Sexy Hair Inspo Straight from the Red Carpet
Recreate top celebrity looks with SexyHair’s expert-approved steps.
FASHION x Sexy Hair
There’s a certain magic that happens in the hours before a night out. The playlist is locked in. The outfits are strewn across the bed. It’s chaotic. It’s cozy. It’s the kind of bonding that feels as important as the plans themselves.
This spring, I spent a weekend in Montreal with eight girlfriends. We shopped, soaked in the Bota Bota thermal waters and worked our way through an ambitious restaurant list—but the best part? Sitting around our Airbnb loft (it was giving Friends energy), curling each other’s hair and passing around product recommendations and compliments in equal measure. Girlhood at its finest.
Celebrity stylist and SexyHair artist Kirsten Klontz, agrees. “There’s something really sacred about those moments before a big event,” says the stylist whose brilliant handiwork has been seen on the likes of Lily-Rose Depp, Charlotte Cardin and Nicole Scherzinger. “You can feel the nerves, the excitement, the anticipation all building… That trust, that shared energy—that’s the magic.”
“As the look develops, you can literally see their energy change,” she notes. “Hair is never just hair. It’s a feeling.” And when you’re surrounded by your crew, with music thumping and your confidence rising? That feeling is everything.
Of course, the other non-negotiable for a great night out? Amazing hair. And these days, embodying sexy hair isn’t one-size-fits-all. As Klontz puts it: “Sexy can be soft, strong, big, messy and unexpected… it’s hair that makes someone feel bold and unapologetically themselves.”
Scroll down for some serious hair inspo, courtesy of Hollywood “It” girls. Klontz breaks down how to recreate each look, plus the SexyHair products you’ll want in rotation to get there.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Bouncy Siren Hair
Channeling Old Hollywood at the SNL 50 bash, Sabrina Carpenter served pure goddess energy. Her brushed-out waves and crystal-studded Versace gown struck the perfect balance between showgirl sparkle and screen siren glam. Not the artist behind Carpenter’s look, Klontz nonetheless knows exactly how to get that same bombshell effect.“For bouncy, effortless hair with natural movement, it all starts at the root—literally,” says Klontz. “I begin by doing a double shampoo using Big SexyHair Volumizing Shampoo,” followed by Big SexyHair Volumizing Conditioner to keep hair “soft, lifted, and full of life.”
Step 1: Prime & Protect
Start with a solid foundation. Apply Big SexyHair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel to damp hair from mid-lengths to ends. This multitasker acts as both a heat protectant and volumizer.
Step 2: Boost at the Roots
For serious lift, go in with Big SexyHair Root Pump Volumizing Spray Mousse (or Big SexyHair Root Pump Plus Volumizing Spray Mousse if your hair is fine to medium). “Shake and spray directly onto the root area section by section while hair is still damp,” explains Klontz. A pro tip is to overdirect up when blow drying, which maximizes root activation. Translation: more volume.
Step 3: Add All-Over Body
Apply a golf-ball-sized amount of Big SexyHair Big Altitude Bodifying Mousse from roots to ends for fullness, frizz control, and style memory. Blow-dry with a round brush for lift, flipping your head upside down at the end for extra volume. Want the bounce without the effort? Klontz recommends hot rollers—set, cool (10 to 20 minutes) and brush out for sculpted, screen siren waves.
Step 4: Lock It In
Finish with a mist of Healthy SexyHair So Touchable Weightless Hairspray—it holds without stiffness. Pro tip: “I love to flip the hair upside down while spraying, then let it set before flipping it upright again,” says Klontz.
Tool Box
From volumizing sprays to shine-boosting finishers, these are the key products you need.
Lori Harvey’s Tousled Bombshell Updo
At the Fight Night premiere, Lori Harvey served ’90s bombshell meets undone elegance with a voluminous updo and face-framing tendrils. “Her look blends volume, texture, and flirtatious messiness,” says Klontz, who weighs in on how to capture its undone appeal. “Start with clean, voluminous hair. “Focus on bend and body—not perfect curls,” she adds. “That’s what makes the updo look full and effortless.”
