Courtesy of Chris McMillan
Each year, the Met Gala provides tons of hair inspiration and signals the next big hair trends. In 2026, celebrities on the carpet proved we're swapping bouncy volume for sleek, straight strands.
To achieve the sleekest, straightest hair with a glass-like shine, E! connected with Adir Abergel, Virtue creative director and celebrity hairstylist, and Chris McMillan, celebrity hairstylist and founder of his own haircare brand.
For Abergel (who was responsible for both Nicole Kidman and her daughter's long, straight style), it all starts with hair prep. From the shampoo and conditioner you use to post-shower treatments, a properly prepped mane enhances the natural shine of your hair prior to applying heat.
In terms of hair styling, Chris McMillan (whose eponymous brand was used to create Camila Mendes' sleek bob) uses a number of techniques, like using tension to blow dry hair and layering products before using a flat iron, to create ultra-sleek styles with a mirror-like finish.
Here's how you can recreate the sleek, straight, shiny styles that took over the Met Gala, according to celebrity hairstylists.
"When the hair is properly prepped with reparative products, that shine comes from within, it looks effortless, healthy, and incredibly luxurious," explains Abergel.
He also applies a hair oil to damp hair for added protection and slip before heat styling.
“Perfectly sleek hair starts the night before," says Abergel. "I always prep with Virtue Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner to strengthen and smooth the hair at the foundation."
To achieve super straight hair, a classic blowout isn't going to cut it. Instead, you want to work in sections, taking "clean one-to-two-inch sections with a lot of tension as you blow them out," suggests McMillan. Use this same sectioning method when going in with a straightener.
Another pro trick? Layering product with heat. Spritz each section with hairspray prior to going in with a flat iron.
"If you try to do it all at once, it just won't happen," says McMillan. "But if you work in sections, you'll get that beautiful glassy finish every time."
Before blow drying, apply this spray to damp hair for a glassy finish. It blocks out humidity to control frizz, enhances shine, and provides heat protection.
Not only does hairspray provide a buildable hold that never feels crunchy, it gives hair added shine while sealing the cuticle for extra sleek strands.
There are two essential hot tools you need for a sleek look: a good hair dryer and a trusty flat iron. McMillan recommends a Parlux blow dryer and a T3 Micro flat iron while Abergel uses the Shark Beauty FlexStyle. But these more affordable options still deliver.
This budget-friendly flat iron is designed with shine-enhancing technology and infused with argan oil and keratin to minimize frizz and prevent breakage. Over 27,000+ reviewers gave this tool a 5-star rating.
This ultra-lightweight hair dryer is designed with enhanced air flow so you can use less heat and still dry your hair in minutes. It comes with two attachments: a nozzle for precision as well as a diffuser.
Abergel uses this "Denman paddle brush to direct the bangs into a soft, delicate barely there sweep and styling the hair with a polished, luminous sheen."
A few added steps are crucial to transforming bouncy curls into pin-straight strands. Abergel preps curly hair with an anti-frizz cream to smooth texture prior to styling.
Keeping curls wet during the blow dry process is another hack. "Once a curl dries up, you can't smooth it back out—so I keep a spray bottle of water on hand and re-mist each section right before I dry it," advises McMillan. "That's how you stretch the curl out at the blow dry stage and set the hair up so the flat iron can come through and finish it to a glass-smooth polish."
"For curly or frizz-prone hair, I love Virtue’s Un-Frizz Cream," says Abergel. "It is an essential. It helps relax the texture and creates a controlled, polished base before you even pick up a blow dryer."
"For curly hair specifically, the most important thing is to keep the hair wet throughout the blow dry," explains McMillan. That's why he keeps a continuous spray bottle like this one full of water at his side to re-mist sections prior to blow drying.
A high-gloss hair oil is the final step to achieving a "mirror-shine" finish. Apply a few drops to your hand and warm it up in your palms before running your fingers through the hair.
"Don't be afraid to brush through it again and layer more hairspray and more oil," advises McMillan. "That's how you get that patent-leather, glass-like shine without any weight."
For slicked back hairstyles, a smoothing wand helps tame frizz, flyaways, and baby hairs before heading out the door.
“Shine is the signature. I finish with just a few drops of Virtue Healing Oil, warmed in my hands and smoothed over the surface for a reflective, glossy finish," says Abergel.
"The Glassy Smooth Hair Oil is my secret weapon for the ultimate shine finish," says McMillan. "First, I set everything with Major Hairspray. Then I spritz the hair oil over the head and a little into my hands, rub them together, and smooth everything over to flatten it out."
Lay down baby hairs, smooth frizz, and tame flyaways with this hair wand that won't leave hair greasy or flaky. Toss it in your bag for on-the-go touch-ups.
Danessa Myricks spilled her secret to radiant skin and glowy Met Gala looks.
The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
此内容由惯性聚合(RSS阅读器)自动聚合整理，仅供阅读参考。 原文来自 — 版权归原作者所有。