HAIR INSPO

Selena Gomez’s Elegant Updo at the Billboard Music Awards Is All the Holiday Hair Inspiration You Need

You have to see this look from the back.

by Rachel Nussbaum

Billboard Women In Music 2017 - Arrivals
Amanda Edwards

If there’s one thing we’ve learned in 2017, it’s that the lob is still going strong. Nearly every celebrity decided to up and cut their hair off this year, and with early adopters like Selena Gomez, Kourtney Kardashian, and Kendall Jenner, it’s totally clear why the length is so popular. Not many haircuts can pull off looking cool, casual, and chic at the same time—and given that it’s just as flattering to every hair type as our go-to long layers, there’s universal appeal. There’s just one downside to going lob-length or shorter, in that you do usually have to say goodbye to ponies, buns, and braids. But Instagram Queen Selena Gomez just came through with a loophole: a beautiful, twisted bun.

Following her pattern of bringing big beauty looks to the awards circuit, Gomez’s hairstyle at the Billboard Music Awards last night was the only way she could top showing up at the American Music Awards with freshly bleached-out hair. She set a high bar, but thanks to her ace hair and makeup team, hairstylist Marisa Marino and makeup artist Hung Vanngo, they pulled it off last night. Because from the front, what looked like a typical updo turned out to be so much more.

Click through to see the second slide, where the bun action is happening. It looks like Marino pulled tiny sections of Gomez’s hair back and pinned them in place, making for a Khaleesi-esque, woven effect—all without the major length you normally need to make a woven hairstyle situation (usually, they somehow work in braids). Marino finished by twisting the singer’s hair into a low bun at the nape of her neck, and pinning it in place. The final effect is mesmerizing, and the best holiday-hair solution (especially if you also went short this summer).

Best of all, they left the ends of her low bun sticking out, and they blend totally in. So if you’re also growing out a bleached/rainbow hair color—and dealing with the frayed hair that comes with it—no one would ever know. As an added bonus, her roots only add more dimension to the bun, which makes for an extra oomph of volume.

Amanda Edwards

Working with grown-out roots and split ends? This hairstyle has everything.

Related: Selena Gomez Cried Through Her Emotional Billboard Woman of the Year Speech: “I’ve Never Felt This Proud To Be a Woman in the Industry”

15 of Selena Gomez’s Best Beauty Looks to Channel Now

Attending the 2007 World Magic Awards, Selena Gomez wore her long brunette hair in tousled waves with a hint of blush on the cheeks.

Photo by Getty.

Debuting her shoulder-length bob with blunt bangs, the actress looked sleek at the CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute in 2008.

Photo by Getty.

Opting for an wavy up do with a bold, satin red lip, Gomez channeled classic Hollywood glam at the 6th Annual Hollywood Style Awards in 2009.

Photo by Getty.

Wearing her dark brunette locks in a low pony with loose curls framing her face and frosted silver eye, Gomez looked like a futuristic pop star at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.

Photo by Getty.

Wearing her hair in a chic, tousled braid with luminous skin, the singer attended the 12th Annual Warner Bros. and Instyle Post-Golden Globe Party in 2011.

Photo by Getty.

Wearing her long highlighted locks in a sleek straight with a glossy pink lip to match her ensemble, Gomez arrives at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards.

Photo by Getty.

At the Nickelodeon’s 25th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards in 2012, Gomez wore her shoulder-length locks in wild curls with a dark navy smoky eye.

Photo by Getty.

Opting her a sleek side-parted do with a glossy mauve lip and subtle cat eye, Gomez was all grown up at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.

Photo by Getty.

At the 2014 Costume Institute Gala, Gomez wore her hair in an elegant twisted up do with a berry lip.

Photo by Getty.

Keeping her look minimal with a simple middle-parted low bun and a red maroon lip, Gomez looked chic at the 2014 American Music Awards.

Photo by Getty.

Stunning at the 2015 Costume Institute Gala, Gomez embellished her sleek up do with a white floral headpiece and a bold red lip.

Photo by Getty.

At the 2015 American Music Awards, Gomez wore her long dark brunette locks sleek straight with an exaggerated magenta smoky eye.

Photo by Getty.

Gomez rocked voluminous, bouncy curls with a dramatic taupe smokey eye and nude lip at the 58th Grammy Awards.

Photo by Getty.

At the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, Gomez wore her hair pulled back in a sleek up do paired with a pastel orange smoky eye and luminous skin.

Photo by Getty.

At the 2017 Costume Institute Gala, Gomez debuted a sleek, newly chopped bob with an exaggerated magenta pink smoky eye.

Photo by Getty.
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