1920s-Inspired Kiss Curls Took Center Stage on the 2025 Met Gala Red Carpet

Among all of the beautiful hairstyles that dazzled us last night at the 2025 Met Gala, there is one look that quickly emerged as the biggest hair trend of the night: kiss curls.

With this year’s theme for the annual soiree being “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” many attendees paid homage to the past with their hair, opting for swirly and swoopy face-framing kiss curls. For those who don’t know, the vintage hair look—which is characterized by face-framing S-shaped curls that rest near the forehead or cheeks— was a 1920s beauty signature that was popularized by Josephine Baker. 

Kiss curls showed up in many iterations on the Met Gala red carpet, adorning countless bobs and updos. Some like Sydney Sweeney, who worked with celebrity hairstylist Glen “Coco” Oropeza, opted for forehead-gracing kiss curls paired with a sleek bun. Ayo Edebiri and her hairstylist Jacob Aaron proved that kiss curls and braids are a winning combination, with her slicked-back hairstyles that featured a single cornrow and delicately curled kiss curls. As for Simone Biles, her hairstylist Brenton Diallo styled her a glossy flippy ‘do with a side swoopy bangs and multiple little kiss curls.

Ahead, keep scrolling for a complete breakdown of how all these kiss curl-adorned looks were achieved—including the exact products each hairstylist used to craft them. 

Sydney Sweeney’s Sleek Bun with Glossy Kiss Curls

Inspiration: “This look was inspired by the finger wave and wanting to take it into 2025. I knew I wanted a clean simple bun but also wanted to elevate it with an aspect of design in the front. I went with what I call a “finger swirl” for an element of interest around the face.” – celebrity hairstylist Glen “Coco” Oropeza

Get the Look:

1. First, Oropeza went in and sprayed the Kérastase Genesis Defense Thermique Heat Protecting Spray, ($48.00) on damp hair to add heat protection and prevent any breakage.
2. He then used a few droplets of the new Kerastate Gloss Absolu Glaze Drops , ($36.00) before blow drying to help control frizz and add shine.
3. Next, he then went in with the Wavy Talk Pro Fast Drying Hair Dryer, ($99.00) and smoothed out the hair until dry and with each section clipping back to set into the formation of a ponytail.
4. After the hair is fully dry, he went in and took his smoothing brush and Kérastase Laque Extreme Hair Spray, ($38.00) section by section and slick the hair into formation.
5. He left out a few pieces in the front of the head to create “finger swirls” using my tail comb and Kérastase Laque Extreme Hair Spray, ($38.00).
6. He then went in with my Wavytalk Steamline Pro, ($89.00) to brush and smooth out the ponytail 
7. He started the bun by using the Kerastate Gloss Absolu Glaze Drops, ($36.00) throughout the hair to condense it before forming it into shape
8. Once he had the bun pinned into place, he finished it off with the Kérastase Laque Extreme Hair Spray, ($38.00) and diffused it with my Wavy Talk Pro Fast Drying Hair Dryer to lock into place for the night.

Ayo Edebiri’s Structural Bun with Kiss Curl Bangs

Inspiration: “For the day of, we chose a sleek, sculpted look that felt regal and refined—something that complemented the structure of her gown while also nodding to her Nigerian heritage. It was important to us that the hair felt intentional and rooted in identity, while still delivering that Met Gala polish and red-carpet presence.” – celebrity hairstylist Jacob Aaron 

Get the Look:

1. With so many different appearances surrounding the Met and the Gala itself, Aaraon started days before by prepping Ayo’s hair with OGX Bond Protein Repair Shampoo & Conditioner, ($5.00 each). This ensured he kept her strands strong and healthy through all of the manipulation. 
2. One of the stars of the show was the OGX Bond Protein Repair Heat Protectant Spray ($10.00). This not only shielded the hair from intensive heat styling, but it also added lightweight conditioning. 
3. To mold and set to hair, Aaron went in with the OGX Touchable Hold Gel ($10.00). 
4. To achieve the rope-like structural bun, he made sure to reach for the OGX Bond Protein Repair Sealing Serum ($10.00). This ensures the sleekness of the bun. 
5. To top it off, a few sprays of the OGX Bond Protein Repair 3-in-1 Oil Mist ($10.00) to make sure she has everything ready and strong for an evening of true fun and fashion!

Simone Biles’ High-Shine Flip With Kiss Curl Bangs

Inspiration: “The look was a tribute to Black dandyism and the glamour of the Harlem Renaissance, with a nod to Josephine Baker’s iconic bang swirl.” — celebrity hairstylist Brenton Diallo

Get the Look:

1. Prep: Diallo started by washing Biles’ hair. After that we generously applied the Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask ($75.00), combed it through and let it sit for four minutes before we began the blow dry.
2. Styling: For tonight’s looks, Diallo and Biles really wanted to lean into the idea of black dandyism. They took inspiration from the The Harlem Renaissance and  wanted to pay tribute to Josephine Baker and her famous hair bang swirl. To get this look, they needed to use a faux bang. Diallo wet the piece down and used a generous amount  of the Astrolift Reparative Volume Spray, ($46.00). After he blew it out, cut, and textured the bang, then curled it and set it in rollers. Diallo then flat ironed her hair on the sides, setting it with flat clips. On the bottom, he gave the hair a slight flip with the iron.
3. Finish: To give the final look a high gloss finish, Diallo layered on the Molecular Repair Hair Oil, ($65.00). This helped marry the texture of her hair and the baby hair swirl we added that was gelled to her forehead.

If you recreate this look for your clients, or for yourself, be sure to tag @readthetease on Instagram or TikTok.