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The 3 Must-Have Hair Products Red Carpet Stylists Swear By

mandy moore and busy philips after red carpet hair products

It’s not an exaggeration to say that we live and die for red carpet season. For beauty nerds, seeing all those celebs sashay in front of award show cameras with professionally styled curls is like living in a dream. And when the curtains have closed after the last award of the night, we start searching for ways to steal our favorite leading ladies’ hairstyles, dark brown hair or blonde! 

If you, too, want to cop the hair products from the L'Oréal portfolio that make that bouffant hold or the tousled waves stay texturized, keep reading. We’ve got must-have red carpet hair product recommendations from the biggest stylists and stars!

mandy moore's hair styled with red carpet hair products

For Perfectly Glossy Brunette: Redken Shades EQ

The biggest (and we mean that literally) hairstyle of the night belonged to Mandy Moore, with a ‘70s-style glamazon blowout so high it put everyone else’s volume to shame. But it wasn’t just the styling that caught our eye—it was the color! That perfectly glossy brunette came courtesy of Redken celebrity colorist Tracey Cunningham. She created Moore’s hair color by amping up the drama on the star’s everyday chestnut hair.

“I am always inspired by beautiful, youthful hair and use the power of hair color to accentuate this natural beauty. I’ll work with my clients to bring their specific vision to life while keeping in mind what their hair looked like as a child—before they ever started coloring it—and weaving that into the final look...I relied on Redken Shades EQ for a beautiful, shiny finish that could take [Moore] straight from the salon to the red carpet,” Cunningham explained.

If you’re trying to steal Moore’s vintage style right this second, book an appointment at a Redken salon and ask your stylist for Shades EQ. A simple hair gloss takes almost no time but makes all the difference.

Shop Mandy Moore's Red Carpet Hair Products

busy philips styled with red carpet hair products

For Updos That Don’t Budge: Biolage Freeze Fix Humidity Resistant Hairspray

The best solution for unwashed hair is a low chignon, but it can sometimes end up looking...unwashed. Fix your frizz problems with a hairspray formula that’s got you covered—even if you don’t have to walk under the hot lights of a red carpet photo call. 

At her latest award show, beloved former TV host Busy Philipps wore a slicked-back, flower-adorned bun that highlighted her fresh, smoky pink hair. The updo came courtesy of stylist Kristin Heitkotter for Biolage, who cocktailed a few essential formulas to ensure Philipps’ hair stayed put. 

“Pastel hair is currently so of the moment,” Heitkotter explains. “We wanted to bring fun color to the classic red carpet, with a sleek pastel updo and beautiful hair accessories.”

To get Philipps ready, Heitkotter prepped the hair with Biolage Styling Airdry Glotion Multi-Benefit Styling Spray, rely on the formula’s light hold to form the foundation of the updo. Once the hair was most of the way dry, the stylist applied Biolage Blowdry Glotion and then blow-dried Philipps’s hair the rest of the way. Here’s where the key elements come in. The pro created a center part and a low ponytail, then sprayed the tail with Biolage Complete Control Hairspray to keep frizz at a minimum. 

Finally, Heitkotter finished off the style with the Holy Grail of stylers, Biolage Freeze Fix Humidity Resistant Hairspray. It kept the star’s hair in place through the red carpet and the award show—maybe even the after-party! If you need a formula that lives up to its name, this is the one to buy.

Shop Busy Philipps' Red Carpet Hair Products

julia louis-dreyfus with red carpet hair products

For Hair That’s As Healthy As It Is Gorgeous: Matrix Total Results Keep Me Vivid Velvetizer

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a comedy icon and (let’s be honest) a real style icon for anyone over 50 looking for hairstyles that aren’t dated. On her big night out, Matthew Monzon brought the glam for Matrix, putting her in a simple, chic half updo. 

“We decided together that we wanted the look to be polished, sleek, finished and simple,” he explained.

Unlike the stiff updos of years past, Louis-Dreyfus’ hair reflected one of the biggest trends stylists see now: the desire to have hair that looks and feels healthy, no matter which way you’re wearing it. Monzon’s secret weapon was Matrix Total Results Keep Me Vivid Color Velvetizer Protectant Balm, a non-sticky leave-in treatment with a color-protecting UV filter and heat protecting qualities. He applied it just after Matrix Miracle Creator Multi-Tasking Hair Treatment, creating a base that would hydrate and keep Louis-Dreyfus’ hair looking super healthy at the same time. 

When it came time to style, Monzon used a round brush to blow out the hair and cooled each section in an oversized velcro roller for added volume. Finally, he brushed out the sections, created a crisp center part, and flat ironed any less-than-perfect areas. For the final style, Monzon just pulled a half-inch section from above either ear and pinned it underneath Louis-Dreyfus’ top layer of hair in the back. Finally, he coated the hair with a layer of Matrix Total Results High Amplify Proforma Frizz Control Hairspray to lock everything in.

Shop Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Red Carpet Hair Products

Looking to get professional tips customized just for you? Use our salon locator to book a consultation with a stylist near you.

All photos of courtesy of Getty Images.

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