There has rarely been a moment in fashion or film history where Zendaya missed the mark when it comes to personal style. Whether she is walking a high-profile press tour, commanding attention on a major global red carpet, or setting global trends with a sudden shift in aesthetic, the multi-hyphenate star has consistently proven that she can pull off virtually any look imaginable. Now, the acclaimed actress and fashion icon has officially entered her pixie era, debuting a dramatic hair transformation that has taken the fashion and beauty worlds by storm across a whirlwind week of high-fashion appearances.
The star first chose to unveil her dramatically shorter hair during a high-profile appearance over the weekend at New York Fashion Week. Attending a Prada Paradoxe event, Zendaya stepped out with a closely cropped back and sides paired with a crown full of soft, fluffy curls that immediately signaled a bold departure from the long, flowing tresses she frequently favors. Just days later, she demonstrated the incredible versatility of the crop by switching things up entirely for the 2026 Emmy Awards. For television’s biggest night, celebrity hairstylist Coree Moreno transformed the cut into a sleeker, more sculpted pixie, styling it meticulously to complement a stunning, crystal-covered custom Prada gown that cemented her status as a red-carpet royalty.
Almost immediately after she stepped onto the Emmys red carpet, comparisons to Halle Berry began rolling across social media and style publications alike, and understandably so. Zendaya’s side-swept, piece-y pixie bears a striking, undeniable resemblance to the iconic short hairstyles that Berry made legendary throughout the 1990s. The stylistic nod to the decade did not stop at the collarbone, either. The entire beauty ensemble leaned heavily into late-90s nostalgia. According to makeup artist Ernesto Casillas, Zendaya’s frosty and satin-finish makeup was directly inspired by the classic red-carpet glamor of that era, featuring muted tones and luminous highlights that captured the essence of nineties beauty icons.
However, despite the heavy nostalgic influences, the modern texture of the hair kept Zendaya’s crop from feeling like a literal or dated costume-party cosplay. Rather than shellacking every single strand rigidly into place with heavy gels or setting sprays—a common hazard of short hair styling in decades past—Moreno deliberately kept the top airy, separated, and full of movement.
Describing the creative vision behind the look, Moreno noted that the overarching goal for Zendaya was to take a classic pixie cut and reimagine it entirely through a contemporary, editorial lens. He wanted the overall silhouette to feel thoroughly feminine and refined while maintaining a subtle touch of youthful rebellion, combining a sleek, polished perimeter with piece-y texture and controlled, dynamic volume concentrated at the crown. To achieve this balance without making the style look too uniform or stiff, Moreno worked meticulously in small sections, bending individual pieces in alternating directions rather than curling or styling them in identical, predictable waves. He then used his fingers to gently separate individual pieces around the crown and the fringe, ensuring an undone finish that looked effortlessly chic.
This modern approach to the pixie cut highlights a broader shift in contemporary hairstyling. Today’s short hair trends are no longer strictly bound to the rules of having perfectly slicked, closely cropped, uniform strands. Modern crops can embrace natural curls, fluffy textures, and intricate architectural sculpting. Furthermore, Zendaya’s week demonstrated that a well-executed modern pixie can transition seamlessly from the front row of New York Fashion Week to the high-stakes glamor of the Emmys without looking remotely the same way twice. While the silhouette undeniably evokes the timeless elegance of Halle Berry’s signature looks, the airy, imperfect texture keeps the aesthetic firmly planted in the present day.
How to Get Zendaya’s Modern Pixie Texture
For those inspired to recreate the airy, dimensional texture of Zendaya’s red-carpet pixie, professional stylists emphasize that the key lies in manipulation and product placement rather than heavy-handed setting. When Moreno originally crafted the Emmy look, he began by blow-drying the hair using a professional ionic dryer to establish the clean foundational shape of the pixie. Once the hair was thoroughly dry, he utilized a specialized sculpting tool to lift, bend, and redirect individual sections of hair throughout the head.
Rather than styling everything in a uniform direction or creating a predictable pattern, the styling process relied on alternating bends throughout the crop. This technique prevents the finished texture from looking overly uniform or dated. By lifting sections explicitly at the root and concentrating volume around the crown, the stylists achieved an exaggerated yet controlled, airy lift that gave the cut its distinct architectural edge.
As a final finishing step, the styling process relied entirely on human touch rather than heavy finishing sprays. Using his fingertips, the stylist pinched and separated individual pieces throughout the crown and the fringe, a technique that breaks up any stiffness and establishes that deliberately undone, editorial finish that defined Zendaya’s headline-making appearance.
