I left out around the face. Once I had the luscious exotic texture I wanted, I set everything with a nice full blast of Extra Body Finishing Spray. I truly loved this look—it’s sexy, elegant and edgy all in one.”

Lili Reinhart 

“I was inspired by the floral, ethereal nature of her dress and decided to keep her hair soft and sleek to match,” celebrity hairstylist David Stanwell says.

First, Stanwell prepped the hair with Authentic Beauty Concept’s Beachy Texture Spray and Blow Dry Primer to give it texture and hold prior to styling. “Next I blew her hair dry with a round brush to give it a little lift and lightly straightened it with a flat iron. I then used Hidden Crown hair extensions to create length and fullness, placing them throughout her hair. I always cut and shape the extensions to get the look I want. I used a blend of three shades of blondes and ash blondes. I always like to blend colors—it adds dimensions instead of being all one shade.”

After putting in the extensions, Stanwell used a straightener to lightly go over the strands for a little extra smoothness, and sprayed Authentic Beauty Concept’s Glow Touch. “It’s a finishing spray that you can work through the hair and extensions that leaves a great glossy finish.”

Sunisa Lee

The Olympic Gold medalist stepped onto the Met Gala red carpet for the first time in a gorgeous custom-made SUKEINA gown, and of course it was gold. Here’s how Mane Addicts hairstylist Irinel De León created the athlete’s high pony—a huge trend last night!

“First, I prepped her dry hair with OUAI Wave Spray, and then blow-dried it using an Ibiza Hair brush and Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer,” says De León. “Then I clipped in extensions by SHAE hair and Luxy Hair in Suni’s hair color, and slicked her hair back using Tancho Tique Stick, my go-to Japanese product to slick hair into tight styles.”

Next, De León spritzed Oribe Superfine Hair Spray to hold everything in place, and created a blunt line using clippers. “I flat-ironed the ponytail using the ghd Flat Iron and filled in her hairline using the Color Wow Root Cover Up in Dark Brown. I finished with gold cording around the base of the pony and gold buttons to match the dress details.”