If you didn’t already know, television’s big night, the Emmys, is happening tonight at 8 p.m. ET. And you can expect the red carpet to be a must-watch event with nominees like Euphoria’s Zendaya, The Dropout’s Amanda Seyfried, and Succession’s Sarah Snook set to attend. In honor of the awards show, we looked back at the red carpets of the past 20 years to see which celebrity hairstyles have stood the test of time. And these are the 15 that stand out as the ones you would still want to wear in 2022 — they’re classic, uncomplicated, and ones you could recreate for yourself and not look dated or too done-up. The awards for best Emmys hair over the past 20 years go to…
Halle Berry, 2005
This waist-grazing ponytail is utterly elegant with its center part and softness that lends it a relaxed, understated vibe. If it were slicked back or had a wet look, it would give it a hard edge that would contradict the rest of Berry’s ethereal look. If you want to copy this look, give it a 2022 update by wrapping the ponytail elastic with a hair wrap instead of using hair like Berry’s stylist did back then.
Scarlett Johansson, 2018
Everything about this look is very right now: The nod to ‘90s grunge with the dark roots, the piece-y, choppy cut that’s swept off the face, the textured waves. Take a page from hair pro Jenny Cho’s playbook and use a Suave volumizing mousse before styling to give the hair extra lift.
Jane Fonda, 2017
Some unofficial (and outdated) rules make the 65-and-over crowd feel like they can’t rock looks like this statement high ponytail. Fonda proved you can. It’s a great look to recreate, especially to give a formal outfit a fun, playful feel.
Taraji P. Henson, 2015
If you walked into a room rocking this angled, shoulder-grazing lob, heads would turn to examine how sharp you look in the same way Henson had tongues wagging when she was nominated for her role as the ultra-fierce Cookie on Empire. To nail this sleek look, use Unite Smooth & Shine to tame flyaways and create a silky smooth finish; it’s particularly good on thick hair.
Jennifer Aniston, 2004
Hair and Aniston are frequently connected, and her turn on the 2004 Emmys red carpet was another bullet point for the list, where she nailed beachy waves like the tress champ she is. These waves, which look equally fresh and fabulous in 2022, can be created by spritzing TO112 Sea Salt Serum on wet hair and letting it air dry. If any pieces didn’t wave, quickly pass a curling iron through those sections by wrapping the hair around the iron, leaving the ends loose, and only holding it on the heat for a couple of seconds.
Zendaya, 2019
Ok, so this look would take a bit of effort for the average person to achieve, but what’s even more than the Veronica Lake waves is the hue. That rich copper is the shade to play with this autumn, and Zendaya shows exactly how elegant it can look. To get the look, copy what hairstylist Ursula Stephen did: She applied curl cream before curling hair with a medium-size barrel (try the T3 Single Pass Curl 1.25″). When the curls cool down, gently brush them out to reveal the soft ‘40s-inspired style.
Padma Lakshmi, 2017
The Top Chef host is a regular on the Emmys red carpet, where she’s been known to wear bright, colorful gowns and sleek hairstyles or elegant updos. But it was the 2017 awards where her risk-taking took hold as she debuted shaggy locks. The beauty of this chop is that it tends to style itself — very little maintenance is required.
Elisabeth Moss, 2013
Moss’s fresh chop ticked so many boxes: Sexy, edgy, elegant, effortless. Her hairstylist Alex Polillo said he was drawn to the tousled look for client Moss, a double nominee that year (Mad Men, Top of the Lake). Nearly a decade later, anyone with short hair wearing this style would still look modern. Especially the swooped bang, which those with a long or wide forehead rock well.
Kerry Washington, 2015
Washington has had many standout beauty moments on the Emmys red carpet, but this one might be her best. Why? Because the pinned-up faux bob is a fab way to debut a new cut without the commitment and the few strands let loose show that it’s not stuffy or too serious. Want to sample a bob without the scissors? Add Virtue Lab’s Texturizing Spray to wet hair, and when dry, grab sections of hair that you twist up and tuck under, securing with bobby pins along the scalp. Repeat until all sections are tucked up and finish with Fekkai Clean Stylers Flexible Hold Hairspray.
Constance Wu, 2016
At the 2016 show, hair pro Derek Yuen offered another example of a super high pony that screams, ” Let’s celebrate! To recreate this look, you’d want to start with a lot of Briogeo Blossom and Bloom Ginseng and Biotin Volumizing Spray and a blow-out using a round brush. Then flip the head upside down and collect all that hair at the crown before you flip back over and secure it with an elastic. Super-high ponies like this are particularly flattering on round face shapes.
Ginnifer Goodwin, 2009
Looking for inspiration on how to do a little something-something with your pixie cut? Then look straight at Big Love’s Goodwin. You might notice the sleek hair and deep side part, but you may have missed the little bump at the crown, where her hairstylist added some volume to give it a slightly retro, dressed-up feel. It’s super easy to recreate by back-combing at the crown and securing it with hairspray. Try R+Co Moon Landing Anti-Humidity Spray if you’re in the elements, as humidity will leave the crown bump droopy.
Kiernan Shipka, 2015
This was when Shipka, then 15, established herself as a red carpet cool girl in Dior Couture. So how do you extend a cool-girl vibe to your hair? By keeping it unfussy. Hair pro Ashley Streicher achieved this by creating a deep side part and pulling the hair off the face by tucking it behind the ears.
Blake Lively, 2009
Such an easy look to recreate, we should all be wearing this as we hold on to the remaining days of summer. Renato Campora styled this look by applying volumizing mousse on wet hair, then blow-drying straight. He pulled Lively’s hair — which had added length and volume thanks to hair extensions — into a high ponytail and secured it. Then he braided the length of it, making a somewhat haphazard, messy braid to give it texture and a less formal feel.
Tracee Ellis Ross, 2021
It’s no wonder Ellis Ross has her own haircare brand when her hair game is this strong. At past Emmy appearances, the Black-ish star has sported sleek buns, but there’s more personality in this style — natural, bold, fun. So if you need to refresh your curls during an event or on the second, third, or fourth day, hit them with PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Hydrating Hair Mist.
Gwyneth Paltrow, 2011
The late great David Babaii created what he termed a “straight, edgy” look on Paltrow. He used hair oil on wet strands (try: LolaVie Lightweight Hair Oil) before blow drying to add softness and shine. Then he used a one-inch flat iron and ran a bit of oil through the hair to finish. It’s this mega-shine and softness that makes the look stand out. But it’s the ease of recreating this center-parted style that has us feeling inspired.
We only recommend products we have independently researched, tested, and loved. If you purchase a product found through our links, Sunday Edit may earn an affiliate commission.
