ELLE Canada caught up with Moroccanoil celebrity hair stylist Bryce Scarlett, who was responsible for the sleek, ’50s-inspired chignon that Lily Aldridge sported at this year’s Met Gala. Bryce, whose A-list clientele includes Gigi Hadid and Margot Robbie, shared his reasons for choosing the look and his secrets on achieving Lily’s sleek knotted hairstyle.

 

There were plenty of statement hairstyles and hair accessories at the gala this year, what made you want to keep Lily’s look simple and classic?

Lily’s dress didn’t call for anything grand. There is so much volume to it, the colour was a really bold statement, and the stylist chose to layer a lot of jewellery. She was wearing like, four million dollars worth of Bvlgari. There was a lot going on already and I’m not one to make it about the hair if it doesn’t fit the situation. I just wanted to keep it subtle and make sure she still looked sophisticated and chic.

 

Did Lily ask for a specific look or did she give you creative freedom?

Lily absolutely has her own style, but we’ve been working together for almost ten years so we have a pretty quick shorthand. I know what she likes, she knows what I like and we sort of meet in the middle. And then we will always talk to the stylist and the designer she is wearing and get their input.

 

 

You’ve done Lily’s hair for the past five Met Galas where four out of the five looks were updos. Do you prefer updos to leaving hair down for formal events? 

Genuinely no, I like doing both, but I prefer doing down hair. I always say Lily really shines with her hair back. She is such a classic beauty. To me I think most girls would tend to look their best with their hair down with some fullness and sexiness but there is just something about Lily when you slick her hair back she looks so sophisticated and elegant. I always tell her that I think that’s a strength that she should showcase.

 

How did you achieve the look?

I used the Moroccanoil Volumizing Mousse at the roots and Moroccanoil Treatment on the ends when Lily’s hair was soaking wet. Then blew it out super smooth with a lot of fullness at the crown. I took the Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray and back-combed, teasing in the crown and by the face and I put the Dry Texture Spray there. It creates a rattiness, a texture nest if you will, that then you can brush over the top and it just gives you fullness where you want it and it is very long lasting. And then I finished everything with the Luminous Hair Spray.

 

How long did it take?

We did a couple different hairstyles throughout the day, trying different things. And the final one we ended up going with, if you cut out the blow dry, took twenty minutes. But Lily has more hair than anyone I’ve ever met in my entire life so the blowdry on her takes about an hour and fifteen minutes. 

 

Did you have enough time or did you feel rushed?

No matter how much time you have you always end up rushed. We had about three and a half hours to get ready and you still end up rushing in the end.

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Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray ($30), Moroccanoil Volumizing Mousse ($30), Moroccanoil Treatment ($36), Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray ($28), available at sephora.com

 

What’s the vibe of the getting ready process? Are people just hanging out or running around with their heads cut off?

It always starts with very chill; Lily loves a couple candles and some music. We are very causal; having a good time, some room service and then the last 30 minutes is always mayhem.

 

Where did you get ready?

We got ready at a hotel on the upper-east side across the street from The Met. There are three hotels that are the closest to The Met and everyone stays there because the traffic is so bad that if you stay anywhere farther away so you are kind of screwed.

 

Is there a favourite past theme that you wish you could have done?

Yes for sure. There was a theme one year called “Superheros” and there were so many amazing looks. Christina Ricci went with Givenchy and wore this pink and red gown that was super beautiful but the bodice was a heart that was inlaid and it looked like a superhero emblem. That was my favourite Met look ever that I didn’t do.

 

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Christina Ricci at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala “Superheroes: Fashion And Fantasy” in 2008.  Image by: Getty