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Meet the Superstars Who Glam Up Hollywoodās A-ListĀ
The Hollywood Reporterās 2023 Beauty Issue spotlights the hair, makeup and nail pros who keep the stars including Zoe SaldaƱa, Dakota Johnson and Gabrielle Union looking flawless.
Pink lipstick. Milk nails. French manis. The strawberry girl look. Curtain bangs. French bobs. From the Oscars, Met Gala and Barbie to BeyoncĆ©ās and Taylor Swiftās mega tours, to celebrity makeup brand success and viral Instagram and TikTok trends, it was a colossal year for beauty. In THRās 2023 Beauty Issue, the spotlight is on a star-loved roster of 40 hairĀstylists, makeup artists, nail artists and groomers, with some photographed getting ready with their celebrity clients, including Zoe SaldaƱa, Adam Driver, Michael B. Jordan, Ashley Park, Lola Tung, Gabrielle Union and Dakota Johnson. These beauty pros ā chosen for the visibility of their client roster as well as their own social media reach ā share their favorite moments of 2023 and what it was like to put together standout looks for such stars as Michelle Yeoh at the Academy Awards (āShe was so goddess-likeā), Selena Gomez at the VMAs (in an unexpected lip color) and Kristen Stewart (with her spiky mullet) at the Met. Some also talk about how the now-resolved writers strike and ongoing actors strike have impacted work, as many pros have leaned into commercial campaigns and hitting fashion weeks in Europe with talent. THR presents its list (unranked and alphabetized within categories) of 2023ās top glam squads in Hollywood.
Kirsten Chuba, Danielle Directo-Meston, Chris Gardner and Degen Pener contributed to this report.
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Adir Abergel
Hairstylist
Jennifer Garner and Adir Abergel Charley Gallay/Getty Images Adir Abergel has been setting trends since he was a 16-year-old working under the iconic hairdresser Arthur Johns. Though he’s created major moments — his favorites include a bowl cut sculpted on Charlize Theron, Jane Birkin bangs snipped for Anne Hathaway and his recent work with Kristen Stewart for Chanel — Abergel considers the longstanding relationships with clients the highlight of career. “The women sitting in my chair have always been a huge inspiration,” he says. Beyond the salon, he serves as creative director of the biotech hair repair brand Virtue Labs.
CLIENTS Jessica Biel, Marion Cotillard, Jennifer Garner, Ariana DeBose, Vanessa Kirby, Jared Leto
TOP 2023 MOMENT Stewart’s “progressive” androgynous spiky mullet for the Met Gala. “This look was special because it was authentic,” he says. “It embodied exactly what she was feeling, and it clearly resonated with many people around the world.”
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Chris Appleton
Hairstylist
Kim Kardashian and Chris Appleton at The Daily Front Row’s Fashion Los Angeles Awards. Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Daily Front Row Thanks to his well-honed ability to work with wigs, extensions and color, Chris Appleton has become an essential glam squad member to those who require variety and visibility. You don’t book Appleton if you want understated. Aside from posting photos of his uber-famous clientele for his 4 million Instagram followers, Appleton is the creative director for Color Wow, an ambassador for Shark Beauty and does Drew Barrymore’s hair for her eponymous show. He’s also a newlywed: loyal client Kim Kardashian officiated his April nuptials to The White Lotus actor Lukas Gage.
CLIENTS Kim Kardashian, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, Dua Lipa
TOP 2023 MOMENT His two TikTok tutorials on how to get Kim Kardashian’s curtain bangs for the Met Gala racked up more than 1 million views.
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Tom Bachik
Nail Artist
Tom Bachik Courtesy of subject In the early ā90s, Tom Bachik was an aspiring airbrush artist with a pregnant wife when a family member told him he could segue his artistic talent into making six figures doing manicures. In the decades since, this unexpected career change has far exceeded his initial expectations. His American Manicure, a reimagining of the French classic, went viral this year on the high-profile digits of clients Selena Gomez and Jennifer Lopez. One of his career highlights, he recalls, was the 2020 Super Bowl when Lopez performed. “Getting to walk onto the field with J. Lo for the Super Bowl ā just that energy and excitement was amazing,” says Bachik. “I got to be on the field next to the stage while she was performing.”
CLIENTS Charlize Theron, Gomez, Lopez, Camila Cabello, Hailee Steinfeld, Margot Robbie (Barbieās L.A. premiere)
TOP 2023 MOMENT The chrome nails he designed for Charlize Theronās Paris Fashion Week appearances, which he describes as a look he pioneered before chrome polishes existed. āI used to go to the art store and pull pigments from car paints,ā he says. āNow weāre seeing chrome come back, and Charlize loved it [so much] we just took [the polish] off last week!ā
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Dana Boyer
Hairstylist (Rising Star)
āTechnically my career began in 2006, but my mom will tell you Iāve been cutting hair off dolls since I was a kid!ā says Dana Boyer, who worked assisting hairstylist Rudi Lewis when she was starting out. Boyer tells THR that the ongoing actors’ strike has had an impact on work this year: “There are less opportunities for work. I have been very, very fortunate to have regular clients who are either promoting music right now or attending non-promotional events. I have always maintained a fair number of ad clients and that also keeps me going in between personal clients.”
