Met Gala: Irish hair and make-up artists break down the best beauty looks
The beauty looks of the Met Gala 2024 showcased the boundless creativity and ingenuity of beauty stylists while challenging conventional beauty norms and inspiring us all to embrace our own unique identities. Here, Irish make-up and hairstylists break down the best looks of the night.
Every year, the Met Gala sets the stage for fashion extravagance, with celebrities and designers alike clamouring to make a statement on the red (cream) carpet. This year, although the outfits were definitely a sight to behold, the make-up looks and hairstyles stole the spotlight. This year’s theme Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion and the accompanying dress code Garden of Time inspired attendees to explore the limits of their creativity.
As a creative director and stylist known to enjoy a funky make-up look and hairstyle, I was inspired to speak to some of my favourite Irish professional glam artists to get their thoughts on the best beauty looks to grace us on the first Monday of May this year.
When I reached out to Chelsea who is known for creating avant-garde, Met Gala-ready looks on herself and her clients, she was all ready to gush about her favourites and I was ready to listen. She’s a Pat McGrath stan and loved the viral Maison Margiela beauty look that won couture week, executed by Raoul Alejandre for the Met to match Zendaya’s ethereal Margiela gown. “Raoul Alejandre’s looks on Zendaya, the vampy lip and her second look with the bleached brow? Ate!” She loved Pat’s work with Doja Cat and Elizabeth Debicki. Two other standouts for Chelsea were Taylor Russell’s empty graphic liner look by Celia Burton and Jodie Smith’s smoky glam by Kelechi – “a nude lip and smoky eye combo remain undefeated.”
One of Jake’s favourite looks was FKA Twigs hair by Louis Souvestre who came up time and time again in my conversations with the glam artists. “I live for her always but what I love about this hair is how she has extended the crystals onto her head incorporating her look into the beauty. Her hairstylist has woven hair to create this beautiful crown on her head.”
Another favourite for Jake mentioned was Amanda Seyfried’s hair by Renato Campora. “Metallics in hair have really had a comeback. I love when hair is really thought out with the whole team, a prime example of how you can elevate the look.”
Make-up artist Aisling Kelly, who has previously waxed lyrical on standout Met Gala beauty for IMAGE.ie, chose FKA Twigs’ make-up by Tilda X as her favourite. “Somehow a head full of diamonds is like an everyday look for Twigs – she’s wearing it, it’s not wearing her. The diamonds are applied in a way that feels balanced even though it’s not symmetrical. It catches the light which draws attention to her without pulling away from the overall look like it’s balanced and it feels right, and it’s beautiful. I love a diamonds-glued-onto-the-face moment.”
Greta Lee’s make-up by Nina Park was another favourite, describing it as she “…looks like a newborn baby while also looking like a watercolour painting while also looking like she lives in 2084. So fresh and effortless and modern but also timeless. Skin is skinning, she looks so healthy and the blush is so beautifully done, the smoky soft wing is exactly the right angle to elongate the eyes without feeling heavy and the brows are to die for – the perfect balance of fluffy and defined. She looks very cool and it’s just the definition of ethereal beauty for me which works well for this theme.”
An honourable mention for Aisling was Colman Domingo, with grooming by Jamie Richard. “Sexy goth king with the contacts, perfectly executed grooming with a really gorgeous inner corner highlight on his eyes.”
Ololade Oluwadele at LoXperience, Hair Stylist
Ololade spoke about the hair trends she noticed on the carpet. “The hydro bob had been predicted by hairstylist Tom Smith for the Met Gala,” explaining that the most outstanding looks for her were the wet-look, tousled bobs. Her stand-out looks were Tyla’s hair by Lacy Redway, Rita Ora’s hair by Brent Lawler and Gigi Hadid’s by Laura Polko. “They were giving us fresh-out-of-the-shower vibes. Simple and timeless.”
One of Elaine’s top picks was Doja Cat’s unique Marmite look. She said, “Although we’ve all seen glitter tears before, Doja will always give us an unexpected element of undone glamour – the tearful eye in essence is a brown smoky glitter cut crease with a full lash, proving that 2016 MAC Girl era glam can and always will be cool and sexy when executed well. The thin straight brow (although a 90’s nod) adds an edge and keeps it relevant to now.”
Anok Yai’s look make-up by Sheika Daley was another favourite. “I’m not usually a big fan of matchy-matchy make-up but everything from the jewel-toned eye colours, metallic textures, strategically placed highlights to reflect the Swarovski crystals – colour coordinating done immaculately while still allowing her skin to be the real star of the show.”
Zendaya’s look for Elaine was a “…totally predictable look for Margiela but I’d have been disappointed if I didn’t get a touch of Pat McGrath’s porcelain doll look that broke the Internet earlier this year. The striking 1920s cherry cola eye and hairline fracture of a brow in her first look, then transformed in the next to a bleached brow and wash of delicate pastels is a stunning contrast and by no means an easy transition,” especially in such a short amount of time!
Stephanie Nwambu at Callah Crowns, Hair Stylist
Stephanie echoed her peers, with Taylor Russell and FKA Twigs as her standouts, including Sarah Jessica Parker’s hair look, embellished with a custom and larger-than-life headpiece by Irish designer Philip Treacy.
The standout point to take from this year was that all the Met Gala attendees put more thought into their glam and tried to tell a story with a full look. Make-up artists and hair stylists showcased their unparalleled talent, creating bold and imaginative looks that captivated the imagination and challenged perceptions of beauty.
While many looks dazzled on the red carpet, some unfortunately fell short of expectations with celebrities playing it safe with uninspired make-up choices and failing to capture the essence of the event’s theme. In a garden of bold statements and daring designs, these subdued looks felt out of place, lacking the creativity and ingenuity that define the Met Gala.
The beauty looks of the Met Gala 2024 were a testament to the transformative power of beauty in this day and age. They showcased the boundless creativity and ingenuity of these artists and stylists while challenging conventional beauty norms and inspiring us all to embrace our own unique identities. As we continue to redefine our understanding of beauty, events like the Met Gala serve as platforms for dialogue and exploration, reminding us that beauty truly knows no bounds.
Photography via @louissouvestre, @celiaburtonmakeup, @raoulalejandre, @laurapolko, @sarahjessicaparker and @officialsheiks.
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