How Tessa Thompson Got Ready for Her Pretty-in-Pink Moment at the Met Gala 2022

“Lacy and I have so much fun playing that we could have done 15 different looks for this dress!” says Tessa Thompson with a laugh, speaking of her hairstylist Lacy Redway, who crafted the sleek, sculptural updo above her showstopping pink tulle Carolina Herrera gown for the Met Gala 2022.

It goes without saying that Thompson inspired awe from the front, especially with her dress’s dreamy grosgrain-bustier bodice and the bold makeup painted on by pro Maud Laceppe, which centered on ruby red draped eyes and raspberry lips. But between her striking hair statement and the 200-meter cascade of gathered tulle that trailed behind her as she swanned on the red carpet, there was a party in the back too. “The train is my favorite part, purely for its fabulousness,” says designer Wes Gordon, who collaborated with Thompson on the design.

Knowing full well Thompson was giving fashion with a capital F, Redway sought to complement the dramatic silhouette of her gown. “We like mixing hard and soft elements for balance, and with the dress color and tulle, I wanted to make the hair feel sleek and romantic but with a bit of edge with the intricate finishings,” says Redway of the updo, a winding and knotted low-ponytail design with a wet-shine finish courtesy of Tresemmé’s Ultra Defining gel and a setting veil of Nexxus Comb-Thru Finishing Mist.

The style defied gravity and was spellbinding at every angle for Thompson’s pretty-in-pink moment. “We love drama!” says Thompson of collaborating with Redway, who has given her everything from a 12-foot latex whip braid to a braided cowboy hat with a horseshoe updo for the annual event. “We always like to push boundaries—and what’s possible in a ponytail!”

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