CLIENTS The Summer I Turned Pretty‘s Lola Tung, Mean Girls‘ ReneĆ© Rapp
TOP 2023 MOMENT Hitting New York Fashion Week with Tung. “It felt like we were really inspired to elevate each look every day,” says Boyer. “I think last season we got such positive feedback, so we felt really inspired to up the ante this time!” Adds Tung, “Dana is able to go with the flow so well and create something so beautiful on the spot. Even when we are deciding at the last minute what the look will be, she will always crush it.”
From left: Misha Shahzada, Lola Tung and Dana Boyer were photographed Oct. 12 at PMC Studios in New York. Photographed by Nina Westervelt -
Renato Campora
Hairstylist
Renato Campora Courtesy of subject Renato Campora honed his craft on the ā90s Paris fashion scene ā then he met Liv Tyler in 2004. āShe asked me to do her hair for the Lord of the Rings press junket,ā he recalls. āI had no idea about the celebrity world.ā Campora, now one of the most in-demand hair pros in L.A., first learned to cut hair in his fatherās salon in Palermo, Italy.
CLIENTS Jessica Chastain (who created a sensation at the Met Gala with her platinum blonde hair), Gal Gadot, Kathryn Newton
TOP 2023 MOMENT Amanda Seyfriedās ā70s disco curls at the Met Gala. āThe look was very unexpected,ā he says. āAmanda loved it; I could see it in her face.ā
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Jenny Cho
Hairstylist
Jenny Cho (left) and Stephanie Hsu before the Met Gala. Courtesy of Jenny Cho Known for her versatility and preternaturally calm demeanor, Jenny Cho — who grew up in Seoul before moving to L.A. when she was 10 — calls her top career moment scoring “my first American Vogue cover with Jennifer Lawrence” in October 2022. For the Met Gala, she styled two clients, Everything Everywhere All at Once‘s Stephanie Hsu (with Fekkai hair products) and Vanessa Kirby (using Superzero’s Hair Treatment Serum Bar).
CLIENTS Greta Lee, Gal Gadot, Jenna Ortega, Emilia Clarke
TOP 2023 MOMENT Ana de Armas’ ponytail updo for the SAG Awards. “The look was simple, elegant and playful,” says Cho. “It was a ponytail updo with a black velvet ribbon draping down along with a slight wave in the hair. She absolutely loved it and told me how beautiful it was.”
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Tracey Cunningham
Hair Colorist
It’s an L.A. story: Three decades ago, Tracey Cunningham started as Bette Midler’s nanny and is now considered the town’s top colorist with the roster to prove it (new clients are via referral only). The self-professed workaholic co-owns Beverly Hills salon Mèche, flies globally for touch-ups, is an ambassador for Olaplex and Redken, and authored 2021’s True Color: The Essential Hair Color Handbook, which features her famous clientele. Dakota Johnson — who met Cunningham as a girl when her mother Melanie Griffith “started seeing Tracey for hair color in 1996” — tells THR that “Tracey’s talent and expertise will forever confound me. She’s really a magical artist scientist. I will show her a photo, or I will use descriptions that make no sense like ‘dusty roasted milk’ or something ridiculous and she absolutely nails it every time with really no confusion, stress, or fuss.”
CLIENTS Johnson, Emma Stone, Riley Keough, Halle Berry, Zoey Deutch, Maya Rudolph
TOP 2023 MOMENT Taking Aubrey Plaza blond for Francis Ford Coppola’s upcoming Megalopolis. The director requested “a very specific butter golden hue,” recalls Cunningham. “You really have to pinch yourself when Francis Ford Coppola approves of your work.”
Tracey Cunningham (left) and Dakota Johnson were photographed Oct. 13 at Holloway House in West Hollywood. Photographed by Jonny Marlow -
Sheika Daley
Makeup Artist
Sheika Daley Courtesy of subject Sheika Daley, an International Makeup Artist for LancĆ“me, has an A-list roster of clients, but itās a fellow beauty pro who left her the most starstruck. After working on fashion shows with Pat McGrath, Daley got a call to do the iconic makeup artistās face. āAt that point is when I really felt like, āOK, bitch, you really have made it,'” says Daley, “because it’s one thing to work alongside her and for her to think that you’re good to be on the team, but for her to handpick you to touch her face and make her look pretty and make her look good, that for me was a milestone in my career.ā
CLIENTS Zendaya, Issa Rae, KellyāÆRowland, Letitia Wright
TOP 2023 MOMENT Keke Palmerās nude lips and sultry smoky eye for the Met Gala. “Keke did something that was really funny during Met Gala,” recalls Daley. “Everybody was kind of really serious, gotta hurry up and get everything done. We had ordered some food and everybody had kind of eaten, but I couldn’t get to my food so I was talking about being hungry. And I’m really focusing on getting her lip liner in and and she goes āAre you hungry?ā And before I could even say, like, āYeah, I could possibly eat,ā she said, āBecause girl you came to eat this timeā ā meaning the makeup ā but the whole room burst out in laughter.”
