Rita Ora's French Twist Updo Shows the Style's Versatility

a woman with blonde hair wearing a white gown and posing in front of a blue curtain — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Updo hairstyles are known for being elegant, and they're the perfect style to go for when you want to keep your hair out of your face and off your shoulders. But elegant doesn't have to mean boring—just ask Rita Ora and the messy French twist she wore during her most recent red carpet appearance.

Ora showed up to the opening ceremony during the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia this week, where she wore a stunning black gown that featured a lace top with a velvet bow around the neckline and a satin bubble skirt. Obviously, a dress that extravagant calls for an updo, though her hairstyle of choice for the night was far from simple. The singer's ashy blonde hair was styled in spiral curls before it was pulled up into a French twist that was equal parts messy and chic at the same time. At the back, her hair appeared to be twisted into an updo while the longer, curled pieces of her hair were pinned to the top of her head with a few strands hanging out of the back and on the sides. Per Instagram, the style was the work of Los Angeles-based hairstylist Kaleel Joy.

a woman with blonde hair wearing a black gown with a lace top — Rita Ora attends the 2025 Red Sea International Film Festival on Dec. 4.

Ora seems to be having a lot of fun experimenting with her hair lately. Last month she popped out at the Music Industry Trust Awards in London wearing long curtain bangs, and before that, she attended Vogue World in Los Angeles with her blonde hair pulled back into a sleek hydro bob. Yesterday's updo appears to be one of many show-stopping looks she's planning to pull out during the festival this week.

To get an updo similar to Rita Ora's, read ahead to see some essentials you'll need.

CHI

1" Titanium Flat Iron

Start off by using a flat iron to straighten your hair to get a sleek finish before adding some loose curls to it.

Olaplex

Volumizing Hair Heat Protective Weightless Blowout Mist

Flat irons can get extremely hot, so make sure you're protecting your hair from potential heat damage with a heat protectant.

Crown Affair

The Flexible Hold Finishing Hair Gel

Use a hair gel to brush the hair into place and ensure you have no flyaways.

Scünci

Prep Bobby Pins

Secure any loose pieces to the top and sides of your head with a few bobby pins.

Redken

Max Hold Hairspray

Finish off with a hairspray that'll hold everything together for the entire evening.

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Danielle Jackson is the former 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.