Kelsea Ballerini's Grammys Hair and Makeup Is Surprisingly Affordable

It seems like just yesterday I chatted with the inimitable Kelsea Ballerini about everything she's accomplished—and everything she's planning to accomplish—now that she's moving into her self-entitled "healing era." And now, it's a whirlwind to see her at the Grammy Awards, where she's been nominated for Best Country Album for her chart-topping release "Rolling Up the Welcome Mat."

But, as always, Ballerini is making headlines not only for her music, but also for her immaculate glam. Thus, I took the time to ask her hairstylist, Danielle Priano, and makeup artist, Kelsey Deenihan, about how they achieved the stunning yet subdued look.

"The inspiration behind Kelsea’s three-tiered ponytail for the Grammy Awards was to create something structured and modern against the soft femininity of her black and purple dress," Priano explains, saying that she worked closely Deenihan to ensure that the hair and makeup worked well together.

"Her makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan is the best, we always have so many laughs and fun together when we collaborate," she gushes. "I love how invested she is in the process and planning. As artists, the team makes the world of difference and she really is a true partner."

Below, Priano and Deenihan describe, step by step, how they gave Ballerini her gorgeous, glowing glam, including a breakdown of their go-to products.

How to Get Kelsea's Hair

Of course, before you style hair, you need to prep it—and that includes ensuring that it's well-washed and free of buildup.

"I first washed Kelsea’s hair using Pantene Pro-V Miracles Bond Repair Shampoo and Miracle Rescue Deep Repair Conditioner with Melting Pro-V Pearls to provide a healthy base to prep for style," says Priano. "Once her hair was clean and damp, I prepped her hair with the Pantene Heat Primer Thermal Heat Protectant. We wanted to make sure her hair had ample protection to maintain healthiness and shine through the night."

"After prep and after combing through her hair, I gave her a soft blowout using a Blow Dry Brush," she continues. "I then used tape-in extensions and sandwiched two shades. I prepped them using a Flat Iron to ensure they were perfectly straight before taping each one around her hair one by one. The shades blended in flawlessly."

Ballerini, who is a brand ambassador for Pantene, certainly sticks to her guns in her red carpet routine, utilizing products from the affordable brand from start to finish whenever possible. Indeed, Priano adds, "I then mixed Pantene’s Flexible Waves and Curls Gel with their Pantene’s Pro-V Miracles Infinite Lengths Conditioner and applied small dime size amounts of this mixture as I separated Kelsea’s hair into three sections. I tied each section from top to bottom to create a tiered effect. To ensure the ponytail was slick straight, I used a Flat Iron from top to bottom. And, to seal the look and make sure it remained shiny, I applied Pantene’s Hydrating Anti-Frizz Serum through the ends."

How to Get Kelsea's Makeup Look

Meanwhile, Ballerini wore a peachy makeup look that aligned perfectly with the viral 'clean girl aesthetic' that's taken over TikTok over the last year or so. But while the glam appears pared back, it's a bit more complicated to execute. Liker Priano, Deenihan stuck to a single brand when styling Ballerini, swearing by Covergirl for everything from foundation to lipstick.

Face Makeup

"To begin Kelsea’s makeup, I swept a mixture of CoverGirl Simply Ageless Skin Perfector Essence Foundation in shades 30 Light-Medium and 40 Medium to her entire face," says Deenihan, when I ask her where one should get started. "This gives a sheer, even tint that keeps her skin beautifully radiant all day.  Next, I added CoverGirl Clean Invisible Concealer in 107 Light Beige under her eyes and to her t-zone to conceal and brighten."

Then, she adds, "We added a beautiful warm glow to the face with the CoverGirl TruBlend So Flushed High Pigment Bronzer in the color 390 Sunset Glitz around the frame of her face and across her cheek bones. Then, for a flush of color, I added CoverGirl TruBlend So Flushed High Pigmented Blush in shade 320 Love Me on top of the cheekbones."

 Brows

"Kelsea has a naturally beautiful brows, but to perfect the shape I used the Cover Girl Clean Fresh Brow Filler Pomade Pencil in 200 Blonde, followed by CoverGirl Clean Fresh Brow Nano Eyebrow Pencil in 200 Blonde which allows me to create fine hair-like strokes to fill in any sparse areas," explains Deenihan. "To make sure they stay in place all day applied CoverGirl Clean Fresh Brow Enhancer Gel Wax in 100 Clear."

Eyes

"To begin Kelsea’s eyeshadow, I swept the lightest beige from the CoverGirl Clean Fresh Clean Color Eyeshadow Palette in 212 Shimmering Beige Eyeshadow Palette across the entire eye with a soft, fluffy eyeshadow brush.  Next, I added the matte mauve from the CoverGirl Clean Fresh Clean Color Eyeshadow Palette 252 Mellow Mauve Eyeshadow Palette to the lid and below the lower lash line," she says. "To create shape and drama, I used a smaller tapered eyeshadow brush and applied the 2nd shade in the palette softly to the inner and outer corners of the eye. I pressed the 4th shade, a shimmering lilac to the center of the lid and then softly dusted with the CoverGirl Exhibitionist by Kelsea Ballerini Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow in 2 Nashville Dream for a little glitz.  Along the top lash line, I tightlined with CoverGirl Perfect Point Plus Ink Eyeliner Pencil in 280 Shimmering Brown. Finally, I coated the lashes with a few generous coats of CoverGirl Lash Blast Cleantopia Mascara in 800 Extreme Black."

Lips

Finally, Deenihan used two hero products to achieve Ballerini's glossy, peachy lips.

"For Kelsea’s lips, we went with a pinky-nude CoverGirl Exhibitionist Crème Lipstick in 235 Champagne," she explains. "We love to use this lipstick because it’s super moisturizing and lasts all night. For a little gloss and to add a tint of lilac we topped the lips off with Cover Girl Clean Fresh Yummy Gloss in 200 Laugh-vender."

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