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Mario Dedivanovic
Makeup Artist
Mario Dedivanovic Marcus Cooper With 13.8 million Instagram followers and another 1.5 million on TikTok, Mario Dedivanovic says that āsocial media is a very important tool for myself as an artist and my brand. I find itās a great way to not only connect to followers and the beauty community ā but also an amazing way to express my passion in educating.ā After starting out in the biz with a job working at Sephora in 2000 at age 17, Dedivanovic found fame as Kim Kardashianās go-to makeup artist, leading him to start his Makeup by Mario brand (which recently launched its SurrealSkin Awakening Concealer).
CLIENTS Kim Kardashian, SalmaāÆHayek
TOP 2023 MOMENT Kardashianās cheeks at the Met Gala, with a rosy glow courtesy of his Soft Pop Powder Blush.
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Pati Dubroff
Makeup Artist
Chanel ambassador Pati Dubroff is renowned for a skin-care-centric, light-touch approach to makeup honed over the course of a decades-long career. The makeup artist — who began at the age of 19 at the Bergdorf Goodman counter, apprenticed with Bobbi Brown and François Nars, and now collaborates with every big name in the business — was responsible for Margot Robbie’s cheeky Barbie makeover on the film’s press tour. “Margot is a dream client and so collaborative with the whole team,” Dubroff says. “We had a lot of fun with all the looks.”
CLIENTS Elizabeth Olsen, Sofia Richie Grainge, Kirsten Dunst
TOP 2023 MOMENT Robbie’s look for Barbie’s Mexico City premiere. “She wore a Pucci minidress, and in true Barbie-core fashion, I matched the clothes using shades of pink, coral and lilac eyeliner,” says Dubroff.
Bryce Scarlett (hair), Margot Robbie, and Pati Dubroff (makeup) were photographed together for The Hollywood Reporter in 2019. Photographed by Diego Uchitel -
Georgie Eisdell
Makeup Artist
Georgie Eisdell Courtesy of Subject Georgie Eisdell‘s jam-packed year included a global press tour (No Hard Feelings with Jennifer Lawrence); awards season looks (Melissa McCarthy, Claire Foy); and ad campaigns with Dakota Johnson (Gucci) and Anya Taylor-Joy (Tiffany & Co.). To showcase her work on social media, “I prefer Instagram as itās so visual,” says Eisdell. “Itās nice to be able to take behind the scenes images and videos and show different angles of my work that may not be captured on the red carpet.
CLIENTS Taylor-Joy, Johnson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sophie Turner
TOP 2023 MOMENT Her campaign work with Johnson and Taylor-Joy, plus a striking icy eye and chiseled cheek on Turner (her client of 10 years) at Vanity Fairās Oscars party. “She is one of my favorite people,” says. Eisdell. āI have a lot of fun creating with her.”
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Neal Farinah
Hairstylist
Neal Farinah Courtesy of Neal Farinah Neal Farinah, who has more than 200k followers on Instagram, is BeyoncĆ©ās longtime hairstylist, having worked with her on the world tours for The Mrs. Carter Show, On The Run and Renaissance, as well as various cover shoots. Originally from Trinidad before moving to Brooklyn as a teen, he also operates a self-titled NYC salon, which he opened in 2001. The one thing that I donāt do as a hairstylist ā and people will be like āNo, youāre full of shitā ā but truly, I donāt use a lot of products,” Farinah told Elle in 2018. “One, because I donāt want to confine the hair. The thing people donāt understand is that when you start using a million products, you confine the hair. I think hair should be beautiful, blown, carefree, and magical.”
CLIENTS BeyoncƩ
TOP 2023 MOMENT Farinah also worked with BeyoncĆ©ās daughter Blue Ivy when she appeared onstage for a dance number cameo during tour stops. āHistory: What amazing moments slaying mother and daughter hair,ā he wrote on Instagram.
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Betina Goldstein
Nail Artist
Betina Goldstein Courtesy of Betina Goldstein Betina Goldsteinās playful 3D designs have garnered her more than 400,000 Instagram followers. āNail art is more than just a profession to me; itās a form of therapy that allows me to express myself,ā says Goldstein (who’s also the founder of jewelry brand Doublemoss). āEach design is a reflection of my individuality.ā This year, the Chanel nail artistās unique talent achieved even greater visibility through her work with 2023ās āItā girl Margot Robbie, including a viral Pucci-inspired manicure for a Barbie photo call in Mexico.
CLIENTS Jodie Comer, Julia Garner, Lily James, Camila Morrone, Zoƫ Kravitz
TOP 2023 MOMENT To complement Gossip Girl star Whitney Peakās pearl-adorned Chanel dress at the Met Gala, Goldstein created a peekaboo design that featured 10 real pearls. ā[It] looked like a classic, polished nail when viewed from the top,ā she says, ābut when she turned her hand, the pearls were beautifully nestled under each nail. She loved it so much she kept it for the entire month.”
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Jesus Guerrero
Hairstylist
Jesus Guerrero Courtesy of Jon Sams Texas native Jesus Guerrero, who has more than 590k followers on Instagram, has made a name for himself as Kylie Jenner’s hairstylist and scored an ambassadorship with OGX. He calls styling Jenner and Rosalía for the front row at Schiaparelli’s Paris show in September a highlight of his year: “I’m still processing that moment.” Khloé Kardashian responded to Guerrero’s Instagram post about her sister’s look in Paris: “Best look ever.”
