Of all the awards shows, the MTV Video Music Awards (AKA VMAs) may stake claim to the most iconic moments of all time, and we're not just talking about Britney Spears and her yellow snake. We're talking about hair, makeup, manicures, and everything in between.
Since their very first show back in 1984, the VMAs have also been home to some of the most iconic beauty looks of all time: Lil' Kim in her purple wig and jumpsuit, Taylor Swift's shimmering diamond eye makeup, Beyoncé's half-up hairstyle with tousled curls from the 2003 show, and the list goes on and on.
True to fashion, the best beauty looks at the 2024 VMAs continued the tradition.
The VMAs are about having fun, expressing yourself, and not taking fashion and beauty too seriously. (This isn't the Oscars!) Given that the 2024 show was the 40th anniversary of the VMAs, the lineup was stacked with stars, including performers Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, nominees SZA and Ariana Grande, and host Megan Thee Stallion, who also pulled double duty as a performer.
And as you might expect, everyone took their glam game to the next level, including a Hollywood glam hair cut from Sabrina, medieval braids for Chappell, and so, so much more.
AKA your favourite artist's favourite artist.
Ahead, check out some of the best beauty looks at the 2024 VMAs.
Taylor Swift
Is this Reputation promo? Maybe! Taylor Swift's smoky eye felt very Rep-coded, and she traded her usual red lip for a grungier peach shade.
Addison Rae
Addison Rae ruffled a few feathers with her uber padded bra and granny pants combo. But her hair and makeup choices were both classic and positively ethereal. Addison's long hair, flecked with honey-toned balayage, was worn in a deep side part and embellished with a pearl hair slide.
Makeup-wise, she opted for neutral, almost bare-faced tones of pink blush, with a rosebud lip and a soft brown eye.
Tinashe
Tinashe's combo of tiny braids braids and beachy, honey-blonde waves spilling down her back lit up the red carpet.
Tyla
The “Water” singer looked stunning in caramel brown curls with hints of golden highlights and a glossy lined lip.
GloRilla
Rapper GloRilla's combo of buns, braids, and looped circles of hair needs to be admired from all angles, just like her square-tipped French manicure.
Megan Thee Stallion
Our host for the night, Thee Hot Girl—or is it Hot Girl Host?—looked gorgeous in an angled black bob with bangs and long, neutral pink nails. “I wanted to give Hot Girl Summer glam but dark beauty,” she explained of her look. “I feel pretty iconic.”
Camila Cabello
Camila Cabello, set to perform at the show, ditched her blonde hair and went back to her natural brunette. For the night or for good? We shall see!
Suki Waterhouse
If you looked up “curtain bangs” in the dictionary, musician Suki Waterhouse's would probably be right underneath it—they're that perfect.
Sabrina Carpenter
Please please please give us more of this Old Hollywood glam! Sabrina Carpenter looked like a 2024 Marilyn Monroe in full curls and rose red lips, plus her signature pink blush and a glittery white mani.
As if this glam couldn't get better, Sabrina was actually wearing a vintage Bob Mackie gown originally worn by Madonna.
Sabrina's hair process took quite awhile and even involved a hair cut. Stylist Evanie Frausto prepped her fringe in a roller and let it sit for six hours before it was time to get ready. Evanie cut Sabrina's hair to shoulder length, then dampened it and applied Redken Volume Maximizer from roots to ends before blowing her hair out.
Once her hair was dry, he curled it with both a 1" and ¾" iron for “tightness and bounce” with the new shorter length. Redken Dry Texture Spray and Brushable Hairspray made sure she was ready for the red carpet.
Halle Bailey
Halle Bailey in a bright red lip always hits right, and don't think we missed that vampy dark fall manicure!
Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan, nominated for Best New Artist and set to perform, pulled out all the stops for her big moment with her red hair in pulled half-up and braided in a medieval style, penciled-in skinny brows, and berry lips, plus white mascara on her lower lashes.
Long, ultra-sharp stiletto nails jutted out from under her mesh chainmail gloves. Joan of Arc who?
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Manicurist Juan Alvear stacked Gel-X Sculpted Square Long Tips with gold chrome over Stiletto Extra Extra Long Tips with silver chrome, added the pearl accent, and finished with a topcoat.
Hairstylist Dom Forletta said, “We wanted to create a very natural, kind of medieval soft wave— almost like it could be her natural texture, with intricate braids in the front and back of her hair.”
Dom, who used Bumble & bumble on the star, prepped the hair with Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer and curled Chappell's hair, then brushed out the curls, adding Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil for shine.
He braided and pinned back portions of Chappell's hair, then attached a “netted braided piece” to the back of her's head. The finishing touch was Spray de Mode Hairspray.
Makeup artist Andrew Dahling used a variety of MAC Cosmetics products on the star, including Studio Fix Fluid 24hr Matte Foundation and Paintstick in White on her face; Glow Play Cushiony Blush in Grand, Blush Please, and True Harmony on her cheeks; and a combo of Lip Pencils in Auburn and Nightmoth and MACXimal Silky Matte Lipsticks in Velvet Teddy and Sin on her lips.
Doechii
Rapper Doechii, who joined Katy Perry onstage during her Video Vanguard performance, matched her white stiletto manicure to her jacket and wore her hair in braids of varying sizes atop her head. The bleached brows were a cool touch.
To create Doechii's braided updo, stylist Malcolm Marquez slicked her hair up with got2b Blasting Freeze Spray, blow drying between layers and topping the layers with got2b Glued Styling Gel.
To shape and sculpt the braids, he used got2b Glued Smooth & Hold Mousse for shine and hold, with got2b Bonding Glue for extra hold and got2b 2-in-1 Brow & Edge Gel on Doechii's edges.
Halsey
Halsey went for a red-on-red vibe with pin-straight crimson hair and a matching red leopard print vintage Versace gown, plus a black and red manicure and rose-brown lips.
Lisa
BLACKPINK bandmate Lisa, who was nominated and performed at the show, leaned into 2024's blush trend with baby pink cheeks (and lips!) to match her pale pink Mugler.
Karol G
Insert flame emoji here. Musician Karol G wore an orange and yellow flame-inspired gown with long blonde hair with peekaboo dark roots and a traffic-stopping, satiny red lip.
A version of this article originally appeared on Allure.
