The Best Hairstyles From the 2026 Emmy Awards

Zendaya’s Modern Pixie

“For Zendaya, the inspiration is a classic pixie reimagined through a modern, editorial lens,” says celebrity hairstylist Coree Moreno. “I wanted the silhouette to feel feminine and refined with a little rebellion—sleek around the perimeter with airy, piecey texture and controlled height through the crown.”​

To get the look, Moreno used the ghd Speed ($429) to build the pixie silhouette.​ Once hair was dry, she used ghd Sculpt ($449) to lift, bend and redirect pieces. She finished up using her fingertips to pinch and separate individual pieces through the crown and fringe to help the silhouette feel effortless.​ To get the grip, separation and workable texture that’s key to this look Moreno used göt2b glued 2-in-1 Spray Wax ($8) and göt2b glued Blasting Freeze Spray ($11) to lock the style in place.

Sarah Pidgeon’s Sun-Kissed Beach Blonde

Celebrity colorist Kari Hill transitioned Sarah Pidgeon’s Bessette blonde into a slightly warmer sun-kissed beach blonde for the Emmy Awards using Schwarzkopf Professional. “As soon as I saw Sarah’s beautiful Chanel gown, I knew this needed to be a hair moment all about shine, health and simple elegance. We decided soft, barely-there waves that felt effortlessly polished were the way to go,” says celebrity hairstylist Christian Wood, who was behind her Emmy Awards hairstyle. He notes that “”After Sarah’s dramatic color change for Love Story, hair health is a major factor in the products we use for red carpets and a vital step in hair health and longevity,” including K18 TripleBright Purple Shampoo ($39), Leave-in Molecular Repair Mask ($75) and HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant ($48).

To achieve her Emmy’s look, Wood blew out and curled Pidgeon’s hair “to create soft, loose waves that had movement but felt relaxed. Once the waves were complete, I added some K18 AirWash Dry Shampoo ($48) to the roots. This acts the same way as setting powder does with makeup. It prevents oils from occurring throughout the night, keeping the hair voluminous and oil-free.” He finished by smoothing Molecular Repair Hair Oil ($65(\) over the waves to remove flyaways, add shine and keep the hair frizz-free. “For the final touch, I combed out all the waves with a wide-tooth comb to add polish and softness to the look. I often use a wide-tooth comb on soft waves instead of a brush, as this helps the waves stay in place and keep their definition, as brushing can often pull out the waves you have just applied.”

Jessica Williams’ Old Hollywood Waves

The Shrinking nominee charmed us with old Hollywood waves and a piecey, side-swept bang. The romantic style paired perfectly with her lavender dress.

Emmy Rossum’s Voluminous Natural Curls

Every time Emmy Rossum goes full send with her natural curls, we can’t look away. Her voluminous, glossy hair made for the perfect beauty moment as she returned to the spotlight at the Emmy Awards.

Florence Pugh’s Artfully Undone Bun

We’re suckers for a messy bun polished enough for the red carpet. Florence Pugh’s high, artfully undone style had us doing double takes thanks to its impressive volume, tousled texture and perfectly imperfect finish.

Ayo Edebiri’s Dreamy Textured Bun

Celebrity hairstylist Jacob Aaron Dillon says the inspiration behind nominee Ayo Edebiri’s hair “was something that felt snatched yet dreamy at the same time. We wanted to keep the hair off the back to really showcase the beautiful detail of the dress, so an updo felt like a no-brainer.”

Dillon used OGX Bond Protein Repair Sealing Serum ($12) to help lock in moisture and create a smooth foundation. The hairstylist then “shaped hair into a softly textured bun, allowing delicate curls to frame the face for an effortless finish.” Dillon finished the look with Nourishing + Coconut Oil Weightless Hydrating Oil Mist ($11) for added shine and Strong Hold Hairspray ($11) to define and secure the face-framing curls.

Mariska Hargitay’s Sultry Waves

The evening’s host with the most hit the red carpet with sultry, voluminous waves courtesy of celebrity hairstylist Adir Abergel. He used the newly launched Laifen Swift 4 Hair Dryer ($200) and AutoCurl Curling Iron ($100).

Chase Infiniti’s Brushed Out Waves

“For this look, I was inspired by the silhouette of Chase’s dress—from the heart-shaped neckline to the dress flaring out on the bottom, we wanted the waves to resemble her dress,” says Lacy Redway. “By brushing out her waves, we created a younger, cooler version of old Hollywood waves.”​ The ghd Wave ($239) created the gorgeous waves and texture and brushing it all out with the ghd Paddle Brush ($35) gave the look its unique finish.

Nicole Kidman’s Effortless Updo

Celebrity hairstylist Lorenzo Martin applied K18 AstroLift Reparative Volume Spray ($46) at the roots and K18 heat protectant from roots to ends before blow-drying Nicole Kidman’s hair. He then created soft texture with a curling iron and added AirWash Dry Shampoo for effortless movement. Her hair was gathered into a low ponytail, then twisted into the gorgeous low bun we saw on the red carpet.