CLIENTS Rosalía, Dua Lipa, Anitta, Katy Perry, Shay Mitchell, Jennifer Lopez
TOP 2023 MOMENT Anitta’s bun and swooped wavelike bangs at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party. He says, “We pushed the limits and created something beautiful together.”
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Ash K. Holm
Makeup Artist
Ash K Holm Courtesy of subject Relative newcomer Ash K. Holm (a celebrity makeup artist since 2015) has taken a page out of the entrepreneurial playbook of her Kardashian clients. Currently, she has deals with Ipsy, Buxom, KISS Lashes, Sculpt by Spectrum and Kosas (all of which she promotes to her 1.2 million Instagram followers). Yet it’s her talent for creating glowing, youthful complexions that keep her constantly booked.
CLIENTS Kim, Khloé and Kourtney Kardashian, Shay Mitchell, Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello
TOP 2023 MOMENT Jennifer Lopez at the New York premiere of The Mother. The star glowed with “juicy, hydrated” skin and a smoldering eye that felt “sexy but not overdone,” says Holm, adding that Lopez “absolutely loved this glam and felt like the bombshell that we know her to be.”
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Clayton Hawkins
Hairstylist
Hair maestro Clayton Hawkins got his start in the beauty business by assisting editorial hairstylists shortly after graduating from beauty school in 2014. Known for his comedic wig-wearing posts on Reels and TikTok, the Living Proof ambassador says his top career moment to date was going with high-profile client Olivia Rodrigo to the White House in 2021 “to promote vaccine awareness. Doing her hair during such a unique moment in time felt like I was a tiny part of history.”
CLIENTS Melissa Barrera (a chignon for the premiere of Scream VI), Rachel Zegler, Jennifer Coolidge
TOP 2023 MOMENT Highlights of his year include creating Ashley Park’s gorgeous wavy locks for the Joy Ride premiere. “It just felt like such a classic, timeless moment,” he says.
From left: Jenna Nicole, Ashley Park and Clayton Hawkins were photographed Oct. 19 in Hollywood. Photographed by Joelle Grace Taylor -
Amy Komorowski
Hairstylist
āAs a menās groomer, we donāt get a lot of recognition ā it feels nice to be included,ā says Amy Komorowski, who does both hair and makeup and is a co-founder of skin-care company Circa 1970. “Our first product is a luxury face oil that is the key to creating the perfect red-carpet glow.”
CLIENTS Austin Butler, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace
TOP 2023 MOMENT The Burberry fragrance shoot with client Adam Driver (who she’s worked with since 2014) on the beach in the Canary Islands. āIt felt like a ābigā moment from the outset,ā she says. “Working on the beach, the elements can be super challenging, but it all came together beautifully in the end.” Says Driver of working with Komorowski, āNot only does Amy have the hardest job in the business of making me look presentable, but sheās the great equalizer of every room she walks into. The consummate professional, easy temperament, great taste, extremely talented, and unflappable.ā
Adam Driver and Amy Komorowski were photographed Oct. 12 at The Whitby Hotel in New York. Photographed by Caroline Tompkins -
Kate Lee
Makeup Artist
Kate Lee Courtesy of subject Though Kate Lee has worked with the biggest names in the biz biz on red carpets, editorial, ads and film sets and holds a coveted Chanel ambassadorship, Lee says she still has “pinch-me moments.” This year, they were: “Seeing a picture of my work displayed on the front of the Louvre” and shooting Kristen Stewart for Chanel, lensed by legends Inez and Vinoodh.
CLIENTS Charlize Theron, Keira Knightley, Rooney Mara, Marion Cotillard, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Dakota Fanning, Emilia Clarke, Phoebe Waller-Bridge
TOP 2023 MOMENT Stewart at the Berlinale with strong brows and deep pinks on the eyes, which Stewart called “fresh but slightly aggressive.” Of the moment, Lee says: “Working with Kristen on her vision was as inspiring and unique as she is.” Among the Chanel products Lee used for the look were Rouge Coco Flash in Easy and Stylo Yeux Waterproof eyeliner in Easy and Prune Intense.
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Chaun Legend
Nail Artist
Chaun Legend Courtesy of subject Chaun Legend, who has 1.1 million followers on Instagram, has a very āL.A.ā origin story: In 2016, Kylie Jenner happened upon a salon at which the then-unknown manicurist worked and subsequently ālikedā the photo he posted on Instagram of her nails, catapulting him into the spotlight. This year, Legendās high-profile work, including partnerships with Lottie London and AprĆ©s Nail, enabled him to achieve something once unimaginable for a āpoor immigrant kidā who was born in a refugee camp in Cambodia: the purchase of his first home. āMy parents serve as my role models,ā he says. āDespite a modest upbringing, their work ethic inspired me to never give up on my dreams.ā
CLIENTS Christina Aguilera, Lori Harvey, H.E.R., Kendall and Kylie Jenner, KhloƩ Kardashian
TOP 2023 MOMENT The āstrawberry milkā nails he created for Colombian singer Karol G that swept the internet in August. āI never thought I would create such an iconic look in the time period I had to do her nails ā we had about an hour to do a full set,” he says. āShe loved it, which I was very relieved to hear because we had no time to do anything more!ā
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Peter Lux
Hairstylist
Peter Lux Courtesy of subject Peter Lux has just come off a busy month prepping stars for fashion-show front rows (Scarlett Johansson, Simone Ashley, Nicola Coughlan) and an even busier year creating a myriad of hairstyles for Florence Pugh. āThere has been such a vast variety in her length, from buzz cut to shoulder, thereās always a new way to interpret the material,ā he says.