Step 1: Build Your Base
Grip is everything when it comes to updos that last. Start by working a texturizing product into the roots. For fine hair, Klontz swears by Big SexyHair Powder Play Lite Soft Volumizing & Texturizing Powder for weightless fullness and hold. If your strands lean thicker, reach for Big SexyHair Powder Play Volumizing & Texturizing Powder to boost grip and grit.
Step 2: Frame Your Face
Section out any soft fringe or face-framing layers before styling. “This adds softness and flirtiness to the look—it’s what keeps the style from feeling too ‘done,’” says Klontz. Then, Separate the top section of your hair from temple to temple. Backcomb the roots to build volume—this is the secret to that bombshell silhouette. Use a curling iron to softly bend the front pieces away from the face so they open around the eyes and temples. This step brings in that dreamy, romantic finish.
Step 3: Ponytail & Pin with Intention
Gather the rest of the hair into a loose, high ponytail and secure it. Lightly mist the ends with Big SexyHair Volume Flex Texture Spray, then divide the ponytail into two even sections. Gently tease each section from the base to mid-length, then tie them into a loose knot to form the bun. “You want movement and dimension,” says Klontz. Use bobby pins or U-pins to secure the knot, fanning out the shape and letting a few ends fall free. Think: sculpted, not stiff.
Step 4: Set & Smooth
Lock in the style with Big SexyHair Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray (for fine to medium hair) or Big SexyHair Spray & Play Harder Volumizing Hairspray (for thicker textures). Finish with a touch of Healthy SexyHair Smooth & Seal Shine & Anti-Frizz Spray on the ends for shine and polish—without sacrificing movement.
The Glam Kit
All the products you need to build volume, lock in shine and recreate this look.
Elle Fanning’s Sleek & Sculpted Bun
With her sculpted updo and soft vintage makeup, Elle Fanning served peak red carpet polish at the Oscars. The sleek front and architectural bun channeled a Grace Kelly–meets–modern couture vibe, courtesy of hairstylist Jenda Alcorn. While Klontz wasn’t behind the look, she admires the polished style. “It’s the epitome of modern elegance with a vintage nod,” she says. Her tip? Think high pony, precision placement, and a toothbrush to tame flyaways.
Step 1: Start with a Flawless Foundation
Begin with freshly washed, frizz-free hair and blow it out smooth for a silky, high-shine finish. “Creating a clean canvas is key,” says Klontz, who preps with Big SexyHair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel to add body and protect against heat.
Step 2: Part, Polish and Secure
Use a tail comb to carve out a sharp centre part. If needed, flat iron just the top section for that ultra-sleek, glassy texture. Then, from temple to temple, isolate the front panel—this will be styled flat and tucked later. Pull the remaining hair into a mid-to-high ponytail and secure tightly at the crown.
Step 3: Sculpt the Front
To keep the front smooth and controlled, Klontz recommends applying a touch of Style SexyHair Hard Up Hard Holding Gel to the side sections. “Sweep them back, hugging the head, and tuck them cleanly into the base of the ponytail,” she says.
Step 4: Build the Chignon
Slip a large, colour-matched hair donut over the ponytail to serve as your bun base. Divide the ponytail in two, gently teasing each section for volume. Smooth the outer layer, then curve and overlap the strands over the donut to conceal it and add dimension. Secure with bobby pins, working symmetrically to create a structured, sculptural shape.
Step 5: Finish Like a Pro
Set the style in place with Big SexyHair Spray & Stay Intense Hold for maximum staying power, then mist Healthy SexyHair Smooth & Seal Shine & Anti-Frizz Spray to boost shine. “This look is all about precision and placement—every strand should feel considered,” says Klontz.
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