Jessie Buckley kicked off the 2026 Academy Awards with an Oscar for Best Actress in the film “Hamnet” sporting a sleek pixie in an updated shade that her colorist, Jacob Schwartz, calls Sparkling Blonde.
Buckley’s Oscars shade marked the final step in a carefully planned transformation Schwartz began months ago. Starting from deep brunette late last year, the Schwarzkopf Professional U.S. Hair Color Trend Ambassador gradually guided her locks lighter throughout awards season.
Using the brand’s products, Schwartz transitioned the Irish actress' hair from black to light brown and eventually into blonde, revealing her brightest look yet at the Oscars. By working across multiple appointments, Schwartz was able to preserve the integrity and shine of Buckley’s hair while steadily building brightness and dimension.
A carefully calibrated root gloss added seamless dimension, with cooler neutral tones around the hairline to softly illuminate the face while slightly deeper tones at the root to maintain a natural transition. Finally, a quick all-over gloss delivered the sparkle.
Step by Step: Jessie Buckley’s Sparkling Blonde
Base Color: Igora Royal (20 vol, 35 min)
Hairline: 8-1 + 8-0
Grey Patch: 8-0
Base: 7-1 (30g) + 7-0 (15g) + 8-0 (15g)
Highlights: Igora Vario Blond Super Plus (20 vol)
Ends: BlondMe Premium Lightener 9+
Rootgloss: Igora Vibrance (6 vol, 10 min — hairline last 5)
Hairline: 9-0 + 9-1
Roots: 8-0 + 8-11
All Over: Igora Vibrance 10-1 (6 vol, 2 min)
The blonde hue contrasted beautifully against the vibrant red of Buckley's’ custom color-blocked Chanel gown, courtesy of stylist Danielle Goldberg: a scarlet satin-backed leather bodice and delicate pink chiffon skirt.
For the big night, celebrity hairstylist Bryce Scarlett styled her hair into a super sleek, side-parted pixie, while A-list MUA Nina Park gave her luminous skin and a bold red lip. Celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen gave the actress her short, sheer, minimal nail look.