CLIENTS Dua Lipa (for her “Dance the Night” video), Jodie Comer, Meghann Fahy, Emily Ratajkowski, Scarlett Johansson, Naomi Watts, The White Lotus‘ Simona Tabasco (at Cannes)
TOP 2023 MOMENT Pugh at the Oscars, where he pulled half her ponytail forward to create the illusion of bangs. He calls the prep time āa spiritual experience. Even though I knew millions of people would see my work on the biggest red carpet of the year, it felt so zen.ā
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Daniel Martin
Makeup Artist
Daniel Martin Courtesy of Bartosz Jankowski NYC-based Daniel Martinās top two career moments in his two decades as a pro are doing Meghan Markleās wedding makeup in 2018 and becoming the first Asian American global director of artistry at a beauty brand (Tatcha). Highlights of his 2023 include an invitation from Vice President Kamala Harris to visit the White House to celebrate Pride Month. “I recently had the opportunity to work with supermodel icon Cindy Crawford for the Albie Awards in New York,” adds Martin. “Ironically enough, it was her show House Of Style in the early 1990s that introduced me to the world of backstage runway makeup! My time with her was both momentous and nostalgic and I was so grateful for the opportunity.”
CLIENTS Greta Gerwig, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ali Wong, Cindy Crawford, Dakota Johnson (at the Toronto International Film Festival), Instagram’s Eva Chen (Met Gala)
TOP 2023 MOMENT Michelle Yeohās winged liner look at the Met Gala, which Martin says was the actress’ idea. āI was thrilled we went a bit editorial with her beauty.ā
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Chris McMillan
Hairstylist
Decades have passed since Chris McMillan created āThe Rachelā for Jennifer Aniston, but heās still quick to credit her as his perpetual inspiration, professionally and personally. āI mimic everything she does,ā he says. This year, he describes his proudest achievement as helping his fellow stylists supplement their income with opportunities at Beverly Hills’ Chris McMillan Salon in a tough strike environment. āEsteemable acts create self-esteem,ā he says.
CLIENTS Selma Blair, Mariska Hargitay, MichelleāÆPfeiffer
TOP 2023 MOMENT He calls Michelle Williamsā āboy cutā for the Oscars an example of āno-hair hair,ā inspired by his current obsession with relatable aesthetics and his enduring belief that āeveryone can be sexy and cute.ā
Hairstylist Chris McMillan was photographed by RuvƩn Afanador for THR in 2021 with client Jennifer Aniston. Photographed by RuvƩn Afanador -
Keita Moore
Makeup Artist
Keita Moore Christopher Goodknews Keita Moore not only works with some of the most iconic faces in the world, but also partners with Chanel, Charlotte Tilbury, Armani, and Maybelline. This year he won the Sergio Lopez-Rivera Makeup Award at the 2023 Hollywood Beauty Awards and credits one person for inspiring his success. “My mother has always been my role model,” he says. “She’d wear makeup and become confident and empowered.”
CLIENTS Janelle Monáe, Iman, Yara Shahidi, Tessa Thompson, Kelly Rowland
TOP 2023 MOMENT For Monáe at the Met Gala, Moore says his goal was to honor Karl Lagerfeld with every aspect of the design. “We went with clean, beautiful skin, fluffed brows and black liner, and then the theme ‘A Line of Beauty’ gave us the idea for a white line going across both eyes,” he says. “When it was all done, [Monáe] said, ‘Glamily, I love it!’ ”
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Nikki Nelms
Hairstylist
Nikki Nelms Courtesy of subject Nikki Nelms‘ range goes from super-creative looks that go viral (see: Janelle MonĆ”e with googly eyes set in space buns a few years back) to big-screen standouts, including Yara Shahidi in this yearās Peter Pan & Wendy; ZoĆ« Kravitz in 2022ās The Batman and Jurnee Smollett in 2020ās Birds of Prey, for which she received a Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award. ” I donāt know if there is a specific year that I became a hairstylist. Iāve always been a hair stylist,” Nelms tells THR. “I remember doing my friends’, family and even teachers’ hair in grade school. I even skipped my senior prom to do girls’ hair for the night. I always felt like I never really chose hairstyling, it chose me.”
