‘Fashion is Art’ was the name of the game at this year’s Met Gala and some of the celebrities took the theme very seriously. Turning to paintings for inspiration, Rachel Zegler referenced “The Execution of Lady Jane Grey” by Paul Delaroche, while Angela Bassett paid homage to Harlem Renaissance artist, Laura Wheeler Waring and Madonna to Leonora Carrington.

Hunter Schafer’s custom Prada look was a tribute to Gustav Klimt’s work “Mäda Primavesi” from 1912. Part of the museum’s permanent collection, the portrait shows the titular nine-year-old girl in a white dress decorated with flowers by Klimt’s friend, couture designer Emilie Flöge. Both hair and make-up were a direct interpretation of Primavesi. Her blue shadow and pink cheeks were recreated on Schafer by make-up artist Sandy Ganzer, while hairstylist Rena Calhoun was on hand to translate paint strokes into real-life hair.

“The look features soft, cascading waves with a deep side part, gently pinned back with a custom Prada bow,” Calhoun tells Dazed. “The texture is smooth yet effortless, refined without feeling overly polished.” To create an even more painterly feeling, Calhoun brushed subtle variations of blue through the hair, in an intentionally uneven and diffused way, for a watercolour-like effect. “The technique and placement of the colour mimics the visual inspiration behind the look. It echoes its soft, painterly quality,” she says.

Calhoun, who has been working with Schafer since 2019, says the actor is “incredibly hands-on” when it comes to their creative process. “She has such a strong sense of identity and always comes in with a clear vision. Working with Dara [Allen, stylist] has really elevated that vision and helped bring it to life in such a beautiful way.”

To create the look, Calhoun worked with haircare brand K18 to prep and style Schafer’s hair. First, she used the K18 TripleBright oxidation defence purple shampoo to brighten her natural colour, followed by the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask to help repair and keep the hair healthy from all the colouring and styling. Next, the hair was rough-dried using GHD’s Speed Ionic Hairdryer until it was about 90 per cent dry and then Calhoun used a paddle brush to smooth out the ends. Using a 1.25-inch GHD Chronos Curve curling iron, she created a classic pin curl set throughout the entire head. 

Once the curls were completely cooled and set, she removed the pins and brushed through with a smoothing boar bristle brush to stretch out the texture and create a soft, polished finish. Calhoun then applied a few drops of K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil into her palms and worked it evenly through the hair for a red carpet-ready finish, before adding the finishing touch – the bow!

While the direct reference for the hair was Klimt’s work of art, ultimately, Calhoun says the aim is always to have Schafer feel her best, most gorgeous self. “Red carpets can be scary, even if you’re used to going out there. My job is always to make sure anyone who sits in my chair feels their best before leaving the door and giving them one less thing to worry about!” she says. “I’ve learned so much from our time together. Being given the space to be challenged has helped me grow into a stronger hairdresser. It’s such a gift to have Hunter’s trust.”