These Celebs Attended the Met Gala With Long, Fairytale-Inspired Hair—Now I'm Cancelling My Haircut

The Met Gala might be known as "fashion's biggest night out," but it's also beauty's biggest night out. (For proof, check out this year's best beauty looks.) It's one of the only annual events where celebs go all out with hair and makeup—the bigger, bolder, and more experimental, the better.

Each year, I anxiously watch the red carpet (well, this year, it was green, but you get the point), so I can be the first to see each celebrity's look. Sure, it's part of my job as a beauty editor, but if I'm being honest, it's more than that. The Met Gala is the last major event before the summer season, and as such, it predicts all the biggest trends to come.

While watching celebs flock to the iconic Met staircase this year, I noticed something. Many of them had long, wavy hair falling down their backs. This isn't a coincidence. After all, this year's theme is Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, and the official dress code is The Garden of Time, which is based on a 1962 short story of the same name. To put it simply, fairytale references were the name of the game. Could long, flowing, fairytale-esque hair be the next big thing? I certainly think so. It's time to invest in effective haircare products (and maybe some extensions). First, check out the best long-haired looks of the night.

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner at the Met Gala

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Kendall Jenner arrived at the Met Gala with uncharacteristically long hair. It was styled in natural-looking, beachy waves. That's the key to nailing this look. The more effortless and undone it looks, the better.

Madelyn Cline

Madelyn Cline at the Met Gala

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Madelyn Cline also got the fairytale hair memo. Her hairstylist, Marc Mena, used Great Lengths extensions and the Wavytalk 5-in-1 Curling Iron Set to create her Sleeping Beauty-worthy look.

Zoe Saldana

Zoe Saldana at the Met Gala

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Zoe Saldana paired her Chloé dress with similar waist-length waves.

Elizabeth Debicki

Elizabeth Debicki at the Met Gala

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Elizabeth Debicki's signature blonde hair was ultra-long and straight.

Dove Cameron

Dove Cameron at the Met Gala

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Dove Cameron fully committed to the long hair trend. Her honey blonde tresses reach well past her waist. It's giving us mermaid vibes in the best way.

Shakira

Shakira at the Met Gala

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Shockingly, this is Shakira's first-ever Met Gala (I know, how can that be possible?). I loved that she stayed true to her signature honey-toasted blonde color, styling it in those Met Gala-approved beachy waves.

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Kaitlyn McLintock
Associate Beauty Editor

Kaitlyn McLintock is an Associate Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. Although she covers a wide range of topics across a variety of categories, she specializes in celebrity interviews and skincare and wellness content. Having lived in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, she recently relocated back to her home state of Michigan where she works remotely. Prior to Who What Wear, she freelanced for a variety of industry-leading digital publications, including InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, Hello Giggles, and Coveteur. Before that, she held a long-term internship and subsequent contributor position at Byrdie. When she's not writing, researching, or testing the latest and greatest beauty products, she's working her way through an ever-growing book collection, swimming in the Great Lakes, or spending time with family.