That was the vision, according to Zendaya’s longtime image architect Law Roach, as the two-time Emmy winner returned to the red carpet for television’s biggest night.
Zendaya shimmered in a crystal-covered custom Prada gown, paired with a Rolex watch and Mikimoto pearls at the 2026 Primetime Emmys. But it was her freshly cropped ‘do that had us on tilt.
The actress debuted a layered pixie, marking what appears to be her shortest natural haircut yet. Celeb hairstylist Coree Moreno sculpted the cropped look with smooth sides, a lifted crown, and softly separated pieces framing her face.
“The final result is sculptural, glossy, feminine and slightly rebellious,” said Moreno. “A timeless pixie with a distinctly modern attitude.”
Of course, we wanted all the deets. Moreno shared exactly how he prepped, shaped. and set Zendaya’s feathered pixie for the Emmys red carpet.
Moreno began by working KERATÎME by Schwarzkopf Deep Repair Detangling Treatment throughout Zendaya’s hair to create a silky, conditioned, and manageable foundation and finished with KERATÎME Hair Bonding Oil for added softness, smoothness. and shine.
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“Because this look relies on manipulating short sections while maintaining softness, I wanted the hair to feel supple and healthy before introducing heat and texture,” he shared.
Shape
Then he started creating the pixie’s silhouette while blowdrying her hair with a Mini Shine Boost Gloss Infusion Daily Boar Brush.
“I used the boar bristles to smooth and polish the hair as I dried, keeping the sides close to the head while directing the crown upward and slightly forward,” he said. This
Add Texture
Once dry, Moreno misted göt2b glued 2-in-1 Spray Wax throughout the crown for added “grip, separation and workable texture.”
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Sculpt And Define
To tee up her layers, Moreno shared that he used ghd’s new Sculpt Interactive Hair Straightener “to lift, bend and redirect individual pieces” in the crown that he had sprayed.
His pro tip for layered dram is to alternate the direction of the hair bends while elevating sections at the root. This, he said, prevents the texture from becoming too uniform.”
Lock In The Look
Moreno went back in with the Spray Wax to further shape and separate pieces throughout the crown “until the silhouette felt effortless.” Then he locked it in with göt2b glued Blasting Freeze Spray.
While Zendaya didn’t take home an award tonight, she undoubtedly won the red carpet, serving diamonds, pearls and a pixie moment worthy of its own Emmy.
Stephenetta Harmon is a Black beauty editor, curator, and digital media and communications expert who builds platforms to celebrate the power, impact, and business of Black beauty. Prior to founding Sadiaa Black Beauty Guide, she served as editor-in-chief for the MN Spokesman-Recorder and digital media director for Hype Hair. Find her at stephenetta.com.