Kim Kimble Dishes On How To Recreate Jasmine Tookes’ Retro Met Gala Waves

Jasmine Tookes is no stranger to a flawless fashion moment. The supermodel is known for bringing effortless glam to every red carpet—and this year’s Met Gala was no exception. Styled by none other than Ruth E. Carter, the first Black person to win an Oscar for costume design, Tookes embodied Harlem Renaissance glamour with a tailored, richly detailed look that honored the theme’s call for Black dandyism.

[SEE ALSO: See All 70+ Looks By Black Designers At The Met Gala 2025]

To complete her look, Tookes teamed with another legendary force: celeb hairstylist Kim Kimble to serve up soft, statement-making sculptural waves. Kimble has earned renown for her groundbreaking styles with such celebs as Beyoncé, Tyra Banks, and Zendaya.

“This year’s theme for the Met Gala is inspired by Harlem Renaissance Black dandyism,” shared Kimble. “We wanted Jasmine’s hair to reflect that—soft, sculpted, but bold in its own right.”

From the sculpted wave pattern to the luminous finish, the look was a modern homage to classic beauty—crafted with the precision and care that Kim Kimble has long brought to Black beauty on the biggest stages.

Read on for deets on Kimble’s technique for flawless waves.

Step 1: Build a solid foundation

Always start with freshly washed, detangled hair. Kimble prepped her hair with UNITE 7SECONDS Detangler ($41), followed by BOOSTA Volumizing Spray ($36) to add body without weight. She then applied 7SECONDS BlowOut Creme ($36) through the mids and ends to protect against heat and add shine before blow drying.

Step 2: Blowout with care

She then applied 7SECONDS BlowOut Creme through the mids and ends to protect against heat and add shine before blow drying. ”This lightweight styling creme adds the perfect amount of slip that allows the brush to easily glide through the hair when blow drying,” said Kimble 

Blow dry using a paddle or round brush to stretch and smooth the hair without stripping texture.

Step 3: Curl and sculpt

Once Jasmine’s hair was fully dry, Kimble used a nickel-size BabylissPRO iron to curl the hair in sections and sculpt the waves with duckbill clips to frame Tookes’ face.

Step 4: Finish with finesse

”I then brushed out the curls and applied UNITE U Oil ($53) to my hands and gently glided over the hair to silken her strands and add long-lasting shine,” she added. The next step is to lock in the look with a flexible-hold spray that lets the waves move while keeping flyaways in check. Kimble opted for UNITE GO365 Hairspray ($39).

“This hairspray is great because it has an adjustable nozzle which allows you to change the hold setting.”

Trying the look at home? Let us know what tips worked best for you.