CLIENTS MonĆ”e, Yara Shahidi, Serena Williams, ZoĆ«āÆKravitz, Tems
TOP 2023 MOMENT MonĆ”eās āsuper tall top knotā at the Met Gala. As a nod to the Karl Lagerfeld theme, āI made it resemble tweed fabric.ā
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Jenna Nicole
Makeup Artist
Jenna Nicole Courtesy of subject Jenna Nicole, who celebrated a decade in the business this year, says, “I’ve had so many amazing moments that leave me feeling so grateful to be able to wake up every day and do what I love.” Those include doing Selena Gomez’s makeup for her birthday in July. “We went with a soft smoky eye with gray tones, which she doesn’t normally do, so it got us both out of our comfort zones and that made it special,” says Nicole. “From the selfie glam photo I posted, Selena is radiating joy so I think her fans love to see that.”
CLIENTS The Stallone family, Call Her Daddy’s Alex Cooper
TOP 2023 MOMENT Ashley Park’s “bronzed sultry” SAG Awards look using Jouer Cosmetics. Says Park, who first started working with Nicole a year ago, “The way that Jenna is able to curate a makeup look that perfectly complements and harmonizes an outfit and an entire look is impeccable.”
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Vincent Oquendo
Makeup Artist
Vincent Oquendo Courtesy of Derek Kettela Like his role model, Pat McGrath, Vincent Oquendo is known for seamlessly floating between celebrity and fashion realms. The Lumify Eye Drops ambassador recently used his signature bold-meets-elegant touch during September fashion month on Ariana DeBose, Jurnee Smollett and Gugu Mbatha-Raw among others.
CLIENTS Florence Pugh, Rachel Zegler, Patina Miller, Nicole Ari Parker, Jurnee Smollett
TOP 2023 MOMENT Jenna Ortegaās Sophia Loren-inspired Golden Globes look. After Oquendo finished one shimmering eye, his client āglanced up with an excited look and said, āI love it,ā with a twinkle in her eye.ā Fans agreed, taking the look viral with fan art and tutorials.
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Etienne Ortega
Makeup Artist & Hairstylist
Etienne Ortega Courtesy of subject Makeup artist and hairstylist Etienne Ortega credits Instagram for his success, noting that high-profile clients such as Kim Kardashian might not have discovered him were it not for the platform. This year, he leveraged his more than 549,000 followers to help launch a beauty school called the Maestro Workshop and discovered a new passion in the process. āThe way Iāve been able to connect with students has made me realize how much I love teaching,ā he says. Ortega also has a freshly minted partnership with Givenchy Beauty.
CLIENTS Christina Aguilera, MichaelaāÆJaĆ© Rodriguez, Kris Jenner, Demi Lovato, Kali Uchis
TOP 2023 MOMENT Two magazine cover looks he designed this year: Aguilera for Galore (on which he appeared with her) and Lana Del Rey (in blue eye shadow) for Interview.
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Nina Park
Makeup Artist
Nina Park Bryan Rodney Carr Raised in Chicago and now based in Los Angeles, Nina Park picked up paintbrushes as an art student before switching to makeup brushes. This year, Park, who graduated from L’école de Maquillage Fleurimon in Paris, returned to France for the Cannes Film Festival, where she was part of jury member Brie Larson’s beauty team.
CLIENTS Larson, Saoirse Ronan, Zoë Kravitz, Olivia Rodrigo, Jung Hoyeon, Sadie Sink, Blackpink’s Jennie (for The Idol at Cannes), Laura Harrier
TOP 2023 MOMENT “Being a part of Brie Larson’s team during Cannes was such a surreal experience, as I’ve never worked with a jury member before for such an iconic festival,” she says. “We were able to achieve so many incredible looks together every day over the course of two weeks. The creative process to map them out and experience such significantly regarded events in our industry were moments I’ll never forget.” For the opening night of Cannes, Larson wore makeup by Decorté including the brand’s Eye Glow Gem, Lasting Gel Eyeliner, Loose Powder in Lucent Beige and Zen Wear Multi-Proof Foundation.
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Mary Phillips
Makeup Artist
Mary Phillips Courtesy of Tal Abudi Known for her “underpainting” technique of applying contour and highlighter before foundation, Mary Phillips first started taking cosmetology classes in high school. She’s since amassed more than 2 million followers on Instagram, propelled by such high-profile events as the Met Gala, where she worked this year with clients Kendall Jenner and Camila Morrone (using YSL Beauty products including Lash Clash Volume Extreme Mascara).
CLIENTS Jennifer Lopez, Hailey Bieber, Hailee Steinfeld
TOP 2023 MOMENT At the Met Gala for Jenner, Phillips went for a “’70s mod makeup” moment using L’Oreal Paris.
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Tasha Reiko Brown
Makeup Artist & Groomer
Chanel makeup artist and groomer Tasha Reiko Brown is a former graffiti artist who switched her canvases from “walls to faces” in the late 1990s. She describes longtime client Michael B. Jordan as “a master class in dedication and grace” and says that “we both share a belief in … the relationship between skin care and wellness. This includes red-light therapy and lymphatic drainage.” Jordan tells THR that he treasures working with Brown because of “her approach to self-care — she gives me my time to get ready for the day. When I sit in her chair, it’s peace. I can get my mind right for whatever’s next whether a photoshoot or press tour.”
