As awards season takes over Los Angeles, the spotlight isn’t just on the stars. It’s also on the artists who perfect the hair, skin and nails of each celebrity before they step onto the red carpet. From the sculpting of brows to the gloss of a perfect manicure, the glam team behind some of today’s biggest film and television talent are setting the standard for modern red carpet beauty, as we count down to the 2026 Golden Globes.

Greta Lee

Hairstylist: Jenny Cho
Makeup artist: Nina Park
Nail artist: Emi Kudo

Greta Lee’s work cements her as one of the most distinctive talents of her generation, from “Past Lives” to “Late Fame.” On the red carpet, Lee delivers a fashion that’s bold, modern and entirely her own. Her beauty choices follow suit; she’s a hair chameleon, moving from pixie to mullet, always with intention. And her skin never misses: fresh and glowing.

The looks come to life with the vision of her team, hairstylist Jenny Cho, makeup artist Nina Park and nail artist Emi Kudo.

“For us, getting ready with Nina really starts with the outfit,” said Cho, whose client roster includes Ana de Armas and Scarlett Johansson.

They collaborate with fashion stylist Danielle Goldberg on Lee’s red carpet looks.

“Danielle will send over an image, and from there, Nina and I look at who the designer is and talk through what the overall feeling should be, what story we want to tell,” Cho went on. “A lot of the time, the look is subtle and refined, and our goal is always the same, to help Greta look and feel her absolute best.”

The three share the same instinct for how best to support Lee, she added: “It really does come together like a puzzle. Each of us bringing our piece until the full picture clicks. It’s rare to have a group where everyone genuinely loves and respects each other’s work and has complete trust in the process. But we have that, and you can see it every time Greta steps out. She shines.”

Emma Stone and Zoe Saldaña

Hairstylist: Mara Roszak
Makeup artists: Nina Park and Vera Steimberg, respectively

Hairstylist Mara Roszak has been behind some of Hollywood’s most talked-about beauty moments, working closely with longtime clients Emma Stone and Zoe Saldaña — two Oscar winners whose red carpet presence define modern Hollywood glamour.

Coming off her second Best Actress win for “Poor Things” last year, Stone continues to captivate audiences with her latest release, “Bugonia” — and a pixie cut that became one of the most buzzed-about styles. Alongside makeup artist Nina Park, Roszak has helped refine Stone’s aesthetic throughout the awards circuit, one that’s equal parts cool and timeless.

Meanwhile, Saldaña has had standout moments of her own, earning acclaim for “Emilia Pérez,” while gearing up for the next “Avatar” installment. Working in tandem with makeup artist Vera Steimberg, Roszak brings out Saldaña’s signature mix of sophistication and strength.

“I’ve worked with Emma Stone and Zoe Saldaña for almost two decades, and they are endlessly inspiring,” said Roszak, founder of hair brand Rōz. “Both women are such incredible talents — they’re mothers, so hardworking, loyal, supportive, and some of the kindest women I know. They also both really love to take risks and are very open to exploring creative ways of bringing a look to life.”

For Roszak, those long-standing relationships are what keep her artistry evolving.

“There’s a ton of history and trust because of the length of the relationship, and yet I feel like every day with them is new,” she said. “I’m always looking at a look with fresh eyes and an opportunity to create something we haven’t created before. Emma’s pixie grow-out has been really fun to explore together. Both shaping the cut and creating fresh ways to style her shorter hair for major red carpet moments has been some of the most fun I’ve had working with her.”

Damson Idris

Grooming: Jessica Smalls 

Damson Idris is fast becoming one of Hollywood’s most compelling leading men. Following his breakout acclaim for Hulu’s “Snowfall,” the former WWD Weekend cover star continued to command attention with high-profile projects, including Apple TV+’s “F1” alongside Brad Pitt, and as an entrepreneur with his jewelry line, Didris.

On the red carpet, he’s entrusted Jessica Smalls with grooming, a collaboration defined by precision and a deep respect for his heritage.

“Damson embodies the essence of a leading man, refined, confident and deeply rooted in culture,” said Smalls. “I always aim to honor his Nigerian heritage by keeping his complexion rich, dimensional and strong.”

His look for the 2025 Met Gala was particularly memorable, she added — when Idris arrived on the carpet in a white racing suit complete with a helmet as a nod to his “F1” film, before removing the ensemble to reveal a red tuxedo underneath.

“His skin and hair for the Met Gala had me literally holding my breath,” Smalls said. “How was it going to look after he took the helmet off? Well, amazing.”

Mikey Madison

Hairstylist: Rena Calhoun
Makeup artist: Melissa Hernandez
Nail artist: Emi Kudo

Mikey Madison was unstoppable last award season, dazzling on every red carpet and ultimately taking home the Best Actress Oscar for “Anora.” Her looks were brought to life by her creative collaborators: makeup artist Melissa Hernandez, hairstylist Rena Calhoun and nail artist Emi Kudo, who together crafted a modern Hollywood aesthetic that carried Madison from the first carpet to Oscar night.

