Kerry Washington's Owns the Messy Updo On the Red Carpet

a black woman with dark hair posing at a red carpet event — (Image credit: Getty Images)

I love to see a red carpet full of ponytails and updos, but what I love even more than that is a red carpet full of messy updos. So, Kerry Washington must have read my mind when making her most recent appearance then, because she just stepped out wearing a loose bun that I'm going to be thinking about all weekend.

Washington has had a whirlwind week, and just days after attending the premiere event for her new Apple TV series Imperfect Women, she popped out at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards on March 12. For the event, Washington wore a chic, baby pick slip dress with a black leather jacket that she draped around her elbows. Her glam for the night was even more stunning. Over the last few days, the Scandal alum has stepped out with her lob-length hair in sleek styles, but this time around she opted for a messy beehive updo with wispy bangs and a few loose tendrils at the back and on the sides of her head.

a black woman with dark hair posing in front of a bright blue backdrop — Kerry Washington wears a messy updo at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards.

There's been a resurgence of messy updos on red carpets in recent months, and they seemed to be the hairstyle of choice among most of the attendees at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards back in January. Martha Stewart also shared an Instagram video last month in which she was seen wearing a chic, French updo with a few loose pieces and a side bang, while actress Jodie Turner-Smith was spotted during Paris Haute Couture Week with her thick curls pulled into a messy top bun.

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Messy buns and ponytails are the ultimate lazy girl hairstyles, and even though they're perfect styles to wear during low-effort occasions, they're also red carpet-appropriate. Messy hair in general is also predicted to have a huge moment in spring 2026 and beyond, per top hair experts.

"In 2026, hair isn't about perfection—it's about intention," celebrity hairstylist Rogério Cavalcante previously told MC, predicting that "effortless, but never accidental" styles will be on everyone's mood boards.

A good messy updo isn't hard to achieve at home, but if you need some styling tips on how to make yours like effortless, read ahead.

Kristin Ess Hair

Dry Finish Working Texture Hair Spray

If you're not working with second or third day hair, grab some texture spray to give yourself a more lived-in look

Terviiix

1/2" Mini Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron

Use a mini hot tool to help with curling and styling any loose pieces left out of your updo.

Redken

Control Hairspray

Add some hairspray to your curled pieces to keep them from falling or flattening.

Scünci

Prep Bobby Pins

You'll likely need to carefully pin some pieces of hair down using bobby pins.

Diane

Carbon Pin Tail Precision Styling Comb

Use a rattail comb to part your hair where needed and to comb out the wispy pieces of hair you leave out.

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.