CLIENTS Jordan, Gabrielle Union, Lupita Nyong’o, Alicia Keys, Logan Browning
TOP 2023 MOMENT Working with Jordan for the premiere of Creed III in Paris. “I have all my happiest moments in Paris,” says Reiko Brown, who used Boy de Chanel products on the actor. “Creed III posters lined the streets. We visited a Creed mural of Michael. The crowd was so inviting at the premiere.” Reiko Brown also notes working with DeWanda Wise for The Night Before party. “It was 15-minute makeup and a five-product face. Not every red carpet moment needs to be ‘a look’ — sometimes just you are enough,” she says.
Tasha Reiko Brown and Michael B. Jordan were photographed Oct. 14 at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills. Photographed by Matt Sayles -
Rokael
Makeup Artist
Rokael Royal Binion The makeup artist was right alongside BeyoncĆ© as her Renaissance Tour took over the world this year. In 2020, he launched his own line of Rokael Beauty lashes and will soon add cosmetics. Rokael tells THR that his career started to take off back in 2009 when he “left a job working at a cosmetics counter and decided to work full time as a freelance makeup artist.” As for his role model? “My most important role model was my mother who recently passed away from COVID,” he says. “She really taught me hard work, dedication and most of all to do whatever you do with love. She still continues to guide me and I feel like sheās always with me in all my successes and failures.”
CLIENTS BeyoncƩ, Normani
TOP 2023 MOMENT BeyoncĆ©ās Dallas concert. āI knew it was special for her to be back in her home state, so the love was flowing and inspired me to use pinks.ā He recalls that after the show, the superstar (who wore his extra-long Auroras lashes) messaged him āsaying it was her favorite makeup. It made my whole year! Itās such an incredible feeling to have someone you respect and admire for their work ethic and dedication to detail reach out and give you your flowers.ā
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Mara Roszak
Hairstylist
“I was called to do Sarah Michelle Gellar for an event. I had my mom drop me off around the corner from her home; I was 17 years old. I had a cosmetology license but not a driverās license,” recalls Mare Salon co-founder Mara Roszak of her first gig out of beauty school. In July, Roszak debuted a French bob for Zoe SaldaƱa, posting a video on Instagram in which she chopped 10 inches off the actressā hair. In 2021, Roszak debuted her vegan, organic and sustainably sourced hair-care line, RÅz. SaldaƱa praises Roszak for her “exceptional taste in music” as well as her prowess with hair: “She is a sculptor,” says the actress. “She has such complete control of her craft, there is not a type of hair that she doesnāt know how to style or work with.”
CLIENTS Emma Stone, Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman
TOP 2023 MOMENT Styling Michelle Yeohās beautiful waves at the Oscars: āShe was so goddess-like. Iām thrilled with how it turned out ā so is she.ā
From left: Zoe SaldaƱa, hairstylist Mara Roszak and makeup artist Vera Steimberg were photographed Oct.āÆ12 at Pendry Residences West Hollywoodās Estate 705. Photographed by Jonny Marlow -
Gregory Russell
Hairstylist
Gregory Russell Courtesy of Beau Nelson Gregory Russell has gone from assisting the likes of Jen Atkin at the Andy LeCompte Salon to being one of its top stylists. He’s also a Pureology global artistic ambassador and does red carpet, editorial and advertising. This year, campaigns included Dior, Tiffany & Co. and Jaeger-LeCoultre, all with Anya Taylor-Joy, and Longines with Jennifer Lawrence.
CLIENTS Lily Collins, Kate Hudson, Kendall Jenner, Hari Nef, Sophie Turner, Demi Moore, Chloë Grace Moretz (from age 11)
TOP 2023 MOMENT He created a myriad of looks for Lawrence’s No Hard Feelings global tour, but he names her high ponytail for the London premiere his favorite, calling it, “Strong, timeless, elegant.”
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Bryce Scarlett
Bryce Scarlett Courtesy of Bryce Scarlett Hairstylist
Bryce Scarlett demonstrated his versatility (beachy waves to ultra-femme updos) throughout Brie Larsonās stint as Cannes juror as well as for Margot Robbieās Barbie tour, which he calls a highlight of his 16-year career in hairstyling. Scarlett ā who was photographed with Robbie and makeup artist Pati Dubroff for THR’s 2019 Beauty Issue ā said then, āWe always have a mood board put together for [a] press tour, or phase that weāre going through.”
CLIENTS Hailey Bieber, Kaia Gerber, Jung Ho-yeon, Kirsten Dunst
TOP 2023 MOMENT A sculptural ponytail for Robbie for the L.A. premiere of Barbie in July. āIt was a sculptural ponytail styled after the same Barbie as her Schiaparelli gown, [a Barbie doll] called Solo in the Spotlight,” explains Scarlett.
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Misha Shahzada
Makeup Artist (Rising Star)
Misha Shahzada Courtesy of subject āThe best moment of my career was when I was able to quit my full-time job in finance and transition from doing makeup part time to full time [in 2011],ā says Misha Shahzada, who calls the late makeup artist Allan Snyder an inspiration. āNot only because of the beautiful and iconic work he did with Marilyn Monroe but also because of the incredibly trusting relationship they had.ā Her client Lola Tung (star of Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty) tells THR that she first saw Shahzadaās work on Instagram: “I [was] immediately drawn to her beautiful, fresh, elegant makeup looks ā so many looks, so simple yet so beautiful.”