“It was an incredible honor to have a small role in Mikey’s Oscars campaign from start to finish,” said Calhoun, whose clients include Hunter Schafer and Ji-Young Yoo. “It was my first time doing such an intense press run like this, and I’m so proud of the work that we did.”

For Hernandez, who also works with Sydney Sweeney and Olivia Rodrigo, a highlight was Madison’s BAFTA Film Awards appearance, where she won Leading Actress earlier this year.

“It had this sultry, mysterious energy that felt so authentically her,” Hernandez said of the look. “I drew inspiration from Virna Lisi and that effortless Italian glamour she embodied: soft, smoky eyes with a diffused wing that added depth without ever feeling heavy. I reinterpreted her signature tight-lined eye for Mikey in a way that felt modern and refined. Her ivory Prada gown was timeless and understated, so the makeup brought just the right amount of subtle drama to complete the moment.”

Kudo — nail artist to Monica Barbaro, Pedro Pascal and Kendrick Lamar — described Madison’s Oscars look as understated elegance: a natural finish and soft almond shape created using OPI’s “Gelevate” and “Bare My Soul.”

“It was a subtle veil of shine that looked effortless, almost like she wasn’t wearing anything at all,” Kudo said. “Achieving that clean, refined look requires meticulous prep and the right products to ensure the nails appear naturally flawless rather than overtly gelled.”

Renate Reinsve

Hairstylist: Benjamin Talbott
Makeup artist: Valeria Ferreira

Renate Reinsve is poised to capture Hollywood’s attention this award season. After breaking through with her acclaimed performance in “The Worst Person in the World” — which earned her the Best Actress prize at Cannes — the Norwegian star now returns to the spotlight with the much-buzzed “Sentimental Value.”

For the film’s press tour, she’s been working closely with makeup artist Valeria Ferreira and hairstylist Benjamin Talbott, a team that shares her minimalist sensibility.

“During the whole press junket, I wanted Renate to look powerful but yet effortless,” said Ferreira. “My minimalist approach consisted of a subtly sculpted bone structure, clean velvety skin paired with a muted toned eye palette and a touch of rose on the lips.”

She added, “We all discuss references and direction and work together as a team. There is always a point of view, a vision and an aesthetic. Personally, I always like Renate to look pure and for her makeup look to have a slight raw feel. To be genuine.”

Cynthia Erivo

Makeup artist: Joanna Simkin
Nail artist: Mycah Dior

With “Wicked: For Good” set to dominate this awards season, Cynthia Erivo is stepping into one of her most defining roles yet, both on-screen and on the red carpet. With a fearless approach to fashion and beauty, Erivo never shies away from making a statement, often appearing with long, intricate nail looks that have become a signature part of her style.

Her longtime nail artist Mycah Dior, who collaborates with makeup artist and groomer Joanna Simkin, said their collaborations are rooted in creative freedom and deep trust.

“The thing so special about working with Cynthia is the creative freedom she gives me,” said Dior. “She truly trusts the artist’s vision and allows me to run wild with ideas. Because of that trust, I’ve been able to create some of my most intricate and memorable sets on her. Ever since we started working together, I immediately understood her vibe, and that connection has played a huge role in how I design for her. Her nails always reflect who she is, versatile, bold and unapologetically unique.”

Reflecting on last year’s “Wicked press tour,” Dior said her inspiration came directly from Cynthia’s looks and the energy of each appearance: “I freestyled every time, pulling inspiration from her wardrobe — the jewelry, colors, textures and embellishments,” she said. “I’d sketch ideas on my iPad before our appointment, and nine times out of 10, the end result came out even better than I imagined.”

Celebrities: Julianne Moore and Kirsten Dunst

Hairstylist: Owen Gould
Makeup artists: Kay Montano and Kate Lee, respectively

Hairstylist Owen Gould works regularly with Julianne Moore and Kirsten Dunst, two longtime Hollywood favorites who’ve had a busy year on screen — Moore with Netflix’s “Sirens” and the Apple TV+ thriller “Echo Valley,” and Dunst with Paramount Pictures’ crime comedy “Roofman.” Off-screen, both have been fixtures at major events, including the Cannes Film Festival and 2025 Academy Museum Gala, where Gould has worked alongside makeup artists Kay Montano for Moore and Kate Lee for Dunst.

Gould, whose roster also includes Rachel Brosnahan and Barbara Palvin, is known for creating looks that capture each client’s unique energy while evolving with their red carpet moments.

