Not only did Doja Cat perform at the MTV VMAs 2021 last night, but she also was the award show’s hostess with the mostess and took home some awards. As she worked the stage with her bevy of roles, Doja was sure to deliver her boldest hair and makeup looks of the year, which is a pretty major statement as the singer has yet to miss in the beauty department in 2021. Her daring wigs and experimental makeup for music videos and big events continuously leave us absolutely mesmerized. (We still can’t stop thinking about the head-to-toe pink fantasy in the “Kiss Me More” music video. When Doja Cat commits, she does not skimp on any detail.)
If you need to know about all of Doja Cat’s MTV VMAs 2021 beauty moments — and how each was brought to life for our silver screens — well, you’ve found just the place. Her go-to hairstylist Jared Henderson shared exclusive details on her roster of wigs for the night, while makeup artist Ernesto Casillas gave Allure a behind-the-scenes look at how her technicolor eye makeup looks were created. Let’s get into it.
For her red carpet look, Doja Cat committed to a vampy aesthetic, complete with purple and red tones. She incorporated the colors into her waist-length curls, multi-dimensional eye shadow, and ultra-long nails. Inspired by rock, ‘90s glam, and London street style, this red-streaked half-updo is a “polar opposite” from other looks we saw on the singer later during the night, Henderson told Allure. “Luckily, Doja and I are very creative individuals, so when we put out brainpower together, the ideas and inspiration seem to be endless,” he added. “We’re so in sync and can pull inspo from anywhere.”
To achieve the scarlet streaks, Hendersen dyed Doja’s wig with the Joico Color Intensity Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Ruby. We can’t wait to see what other dye jobs he did to prepare for the big night.
Doja officially kicked off her hosting gig with some stunning, classic choices. She traded out her curls for a sleek, long platinum blonde wig. Her dreamy purple eye makeup was replaced with timeless taupe shadow and razor-sharp wings. For lips, they remained a glossy nude hue with deep brown liner, particularly with Pat McGrath Labs’ PermaGel Ultra Lip Pencil in Supernatural and Lip Fetish Divinyl Lip Shine in Nude Venus. Overall, the tweaks to her looks created a truly Old Hollywood-esque moment. Her nails gave the look a modern touch, though, with black, square French tips studded with edgy silver charms.
For her solo performance, Doja Cat showed off yet another wig; this time, a white-blonde bob with a wavy, wet effect. Her makeup, on the other hand, remained the same. We must admit this is a low-key look for the singer (but the performance was anything but).
Okay, here we go with the maximalism. No stranger to playful looks, Doja slipped on a new, eye-opening outfit that encapsulated her whole body, leaving only her face and hands showing. (She accepted an award with it on and mentioned she looked like a worm.) With mainly her makeup on display, Casillas made sure it was just as dramatic as her ensemble with ‘80s-style draped blush in a vibrant magenta hue. Her eye makeup and lipstick reflected the same pinky color scheme, which contrasted the colors of her insect outfit. For her nails, Doja went with an exaggerated, almond-shaped French manicure, which included baby-blue tips topped with gold beads.