The first Monday in May is a special night for fashion lovers. From jaw-droppingly gorgeous gowns to memorable entrances, the red carpet at the Met Gala never disappoints. Still, this year’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, was special. Honoring Black dandyism and styles from the Harlem Renaissance, it brought glamour to the event in a whole new way. There were lots of hair trend takeaways, but the true star of the evening was the kiss curl. While the clothes portrayed the style of Black tailoring, kiss curls added the signature flair the the flapper era is known for. One thing’s for sure: kiss curls are back, and there are several fun ways to wear them today. Ahead, we chatted with two celebrity hairstylists about the trend and how to recreate a modern version.
Featured experts
- Dimitris Giannetos is a celebrity hair stylist and colorist
- Daid von Cannon is a celebrity hairstylist
What are kiss curls?
“Kiss curls are structured curls that sit on the face and create an elegant, very glamorous statement,” says celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos. While the curls are having a moment right now, the experts mention that the look is far from new. The look draws inspiration from icons like Josephine Baker during the 1920s and styles using wispy baby hair slicked down around the hairline. “Kiss curls are not as delicate as baby hair and are usually swooped into soft curves or S-shaped patterns,” adds celebrity hairstylist David von Cannon. In that vein, they’re often used to give a hairstyle a vintage, glamorous twist, which would explain why they were spotted at this year’s Met Gala honoring Black tailoring and style.
The gala theme extended well beyond fabulous gowns and suiting separates, with kiss curls becoming the statement beauty look of the night. It was unsurprising, as kiss curls were a staple style during the Harlem Renaissance. “Kiss curls have a lot of range, and there are a lot of ways to play with this look to modernize it for 2025 and add your own twist,” says Giannetos. For the event, many stars opted to pay homage to the signature look by incorporating kiss curls of all shapes and sizes into their ensembles. Some, like Dua Lipa and Sydney Sweeney, sported bold curls across the forehead. Others took a simpler approach, using single or fine curly cues delicately placed on the forehead. “That’s the beauty of this look, whether subtle or sculptural, it can add an intentional, romantic touch to a style,” says Cannon.
How to create kiss curls
Recreating this vintage curled look requires a handful of products, a little bit of skill and a lot of patience. If you’ve ever laid your edges with gel and a baby hair brush, you’re already one step ahead. “Start with slightly damp hair—it makes the shaping easier and helps the product grip. Use a fine-tooth comb, an edge brush, or even a flat toothbrush to guide the baby hairs into shape, working section by section,” says Cannon. Slow and steady is the key here to create the desired shape. “Go slowly and let the shape unfold organically, using your fingers to press and define the curves as you go,” he says.
Unlike your edges, kiss curls need more than gel to stay in place. “Kiss curls sit against the forehead or cheek, so you’ll want to make sure you use a powerful hairspray to make sure it holds in place,” says Giannetos. To ensure the shape holds, he recommends using a strong gel while you work and molding the curls into place. “To finish, set the kiss curl in place by giving it a quick blow dry with a diffuser before spritzing with a strong hairspray,” he says.
