Karol G's Glossy Waves Are Influencing All of My Summer Hair Decisions

Perfection.

karol g attends the vanity fair oscar party and poses in a strapless gown
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Karol G just reminded me why I'll never get tired of seeing wet, wavy hair on the red carpet. The singer joined the bulk of the music industry on Monday night to attend the American Music Awards in Las Vegas, where she performed on stage and accepted the award for Best Latin Album. On the red carpet, she wore a two-piece ensemble that included a tattered, long-sleeve, mesh top over a black bra top that she paired with a black flared maxi skirt with a bubble hem. To add to the look's carefree aura, she wore a light pink lip color and styled her hair in messy, wet mermaid waves.

a latina woman with long, honey blonde hair poses for paparazzi during a red carpet event

Karol G wears a wet and wavy hairstyle to the 2026 American Music Awards.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The wet hair agenda was so strong on Monday night, you'd think that every celeb in attendance coordinated their looks together beforehand. Aside from Karol G, other attendees who rocked the mermaid look included Tinashe, who wore her jet-black hair in a straight, wet style with bangs, and singer Bebe Rexha, who wore a platinum-blonde hydro bob with dark roots.

The American Music Awards red carpet isn't the only recent event that's been dominated by glossy, wet hair. Tyla wore mermaid glam to this year's Met Gala thanks to celebrity hairstylist Yusef Williams, and months before that, Sydney Sweeney wore a wet bob to GQ's Men of the Year event in Los Angeles. According to hairstylist Gregory Patterson, who previously predicted that the wet look (specifically the glossy bob) would be a major trend in 2026, wet hair “comes alive more in how it’s styled.”

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“Think of creating a really high-gloss polish that is intentionally shine-enhanced through finish products, but without looking overly wet,” he adds. Glossy waves are pretty easy to achieve at home, and if you've already added them to your summer hair wish list, read ahead to see how to get the look.

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Danielle Jackson
Senior Beauty Writer

Danielle Jackson is the senior beauty writer at Marie Claire. She has nearly a decade of experience covering beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment and was previously the senior beauty editor at Women's Health, where she thoughtfully covered topics related to skincare, haircare, aesthetics, and wellness. Before that, she spent three years as an assistant beauty editor at PS, and in the years since, her work has appeared in titles like Vogue, InStyle, Glamour, and more. Danielle graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in English, and has lived in Brooklyn for almost ten years. When she's not writing, you can find her reading romance novels and talking about sunscreen. You can find her on Instagram @danielleknecole.