CLIENTS Lola Tung, Emma Stone, Havana Rose Liu, Mia Goth
TOP 2023 MOMENT Creating a recent magazine cover with Tung. āThe theme was mod, and since ā60s/ā70s glam has been making such a comeback, we created our version of a mod graphic eye.ā
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Larry Sims
Hairstylist
For Larry Sims ā a co-founder of hair-care line Flawless by Gabrielle Union with his longtime client/BFF ā a career highlight was creating the actressā voluminous, gravity-defying updo for the 2021 British Fashion Awards. āIt was so over-the-top and grand. I just loved the audacity of it,ā he says, adding of his client, āShe has been my muse, and I play dress-up with my real-life Barbie doll.ā For her part, Union tells THR that her working relationship with Sims is “all about collaboration ā because we are friends. We have a good-ass time. If itās not fun, it doesnāt feel creative.ā
CLIENTS Kerry Washington, Janet Jackson, Cassie
TOP 2023 MOMENT āThe Oscars with Danai Gurira was pretty epic!ā he says of the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actressā towering updo. āThis is my African self coming out here,ā noted Gurira.
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Vera Steimberg
Makeup Artist
Vera Steimberg Photographed by Jonny Marlow Vera Steimberg has had a busy year with Zoe SaldaƱa on everything from the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 press tour to the Academy Awards. āZoe loves to play with makeup and different looks, so it gives me the freedom and challenge to change it up all the time,ā says Steimberg, who also takes on feature film projects (Dolemite Is My Name, Coming 2 America).
CLIENTS SaldaƱa, Eddie Murphy
TOP 2023 MOMENT SaldaƱaās ānatural lookā for the cover of Vogue Thailand. Says the actress of working with Steimberg, “She has a deep understanding of skin undertones. As a woman, she understands that womenās skin can change by the week. She has such deep consideration for skin, but her specialty, really, is understanding and working with women of color. So within that tonal rainbow of BIPOC women, Vera has made it her passion to complement each of those skin tones she works with in a way thatās always so beautiful.”
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Hung Vanngo
Makeup Artist
Hung Vanngo Courtesy of Sofia Sanchez and Mauro Mongiello Hung Vanngo‘s skill in creating glam bombshell looks with pouty lips and intense eyes keep him in demand with Hollywoodās A-list. And his behind-the-scenes pics and video tutorials keep his 4.1 million Instagram followers tuned in. For this year’s Met Gala, he prepped no less than four clients: Karlie Kloss, Cara Delevingne, Devon Aoki and Julia Garner (in Gucci Beauty products including the Palette de BeautĆ© Quatuor Eyeshadow Palette in Summerina Brown.
CLIENTS Jennifer Lawrence, Selena Gomez, Shailene Woodley, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Katie Holmes, Elsa Hosk
TOP 2023 MOMENT Gomezās va-va-voom red-dress moment at the MTV VMAs in September. āShe let me create the look without discussing what I was going to do in much detail. Most people thought I should do a red lip for the dress, but I went in a different direction and Selena loved it,ā says Vanngo, who did her pout in a rosy mauve from Gomezās Rare Beauty line.
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Kara Yoshimoto Bua
Makeup Artist
Kara Yoshimoto Bua with Elizabeth Banks Christian Högstedt Kara Yoshimoto Bua, a native of Santa Cruz, California, wasted no time exploring varied interests during childhood as she studied animals, nature, spirituality, music and art before getting “deeply inspired” in the height of the goth, punk, acid jazz and new wave music scenes during the ‘80s. Gigs after high school graduation working behind the makeup counter in department stores led to collaborations with local photographers which in turn led to doing glam for commercial and theatrical headshots. Soon she was studying under high fashion makeup artist Frank Armstrong, and after she outgrew the San Francisco scene, she moved to Los Angeles, where one of her first celebrity jobs was doing makeup for Friends superstars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox for the Fire & Ice Ball in 2000. “They were the loveliest intro to the celebrity world,” says Yoshimoto Bua, who is now a Chanel ambassador.
CLIENTS Marion Cotillard, Elizabeth Banks, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Saoirse Ronan, Leonardo DiCaprio
TOP 2023 MOMENT Cotillard’s Met Gala look “was inspired by [her] vintage silver shimmery dress and her tussled lilac pink bowl cut. I created a fresh and bright glowing pastel palette of glistening pink and a silvery slightly smoky eye.”
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Yusef
Hairstylist
Yusef Courtesy of Sekou Luke Since 2009, Yusef has kept Rihannaās hair in the headlines. This year was no different, with awards shows, the Super Bowl, Louis Vuitton and Fenty x Puma campaigns as well as a March British Vogue cover. (Heās the first Black hairstylist to have more than 10 Vogue covers.) Yusef continues to expand his The Y by Yusef styling tools line and has a partnership with haircare brand K18.
CLIENTS Rihanna, Issa Rae, Duckie Thot
TOP 2023 MOMENT Rihanna at the Golden Globes. āWe wanted to have something super strong to play off the Wakanda theme of the night,ā he says. āIt was very graphic with a soft touch ā the pin curl in the front. That was the icing.ā
A version of this story first appeared in the Oct. 25 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.