“With Julianne Moore, I love to keep her hair looks refined and effortlessly elegant — emphasizing her signature red hair with modern, soft textures that complement her beauty,” he said. “With Kirsten Dunst, my styling reflects her cool, understated sophistication. I love blending classic Hollywood glamour with a natural, undone edge. With both clients, the goal is to enhance each actress’s individual balance of polish and ease.”

Michael B. Jordan

Makeup and Grooming: Tasha Reiko Brown

With Ryan Coogler’s horror film “Sinners” as one of the season’s most talked-about releases, its star Michael B. Jordan continues to define what effortless leading-man style looks like. On-screen and on the red carpet, Jordan’s presence is marked by quiet confidence and meticulous polish, a reflection of his collaboration with groomer and makeup artist Tasha Reiko Brown.

Brown’s approach centers on skin. “My inspiration for Michael’s grooming during the ‘Sinners’ press tour is, as always for events, very skin-forward,” said Brown, whose clients include Denzel Washington, A$AP Rocky, Regé-Jean Page and Gabrielle Union. “I’m not coverage product-heavy, but hydration-focused. We both believe in prep with hydration from within. A huge goal of mine is to maintain the integrity of the skin from start to finish.”

To achieve that, Brown often incorporates microcurrent and red-light therapy into Jordan’s prep routine, adjusting based on climate and travel.

“Collaboration is really about being aligned on where he is situationally before a red carpet,” she explained. “If he’s traveling in, I’ll prep differently — adding steam for quick hydration into the dermal layer, tools focused with facial release techniques and lymphatic draining movements. Coverage is always sheer and minimal, so the focus is always on hydration without overt shine. The goal is always healthy satin skin with a chic, expensive sheen.”

Lily Collins

Hairstylist: Jacob Rozenberg
Makeup artist: Fiona Stiles

Makeup artist Fiona Stiles — whose clients include Gabrielle Union, Kerry Condon and Elizabeth Banks — has long collaborated with Lily Collins, helping shape the actress’ signature mix of classic glamour and playful experimentation.

Best known for her starring role in Netflix series “Emily in Paris,” Collins has spent the past year balancing work commitments with fashion-forward appearances from the Breakthrough Prize red carpet in April to turning heads at the Calvin Klein fashion show in September. For the latter, she worked with hairstylist Jacob Rozenberg.

“Lily has the kind of face that can take any look, from fresh-faced to a period look to raw and edgy and every variation in between,” said Stiles. “She’s always game for something new and is a dream to collaborate with.”

“I wanted to keep the hair super effortless,” he noted of the look for the Calvin Klein show, adding that he enhanced Collins’ natural texture with minimal styling for a polished yet undone finish.

Rachel Zegler

Hairstylist: Clayton Hawkins
Makeup artist: Allan Avendaño

Rachel Zegler has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic young stars. She gained wide recognition for her breakout performance as María in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” which earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy. Since then, she’s taken on the title role in Disney’s “Snow White,” starred on Broadway as Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” and made her West End debut in “Evita.”

Throughout it all, she’s turned to Allan Avendaño for makeup and Clayton Hawkins for hair to create her red carpet looks.

“Every day is a great day when you’re with Rachel Zegler,” said Avendaño, who also works with Joey King, Ariana Greenblatt, Christina Ricci, Stephanie Hsu and Isabela Merced. “Besides the fact that she is an incredibly stunning canvas to work on, the conversations and laughter during glam is food for the soul. I learn something new about her every time we work together, and I’m in awe of the beautiful — inside and out.”

Avendaño is particularly fond of Zegler’s glam at the 2023 Academy Museum Gala: “It was really just about making her look like an actual Academy Award statue. Her gown was gold and I really wanted to bring that out in the eye look, so I carefully placed gold accents in the inner corner of her eyes, brow bone, cheekbones, her shoulders, so that in certain angles, you would see the same gold reflecting on her dress, on her skin. She was literally golden and glowing on the carpet.”

Meg Stalter

Hairstylist: Clayton Hawkins
Makeup artist: Alexandra French

Hairstylist Clayton Hawkins is the man behind the hair of Rachel Zegler, Cristin Milioti, Ali Wong and Ashley Park — but with Meg Stalter, he’s found a true creative partner. Their collaborations are bold and original, much like Stalter herself.

The actress has quickly become one of comedy’s darlings — and a beauty risk-taker, also working with makeup artist Alexandra French, known for her inventive approach to glam. After her breakout role in HBO’s “Hacks,” Stalter continued to make waves with the Netflix series “Too Much.” On the red carpet and during press tours, Stalter brings an undeniable energy to her style and look.

“Working with Meg Stalter for her recent press tours surrounding ‘Hacks’ and ‘Too Much’ was really fun,” said Hawkins. “Not only is she kind and hilarious, but she always likes to push boundaries with her glam — whether she’s wearing a corset she made out of a Diet Coke box and letting me put a blond wig on her, or letting me put her in a custom braided hairpiece that spells her name, it’s always a fun time.”