How Keke Palmer’s Red Met Gala Pixie Came Together

Last updated: August 5, 2026 7:51 pm

Storytelling and the ‘Fashion Is Art’ theme shaped the artistic, sculptural bixie cut and vibrant red color.
Precision in cut, texture, and product is key for maintaining short, camera-ready hairstyles.
Short, bold hairstyles with rich colors are having a major moment.

Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty

The 2026 Met Gala was only one night, but the glam prep behind it is a whole production. And while most of us were still sharing pictures, gagging over looks, and debating our favorites in the group chat, celebrity hairstylist Ashanti Lation had already wrapped one of the most talked about beauty moments of the night: Keke Palmer’s fiery red Met Gala hair.

Attending her fifth Met Gala, Ashanti is no stranger to creating A-list beauty moments. Over the years, she has helped celebrities deliver unforgettable looks for some of fashion’s biggest nights. But this year’s 2026 Met Gala theme, “Fashion Is Art,” gave her and Keke room to push things even further.

The actress stepped onto the carpet in a dramatic flipped red bixie (bob+pixie) cut, bold red makeup, and a sculptural gown. Keke’s look had social media talking immediately.

Just hours after she and Keke worked the carpet, we caught up with Ashanti for an exclusive interview. We chatted about the inspiration behind Keke’s look, the products she used, and why short hair is having a major moment right now.

Keke Palmer’s Head-Turning Met Gala Style Started With Storytelling

For Ashanti, creating a Met Gala look is about more than hair. It starts with building a full mood and visual story.

“Keke and I always begin with storytelling,” she shared. “We talked about the mood she wanted to embody on the carpet and landed on something powerful, artistic, and a…

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