Ashley Graham Debuts a New Short Bob at the 2018 Met Gala

Multiple models were clinging to the rails of a party bus en route to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City to toast the Costume Institute’s latest exhibition, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, but Ashley Graham was sitting pretty — quite literally — in a slinky gold number by Prabal Gurung and a brand-spanking-new bob.

“I didn’t know what the heck was happening!” said makeup artist Allan Avendaño of the Joan of Arc-inspired chop by hairstylist Justine Marjan. “After doing her makeup, I went out grab a bite to eat and when I came back [her length] was gone.” Asked how Graham reacted to the new look, Avendaño said, “She was definitely feeling herself.”

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Playing off the shimmery gown influence by the famed French heretic turned patron saint — which Gurung described as the perfect blend of “strength and gilded beauty” during Graham’s live Instagram story — Avendaño’s goal was to make the model look one part “warrior” and one part “constellation” via a rich palette of metallic pigments and powders. “You can never go wrong with those shades,” explained the pro who created a look that was nothing short of divine.

While Avendaño didn’t realize Graham was going under the scissors (a beauty moment that happened during the model’s takeover of Allure’s Instagram), there was plenty of prep that went into the super’s red-carpet look, including an oxygen facial for Graham’s “girls” and a quick nose hair zap by skin whisperer Mzia Shiman, as well as a late night spray tan with Jimmy Coco to give her post-Jamaica glow a bit of a bump.

Before Marjan made the chop, Avendaño got to work on Graham’s makeup. He started with a clean, hydrated canvas using Revlon’s Photoready Perfecting Primer, then evened out her skin tone via the brand’s Photoready Airbrush Effect foundation. He toned down any redness using the Photoready Insta-Fix Stick foundation and brightened under the eyes, the tip of the chin, and around the nose with ColorStay Concealer. After contouring her cheekbones, temples, and jawline with the Photoready Insta-Fix Stick in Caramel, he set the base with powder, topped off the apples of her cheeks with a peach blush, and glazed across the high points of the face with the Light It Up Highlighter from the new Electric Shock collection (available exclusively at Ulta in June).

Now, onto the eyes: Avendaño swathed lids with concealer and ColorStay Crème Eye Shadow in Honey to give powder shadows plenty of grip, then reached for Revlon’s PhotoReady Primer, Shadow + Sparkle in Rustic. After dusting the bronze hue from lash line to crease, he used the sparkly espresso shade to carve out her crease and lower lashes.

The finishing touch: liquid gold. For a molten effect, he misted the tip of his brush with Photoready Prep, Set, Refresh Mist, dipped it into the Color Charge Loose Eyeshadow Powder in Gold Dust, and tapped the pigment across the center of the lid. He repeated the aforementioned steps along the bottom lashes with the Color Charge Loose Eyeshadow Powder in Copper. A few coats of volumizing mascara and chocolate liner added plenty of drama and definition, while a nude lip — a combo of Ultra HD Gel Lip Color in Sand and Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Sand Storm — allowed eyes to take center stage.

With her freshly shortened cut, radiant skin, and cross-studded nude nails by manicurist Mar y Sol Inzerillo, Graham undoubtedly took her 6.7 million followers to church. And for all who worship at the supermodel’s altar and want to recreate the glowing effect, Avendaño has one very important tip: “Powder strategically.” Before sending Graham off, he dusted Colorstay Pressed Powder in Medium along the sides of the nose, between the brows and up on to the forehead, and across the chin. “The highlight should be strongest along the orbital bone and the cupid’s bow,” he explained. Keeping the skin matte in key places prevents you from looking like a “greasy mess” or “like you just ate French fries.” Consider powder your secret weapon for looking #blessed.

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