The part of the Victoria’s Secret Show I care about most isn’t the wings. It’s the blowouts, because big glossy hair feels a lot more useful on a random Tuesday than crystal lingerie.
The beauty had that very specific millennial polish: lifted roots, curved ends, shiny skin, soft smoke around the eyes and lips that look plush without needing a 12-step lip combo. Pat McGrath led the makeup, so the faces had glow, neutral-pink shine and pretty definition that didn’t look harsh.
Guido Palau led hair, which means giant rollers, smooth volume and ends with a bend instead of a hard curl. The nice part is that this actually translates to real life. You don’t need a runway. You need smart placement, a few products that do the heavy lifting and the restraint to stop before smoky gets messy or glow gets glittery.
How Do You Get Victoria's Secret Show Hair and Makeup at Home?
The easiest way to think about this look is hair first, shine second, drama last. The hair has body, the skin catches light and the makeup frames the face without turning into full glam.
For hair, focus on lift at the roots and a soft bend through the ends. A clean part and smooth surface do a lot of the work, especially when you don’t have backstage hands helping you section everything perfectly.
For makeup, pick one area to define. A smoky eye with a glossy lip works. Winged liner with a warm nude gloss works. Bronzed skin with a pinky lip works. I wouldn’t pile on every detail at once, because the whole point is polished, not overloaded.
The finish should last through dinner, drinks or a long workday if you let hot hair cool before touching it, keep shimmer placed carefully and use gloss as the fresh-looking final step. It’s glam, but it shouldn’t feel like you’re managing a costume.
Pat's Backstage Bombshell
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Pat McGrath (@damepat) gave the most copyable bombshell moment: a soft smoky eye, a tiny flash of gold, bronzy cheeks and a glossy pink-nude mouth. It has drama, but not the kind that asks you to find three clean brushes and a free hour.
I’d start with Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘N’ Kohl Eyeliner, Bedroom Black, because the creamy kajal texture and built-in smudger make the line easy to blur before it sets. Pat McGrath Labs Luminous Legends Eye Shadow Duo, Astral Noir gives you the deep black to press over the pencil and the shimmering gold for that bright little pop. Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb, Fu$$y brings the shiny pink finish so the look stays fresh.
Line the upper lashes and the outer half of the lower lashes, then smudge fast. Press the dark shadow on top instead of sweeping it all over the lid, and tap the gold in the tear-duct area so it catches light without taking over. This is my favorite of the group, especially with a black sweater, straight-leg denim and gold hoops. Simple outfit, very good face.
Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'N' Kohl Eyeliner, Bedroom Black
A creamy kajal pencil with a built-in smudger for a soft smoky line.
Pat McGrath Labs Luminous Legends Eye Shadow Duo, Astral Noir
A shimmering gold and a deep black for smoking out the liner.
Anok Yai, All Glass and Gloss
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Anok Yai’s look is the one that makes a low bun feel like you gave up too soon. Victoria’s Secret (@victoriassecret) framed it as strength, power and grace, and the beauty matched: deep brown hair, a clean center part, smooth roots, glossy bends and luminous makeup with silvery lids and a bronze-nude lip.
Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer was one of the backstage staples, and it’s the alcohol-free foam I’d use at damp roots for lift without crunch. Revlon One-Step Volumizer Hair Dryer and Styler gives that big oval-brush shape, especially on longer hair that needs fullness and curved ends. Pat McGrath Labs Lust Gloss, Flesh adds sheer nude-brown shine with soft shimmer.
Rough-dry first so you’re not dragging a brush dryer through soaking wet hair forever. Work in sections about as wide as the brush, lift at the root, then roll the ends under for that expensive-looking curve. Don’t chase every flyaway. The clean part and plush shape are doing the heavy lifting.
Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer
An alcohol-free volumizing foam, one of the backstage staples.
Revlon One-Step Volumizer Hair Dryer and Styler
A 2.8-inch oval brush dryer for full blowouts on longer hair.
Paloma Elsesser's Cherry Blossom Glow
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Paloma Elsesser (@palomija) called herself a cherry blossom girl, and the beauty had that soft romantic glow without turning sugary. The finished look was long glossy black waves, bronzed skin through the shoulders and a pinky-nude lip that felt pretty without being precious.
This is the roller set idea for volume, not tight curls. Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray is the heat-activated smoothing step for hair that tends to puff up or frizz. Jumbo Self-Grip Hair Rollers, 12 Pack gives you 60mm rollers with clips for big, soft bends on long hair, while Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter is the sheer liquid glow I’d press onto cheekbones and sweep over collarbones.
Start with dry, already blown-out hair, then wrap each section back and keep the ends tucked neatly as you roll. Let everything cool fully, loosen the shape with your hands and skip the aggressive brushing. For body glow, warm a small amount between your palms and press it onto shoulders, collarbones and the tops of your arms. Keep it thin so it reads glossy, not sparkly.
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
A heat-activated anti-frizz spray for glossy, smooth hair.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
A sheer liquid highlighter and glow booster for face and body.
Precious Lee's Chandelier Waves
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Precious Lee’s chandelier wings were major, but honestly, the hair could’ve carried the whole moment. Victoria’s Secret (@victoriassecret) paired her look with a long brown blowout, lighter caramel pieces, a clean middle part and full volume all the way through the shape.
For this kind of hair, hold matters, but it can’t feel stiff. L’Oreal Paris Elnett Classic Hairspray was the strong spray Palau’s team reached for, and it gives support with a soft, brushable finish. Dior Addict Lip Maximizer, Intense Spice is the close lip match, with a warm spice tint, high shine and a plush look that plays nicely with winged liner.
Let the hair cool, mist the spray, then brush just enough to soften the set. The caramel pieces help the bends catch light, so blended face-framing highlights can create a similar feel on one-tone color. For liner, draw a short flick that follows the lower lash angle, then leave the lid soft so the lift stays clean.
Pick the detail you’ll actually repeat, whether that’s the glossy lip, the root lift or the tiny gold eye pop, and build the rest of your look around that one move.
