The Tamesis
At the 2026 Met Gala, the “fashion is art” dress code means it’s all about Grecian draping, Renaissance-rendered silhouettes, and body, body, body. For Rihanna, the idea of a “living sculpture” extends to her hair.
The pop star’s longtime hairstylist, Yusef Williams, paired her with a swirling couture gown by Margiela by Glenn Martens, paired with intricate ornate bejeweled curls to create a stunning Art Deco headpiece. “We gravitated toward the idea of living sculptures,” Williams said Fashion Only. “The hair has to complete the look, not compete with it.”
Rihanna’s Margiela gown, designed by Jahleel Weaver and first seen in the brand’s 2025 Handmade collection, features a draped column silhouette inspired by the medieval architecture of the Flanders region of northern Belgium. The look is hand-carved from Duchess woven silk and recycled wire, and the bodice is embellished with more than 115,000 crystal beads, antique jewelry and chains. More jewelry includes chunky Dyne ear cuffs and Glenn Spiro earrings. While the original runway look completely hid the model’s face, Rih and her glam team imagined something equally glamorous, letting her face and tiara take center stage.
“It was all about matching the sculptural feel of the costume and aligning with the team’s vision; to be powerful, timeless and intentional from every angle,” Williams said of her gold-threaded crown. (Williams also styled Tyra’s voluminous wet curls that night to match her sexy, ultra-notched Valentino gown.)
Photo: Getty Images
To execute the look, Williams made sure Rihanna’s hair was red carpet-ready first and was based on True Indian Hair Company’s True HD Lace RTW Collection Ava style. “Using a HD lace front gave us a seamless blend and installation while providing versatility and natural movement while still allowing for structure,” says Williams, “which was needed given the added curl of the purl.”
To create this custom hairstyle, Williams collaborated with New York-based luxury accessories brand Jennifer Behr. Williams first wanted to give the illusion of hair, but mixed metals for an industrial feel. The creation of Rihanna’s crystal curls was described by her hairstylist as “artifact-like beauty.” “We kept it sleek and intentional, then restyled the vintage gold pin curls in a modern way, so it felt like it was paying homage to history without having to look [like a] he added. His hair was smooth and clinging to his head, his metal fingers wavy on top like a crown.
