As a presenter at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, Mckenna Grace made best-dressed lists in a drop-waist, off-the-shoulder cream Vera Wang gown with black trim, her hair in half-up, half-down style adorned by a complementary black ribbon.
Celebrity stylist Ted Gibson, who created the look, styled the “Regretting You” actress’ bangs in a sleek curtain part, while the rest of her blond hair fell in long, soft curls.
“Getting Mckenna ready for the Critics Choice Awards was the best kind of behind-the-scenes: calm, creative, and genuinely fun,” Gibson says. “She has this effortless cool-girl energy, and she’s always down to collaborate, which makes the glam process feel like we’re building a character together, not just doing hair.
“We wanted something that felt polished for the carpet, but still modern and youthful — flirty, soft, and touchable with her signature bangs doing their thing.”
Here are the step-by-steps for Grace’s look:
“I started with a clean, smooth blowout to build the foundation —v olume at the root, soft bend through the ends, and extra attention to shaping her bangs so they sat perfectly without feeling stiff,” Gibson says.
“Then I worked STARRING by Ted Gibson Shooting Star Texture Meringue through the mid-lengths and ends to create that airy texture and separation that photographs beautifully and still feels like hair you want to touch.
“Once the hair was dry and set, I used a 1.5-inch curling tong to add a soft, modern wave — curling away from the face, leaving the ends slightly more relaxed for that effortless finish,” he says.
“After brushing through to break up the curls, I pulled it into a half-up, half-down shape to keep it red-carpet elevated while letting the length move.
“To finish, I misted with hairspray for hold and shine, then lightly reworked the bangs with my fingers so everything stayed soft, sexy, and totally Mckenna.”
The actress is set to star in the much-anticipated Hunger Games second prequel, “Sunrise on the Reaping,” which will be released in March 2026.