One actress who has truly become a name to know is Mikey Madison. With her standout performance in Anora, which earned her the Best Actress win at the 97th Academy Awards, the spotlight is on the rising star to see what she does next.
Aside from her awe-inspiring acting skills, her recent hairstyles, especially the innovative bun she wore to the Oscars, have also pushed the actress into the limelight. All of her latest hairstyles are compliments to celebrity hairstylist Rena Calhoun. Her clientele list includes Christina Ricci and Joey King.
The Tease had the pleasure of speaking with Rena about working with Mikey and a breakdown of the award-winning actress’ Oscars hairstyle. Read on.
The Tease: Your work with Mikey Madison is remarkable. What is your creative approach in terms of creating looks for her?
Calhoun: Mikey embodies a natural beauty that we strive to highlight through the hair and makeup process. I like to maintain a texturally soft feel for the hair, even on days when we decide to amp up the glamour. Regardless of the style, there’s always a softness that remains, enhancing her effortless elegance.
Now for the Oscars, you did a slick-back bun for Mikey that made headlines. Can you give our readers a breakdown on how you created it?
Calhoun: Our Oscars look was designed to feel glamorous and timeless. I aimed to incorporate the bow detail from her dress into the structural details of the hair, sculpting the bun to mimic the softness of a ribbon.
I started with damp hair, applying Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer from mid-lengths to ends to detangle, hydrate, and reduce frizz. Using the Tangle Teezer Ultimate Detangler brush, I worked the product through while detangling Mikey’s hair.
Next, I used the Shark Flex Fusion to rough-dry the hair, removing excess moisture. Then, with the Wet or Dry Fusion brush attachment, I gave the hair a smooth blowout in 2-inch by 2-inch sections. The Wet or Dry Fusion Brush combines a round brush and blow dryer, making the process effortless. Once dry, I applied Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil to the ends for a polished finish.
To add texture and control in prep for sculpting the updo, I sprayed Bumble and Bumble Thicken Dryspun Texture Spray throughout the hair.
For the final steps, I refined the part with a tail comb, then twisted the hair into a ribboning updo, using Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode Flexible Hold Spray to set each section. After shaping, I sealed the look with a final mist of hairspray, applying diffused heat with the Shark Flex Fusion Diffuser to ensure the look lasted all night.
What is the best advice you can give to beginner hairstylists and women styling their own hair on how to achieve a red-carpet worthy hairstyle?
Calhoun: To achieve a red-carpet-worthy hairstyle, the key is using the right tools and products for your hair type. For example, choose volumizing products for fine hair or smoothing serums for fizzy or thicker hair, and use heat protectants before styling. High-quality (which doesn’t always mean the most expensive) styling tools ensure precise results.
For all things Rena Calhoun, be sure to check out her recent looks @rena.calhoun on Instagram.
