Most of the beauty looks from my high school days can stay buried deep in the past. I never, ever need to see a tub of blue hair gel, feather accessory, or hair bobble again—I mean it. I thought that sentiment applied to my prom hairdo, which was complete with 97 bobby pins and approximately two cans of L’Oréal Elnett Hairspray.
Yet, Bella Hadid may have resurrected the tightly curled, pinned, and gelled updo from the depths of the 2000s. For the L’Amour Ouf premiere on Thursday, May 23, the Ôrebella founder was the walking definition of the prom-core aesthetic. And dare I say I’m…into it?
Hadid slicked back her hair in what I imagine to be a headache-inducing bun, partless and completely free of even one singular flyaway. Her hair, which appears to be supplemented by a hefty number of hair extensions, is styled with big barrel curls, twisted into a bun, and accented by a few loose spirals. The throwback look came courtesy of hairstylist Bryce Scarlett.
While the model (thankfully) skipped out on skinny brows and frosted lipstick for the red carpet, her glam did have some subtle nods to 2000s prom culture, courtesy of makeup artist Nadia Tayeh. May I present: The heavy contour, orange cut-crease eyeshadow, and brown lip gloss. Don’t get me wrong, her makeup has a modern twist. Still, the colors and technique are reminiscent of an era past.
Recreating this look—hair, makeup, and all the fixings—is actually pretty easy. For hair, just look to TikTok’s messy bun trend for a quick how-to.
@xoalyynicole ♬ Pretty Woman - filmcusp
Tie your hair up in a care-free bun—the messier the better—leaving two front pieces out. Then, curl your front pieces and pin them into bun with bobby pins. For makeup, all you need is an orange-toned palette—and you’ll be ready for prom 2024 (or the Cannes red carpet) in no time.