Modern Salon
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

How-To: Surviving Styles of the Hot Emmys Red Carpet

Check out how-tos for styles from Zooey Deschanel, Julianne Hough and Claire Danes at the hot 2012 Emmys.

by Jessica Galliart
September 25, 2012
3 min to read



The Emmys red carpet is usually a hot affair, but never quite as hot as it was this year. Television’s brightest stars walked the red carpet in 95-degree weather and humidity in Los Angeles for the 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards. Many of the hairstyles held up throughout the evening—and many didn’t. Let’s look at a few of the most-talked-about styles that survived the red carpet, with breakdowns from the stylist on how to achieve the looks for your clients.









JULIANNE HOUGH

Ad Loading...

Did Julianne’s glitzy seafoam green gown inspire her 1920s finger waves? Stylist Riawna Capri told InStyle she and Julianne were going for a “Midnight in Paris” look. “We wanted something more polished and perfected so we all decided on a finger wave look, which isn’t easy to create,” Capri told InStyle. “I literally painted her hair with the curling iron. It was like drawing a picture, with hair!” Here’s the how-to, as told to InStyle:

-“First, I blew her hair out with Wella’s Flowing Form,” said Capri.

-“Then started my curling action. I sprayed each section lightly with Wella’s Stay Essential,” she said. “Then, I held the iron vertically and curled 2 inches clock wise then the next 2 inches counter clockwise then remainder hair back clockwise. It’s confusing, but it’s the best way to create this look with out getting poofy, allowing the curls to be flat to her head.”

-“Once all the waves were in place I locked it in with Wella’s Dynamic Fix 45 Second Crafting Soray,” she said.

-“Finally, I misted Wella’s Shimmer Delight Shine Spray for a ton of shine!”

Ad Loading...


Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

CLAIRE DANES

“Veronica Lake always had a strong side part, which is what made her look so sexy.” Stylist Peter Butler used the pinup model as inspiration for Claire’s elegant screen siren look that managed to hold up throughout the 95-degree heat with a few simple steps.

-Butler used a frizz control serum and a curl-enhancing mousse to prep Claire’s hair while damp.

-After creating a deep side part, Butler used a 1-inch curling iron to curl the hair in small sections, wrapping toward the face.

-Butler allowed the curls to cool before combing through with the fine side of a comb and breaking them apart with his fingers.

Ad Loading...

-Finally, he set the curls with a medium-hold hairspray.




ZOOEY DESCHANEL

Taking inspiration from her ice blue ballgown, stylist Mara Roszak created an old Hollywood chignon for Zooey’s Emmy’s look. “We both decided her hair should be up and off the neck, keeping the hair soft, feminine and elegant.” (And not to be outdone in the precious nails competition, Zooey tweeted a photo of her mini-TV manicure.) Here’s the step-by-step for how Roszak achieved Zooey's hairstyle:

-Roszak began by applying a bodifying mousse to Zooey’s damp hair.

Ad Loading...

-Next, she blew out Zooey’s hair with a boar bristle brush and set it in rollers to create extra volume.

-To set the hair before styling, Roszak used a volumizing hairspray before removing the rollers and gently brushing out the hair.

-Using a fine-toothed comb, Roszak built up the retro bump at Zooey’s crown, pulled the hair back into a mid-height ponytail and tucked the ends underneath to create a tucked chignon look.

-To finish, Roszak used an anti-humidity hairspray for extra hold.

More In The Know

Ad Loading...
A man cuts a man's hair
In The Know|Articles|Aug 6, 2026

In Dubai, Clients Visit the Salon Every Week. Here’s What That Market Can Teach You

In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.

Sponsored by BeautyWorld Dubai

A woman with long brown hair, a black sleeveless blouse, and a beaded headband.
In The Know|Articles|Jul 2, 2026

Mireya Villarreal Announces From Chair to Boss Live, a New Business Education Event for Beauty Professionals

Mireya Villarreal, founder of From Chair to Boss™, is bringing together beauty industry leaders for a new one-day educational event designed to help salon professionals strengthen the business side of their careers. From Chair to Boss Live! will take place September 28 at the Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Ad Loading...
Ad Loading...