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.
- Sleek, straight strands with a glossy shine dominated the Met Gala carpet, from Nicole Kidman to Camila Mendes.
- A hair oil is the ultimate finishing touch for boosting shine and smoothing frizz and flyaways.
- Pro tip for curly hair: Keep hair damp while blow drying to effectively “stretch” out each curl into a pin-straight strand.
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.
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