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Shop Jen Atkin’s Recs for Red Carpet–Ready Hair
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There’s a reason Jen Atkin has been called the most influential hair stylist of our time. The 45-year-old has worked with clients from the Kardashians and Hailey Bieber to the Hadid sisters and Madonna; helms two cult-favorite hair brands (Mane and Ouai) that are worth millions; and is all too familiar with red carpet hairdos, having been responsible for those of Chrissy Teigen, Kaia Gerber, Kris Jenner, and other A-listers for the Grammys, various Met Galas, the Oscars, and every high-profile happening in between.
So, when WWD asked Atkin what hair trends she thinks will dominate the red carpet at the 98th Academy Awards this March, she shot off an immediate answer: “Hair that’s not overly produced, [instead being] real and touchable and lived-in. I’ve always gravitated towards that type of hair because I feel like it softens a really intense wardrobe decision and makes a romantic look feel even more romantic and boho.”
Kendall Jenner attending the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Her hair was done by Jen Atkin.
Courtesy Robert Smith/Getty Images
“ It reminds me of the early days of my career, when hair was never shellacked or meant to be perfect,” Atkin adds.
The celebrity stylist launched Ouai in 2016, and the ultra-successful business was bought by Procter & Gamble six years later. Ouai consistently tops bestseller lists at Sephora and sells one bottle of its hero product — the Detox Shampoo — every 20 seconds or so, which should give you a good sense of how devoted people are to the premium, nourishing, no-nonsense formulas. Building on the buzz surrounding Ouai, Atkin founded Mane, a hair tools brand this time, in 2023. Catering to the Gen Z populace and those with Gen Z sensibilities thanks to its affordable price tags, playful designs, and serious TikTok hype, Mane’s most lauded release remains the Mane It’s Giving Body Hot Round Brush: both an editor-vetted staple and something Bieber uses to secure covetable volume and bounce. In fact, the It-girl went so far as to give the hair gadget a shoutout on her Instagram with the following caption: “Jen Atkin saving lives with this Mane hair tool.”
Ouai Detox Clarifying Shampoo With Apple Cider Vinegar
Price upon publish date of this article: $34
Mane It’s Giving Body Hot Round Brush
Price upon publish date of this article: $118
All things considered, you better believe Atkin has a shopping list at the ready for acing the oh-so-natural, “lived-in” hairstyles that will be featured at the Oscars in short order. The through line that will unify each and every ‘do there, according to Atkin? Hydration, hydration, hydration.
Jen Atkin and Hailey Bieber pose at the Daily Front Row Fashion Los Angeles Awards 2025 on April 24, 2025. Bieber is a client of Atkin’s.
Courtesy Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
”I would say to definitely first hydrate [your hair] and make sure that it feels clean and soft and has movement,” Atkin shares, before speaking more on how her round brush and Ouai go-tos can come in to save the day.
“Our Mane Hot Round Brush has been super viral for so long now, and I get stopped in the streets by people being like, ‘Oh my God, I can do my hair myself!’ It saves time and manipulates the cuticle no matter what the outside environment and weather is like,” says Atkin. “With Ouai, we have always been known for our Detox Shampoo and Leave-In Conditioner.” For the record, they deliver majorly in terms of softness and the clean-girl aesthetic both.
Ouai Detangling and Frizz-Fighting Leave-In Conditioner
Price upon publish date of this article: $118
Atkin’s other suggestion for paparazzi-approved tresses? Exfoliating your scalp just as you would your face and bringing in added moisture vis-à-vis a high-performing hair mask — so that your locks read less “dried-out straw” and more “tousled, beachy, and sleek.”
Fittingly enough, Mane’s Hydration Hugs Mega Moisturizing Hair Mask went live on February 24, and the product’s hefty resume matches that of its founder: boosting silkiness, managing breakage and frizz with rice water, and locking in hydration courtesy of hyaluronic acid without ever feeling greasy or weighty (the texture, instead, is evocative of whipped butter).
Mane Hydration Hugs Mega Moisturizing Hair Mask
Price upon publish date of this article: $26
”You literally see results in minutes,” Atkin tells WWD, which is just the kind of eleventh-hour Hail Mary awards show attendees look for while getting prepped and ready for the cameras.
Hydration Hugs isn’t the only element of newness in Atkin’s life as of late. She also recently partnered up with Capital One Venture X Business, in an effort to highlight the ways in which the credit card can help busy entrepreneurs, like herself, run their businesses, get access to top-tier travel benefits, and earn rewards. “It’s premium, not complicated,” she calls Venture X Business, which is an apt way of describing Mane and Ouai’s beloved lineups, too.
Jen Atkin attending a dinner as part of her Capital One Venture X Business partnership.
Courtesy Capital One
”I also really appreciate the fact that Capital One sees founders as storytellers and problem solvers and creatives,” Atkin reflects. “And I’m all about any travel perk I can have!”
Not planning on posing in front of a step and repeat anytime soon? No problem. Pretend like you’re in the running for an Oscars statuette anyways, what with Atkin’s award-winning hair care essentials.
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Shop More From Ouai and Mane
Ouai Cleansing Scalp & Body Sugar Scrub
Price upon publish date of this article: $42
Ouai Texturizing Wave Spray
Price upon publish date of this article: $30
Ouai Anti-Frizz Hair Styling Cream
Price upon publish date of this article: $30
Mane Fresh Fluff Dry Shampoo Foam
Price upon publish date of this article: $26
Mane Body + Bounce Kit
Price upon publish date of this article: $118
Mane Shiny Dancer Nourishing Hair Oil
Price upon publish date of this article: $32
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Meet the Author
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on awards season trends across fashion and beauty, as well as how to achieve them at home.