Bella Hadid’s Cannes Red Carpet Updo Is Peak Prom

Big 2014 energy.

bella hadid cannes
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Most of the beauty looks from my high school days can stay buried deep in the past. I never, ever need to see a tub of blue hair gel, feather accessory, or hair bobble again—I mean it. I thought that sentiment applied to my prom hairdo, which was complete with 97 bobby pins and approximately two cans of L’Oréal Elnett Hairspray.

Yet, Bella Hadid may have resurrected the tightly curled, pinned, and gelled updo from the depths of the 2000s. For the L’Amour Ouf premiere on Thursday, May 23, the Ôrebella founder was the walking definition of the prom-core aesthetic. And dare I say I’m…into it?

bella hadid on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet with a slicked back updo and curls

One look at Bella Hadid's latest Cannes Film Festival red carpet look, and prom instantly comes to mind.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Hadid slicked back her hair in what I imagine to be a headache-inducing bun, partless and completely free of even one singular flyaway. Her hair, which appears to be supplemented by a hefty number of hair extensions, is styled with big barrel curls, twisted into a bun, and accented by a few loose spirals. The throwback look came courtesy of hairstylist Bryce Scarlett.

While the model (thankfully) skipped out on skinny brows and frosted lipstick for the red carpet, her glam did have some subtle nods to 2000s prom culture, courtesy of makeup artist Nadia Tayeh. May I present: The heavy contour, orange cut-crease eyeshadow, and brown lip gloss. Don’t get me wrong, her makeup has a modern twist. Still, the colors and technique are reminiscent of an era past.

Recreating this look—hair, makeup, and all the fixings—is actually pretty easy. For hair, just look to TikTok’s messy bun trend for a quick how-to.

Bella Hadid wearing a curled prom updo at cannes

Hadid's updo was tightly slicked back with a bun covered in cascading curls.

(Image credit: Getty Images)
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Tie your hair up in a care-free bun—the messier the better—leaving two front pieces out. Then, curl your front pieces and pin them into bun with bobby pins. For makeup, all you need is an orange-toned palette—and you’ll be ready for prom 2024 (or the Cannes red carpet) in no time.

Beauty Editor

Samantha Holender is the Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she reports on the best new launches, dives into the science behind skincare, and shares the breakdown on the latest and greatest trends in the beauty space. She's studied up on every ingredient you'll find on INCI list and is constantly in search of the world's glowiest makeup products. Prior to joining the team, she worked as Us Weekly’s Beauty and Style Editor, where she stayed on the pulse of pop culture and broke down celebrity beauty routines, hair transformations, and red carpet looks. Her words have also appeared on Popsugar, Makeup.com, Skincare.com, Delish.com, and Philadelphia Wedding. Samantha also serves as a board member for the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). She first joined the organization in 2018, when she worked as an editorial intern at Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine. Samantha has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. While at GWU, she was a founding member of the school’s HerCampus chapter and served as its President for four years. When she’s not deep in the beauty closet or swatching eyeshadows, you can find her obsessing over Real Housewives and all things Bravo. Keep up with her on Instagram @samholender.