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File Misty Copeland's Oscar hairstyles under "things we really care about." The trailblazing ballerina attended the 98th Academy Awards to perform in a special live rendition of “I Lied to You,” the Best Original Song nominee from Sinners. In her first return to the stage after retiring from American Ballet Theatre (and just months after hip replacement surgery!), she danced alongside songwriters Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq, as well as guest artists such as Shaboozey and Alice Smith, and numerous other dancers.
To mark the Oscars occasion, Copeland wore not one, not two, but three impressive, ballet-inspired hairstyles: An effortless bun, followed by an intricate feather-adorned chignon for her performance, and finally an extra-long ponytail for the Vanity Fair afterparty.
Copeland’s red carpet ballet bun.
Miles Jeffries
Her chignon from the back.
Miles Jeffries
For the red carpet, hairstylist Miles Jeffries created a slicked-back ballet bun placed right at the center of the back of Copeland’s head. “The mood was a sleek slick bun that appears to be effortlessly wrapped with no pins,” he wrote in an Instagram post. Jeffries relied heavily on two brands: Olaplex, for styling, and Bellami extensions, which made it easier to give the chignon a gift-wrap-like effect
When it came to prep, Jeffries started with Olaplex Volumizing Blow Dry Mist (a 2024 Best of Beauty winner), to protect and add extra hold, followed by Olaplex No.5 Leave-In Moisturize & Bend Leave-In Conditioner to add a further layer of protecting during the heavily styling. After blow drying and before flat-ironing, he smoothed Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil throughout her hair, adding more as he installed the XXL Bellami tape-in hair extensions. Jeffries then masterfully wrapped Copeland’s hair into what was meant to appear like an infinite knot.
Copeland backstage at the Oscars.
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The back of her performance updo.
Miles Jeffries
For her performance alongside Caton and Shaboozey, Copeland’s bun got higher and more intricate, with wrap-around braids and a red feather accessory to match her costume, which was from the Dance Theater of Harlem’s rendition of the ballet, Firebird. “I made sure that look one for the red carpet would transition easily to look two for her performance,” Jeffries says, who took down the ballet bun before using the same ponytail foundation to create a tall base, which he then wrapped braids around.
The inspiration for her performance hairstyle came from the tall headdress the lead ballerina typically wears during the Firebird, something that Jeffries, who grew up dancing, was very familiar with. “I had to freehand this one. I wanted to let Misty’s features and energy inform the shape,” he wrote on Instagram. “It’s a culmination of all the references and what felt right in the moment. And of course we had to add the red feather somewhere.”
The grand finale was Copeland letting her hair down at the end of the night for the Vanity Fair After Party. Giving her XXL extensions the spotlight, Copeland wore a sleek high ponytail with a black backless sequin-embellished dress.
Copeland’s long ponytail for the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
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