For many of us, award shows are the cathartic escape from reality we need. Vegging out on the couch in our sweatpants, we watch celebrities parade around in designer gowns and tuxedos. We gawk over the outfits, discuss who escorted who, live-tweet and take note of the beauty looks we can replicate.
But that process is changing. Thanks to social media, we have the ability to see what goes down behind the scenes — before the red carpet. While celebrities were once the cream of the crop, the glam squad’s Instagram is where the content we want truly resides; an inside look into rooms you would typically never be invited in.
And celebrity hair stylist Adir Abergel is the man behind many of our favorite looks. With more than 690,000 followers on Instagram, Abergel gives us BTS content, tutorials and photos we wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
Abergel is also known for his creative hair accessories and innovative red carpet looks. There are days Abergel is styling the likes of Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart, Gwyneth Paltrow and Reese Witherspoon, and there are days he is working on his luxury mixed-metal hair jewelry line with his friend Sara Bieler Sasson of Lelet NY. The collection is inspired by the same iconic looks he has created for his celebrity clientele.
Adir x Lelet NY, which launched in 2017, is a hair jewelry line that utilizes mixed-metals such as 18K gold and antique sterling silver. Each piece is crafted by NYC artisans, so no two are the same. “Luckily, through my collection I get to celebrate women’s self-expression. I approach my pieces the same way I approach working with my clients,” adds Abergel. “My clients are part of my family and it is humbling to watch your friends grow and to achieve their dreams. We have been with each other through many beautiful moments in our careers and our personal lives.”
Aside from his clients, Abergal gets his inspiration from architecture, metal techniques, tribes and nature. “For me, hair accessories are an extension of jewelry. I love to use them in the hair. I play with accessories in a different form and will use them in non-traditional and unexpected ways,” he says.
So, what is next for hair? When the barrette inevitably goes through its cyclical decline, what will we be left with? “At the moment it’s all about layering. We are seeing a lot of pearls being used, but I think we will see more layered effects like what I just did on Stella Maxwell at the Met Gala,” he says. And when it comes to hair color trends he adds: “As I travel around the world, I’ve been seeing more dramatic punk rock colors in hair. Very grown out bleached hair with pops of colors on the ends. I just did a version of this on Kristen Stewart.”
Check his favorite hair products down below:
