The hair and makeup moments at the MTV Video Music Awards never disappoint. Unlike the Grammys, where performers and nominees tend to look gorgeous but also predictable, the beauty vibe at the VMAs—especially this year—is decidedly more fun. Case in point: Paris Hilton and her butt-grazing bleach-blonde ponytail with face-framing pieces, courtesy of celeb hairstylist Sienree Du.
Paris was a VMA presenter for the evening alongside her sister Nicky, and wore a fiery shaped minidress complete with a leather choker and gloves from the Blonds. Her outfit, which was the polar opposite of Nicky’s icy gown, served as the primary inspo for her hair look. “It’s full of detail, especially with the flames in the front, so we wanted a hairstyle that would complement it without competing,” Sienree says. “We went with her signature slicked-back ponytail to keep the focus on the outfit while adding a touch of drama in the back.”
And while you may think a pony this bold and eye-catching would require a ton of steps, styling products, and hot tools, it’s actually relatively easy to recreate, as far as awards show hairstyles go. Check out Sienree’s breakdown of exactly how to get Paris’s statement hair plus the exact Paul Mitchell products she used (FYI, Paris is a new global ambassador for Paul Mitchell) to get the look below:
- PREP: Work Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam through damp hair and blow-drying with a Paul Mitchell Neuro Dry Blow Dryer into the shape of a sleek ponytail. This gives the style control while minimizing frizz and flyaways.
- STYLING: Secure the ponytail, leaving two small contouring face-framing pieces out in front. To keep the ponytail seamless, wrap a small section of hair around the elastic, then smooth the face-framing strands with the Neuro Style+ 1" Ceramic Straightening & Styling Iron.
- FINAL TOUCHES: Flat-ironed the ponytail with the Neuro Style+ 1" Ceramic Straightening & Styling Iron and then set the look with Awapuhi Wild Ginger Anti-Frizz Hairspray to give it soft, touchable control while keeping the hair polished and movable.
Obviously, Paris is wearing a ton of hair extensions to get this type of butt-grazing length, but honestly, this look would still be super chic with shorter lengths or even with ends tied into a sleek bun.
Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for more than a decade at Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram.
