Taraji P. Henson at the 2009 Oscars

Oh. My. God.

Those were the words that came out of my mouth when I saw how stunning Taraji P. Henson looked on the red carpet. Gone are the days of Hustle & Flow. Taraji has entered the realm of super glam stardom. I swear if she doesn't land a magazine cover soon, I'll protest.
She arrived on the red carpet wearing a beautifully tiered cream colored Roberto Cavalli gown. Her skin tone gave the dress a fresh look. And the Fred Leighton necklace and earrings polish off the look. I love the simple dress with the statement jewelry.

New York-based celebrity hair stylist, Dante Blandshaw, created the stunning red carpet look for Henson.


“This is a clean, fresh, modern take on a layered, textured bob,” said Blandshaw. “I wanted to create a modern, asymmetrical, textured bob with natural movement and shine.”

Blandshaw shares expert tips on how he used Aveda products to achieve the look:

• “I started with Aveda Brilliant Shampoo and Aveda Brilliant Conditioner to soften Taraji’s textured hair,” said Blandshaw. “I love the Aveda Brilliant line because it provides a smooth shine to textured hair and reduces blow dry time.”

• Prep hair with Aveda Brilliant Damage Control to protect from heat styling.

• Blow dry hair straight using a paddle brush.

• After blow drying, add a dime-sized amount of Aveda Brilliant Universal Styling Creme to add additional shine without weighing hair down.

• Flat-iron hair to create the foundation for a smooth, sleek red carpet look.

• Using 1.5” and 2” barrel curling irons, curl hair throughout to give bend and movement, accenting the layers in the cut.

• Slightly curl the front to create a soft, side-swept bang for added height and fullness.

• Comb hair through with a wide-tooth comb.

• Spray with Aveda Air Control Hair Spray for a light finish. “Aveda Air Control Hair Spray is a perfect complement to this look because its lightweight formula provides lasting hold and shine without weighing hair down,” said Blandshaw.

Photo: WireImage