Sabrina Carpenter Debuted an Old Hollywood Lob at the 2024 VMAs

Please, please, please tell me you saw Sabrina Carpenter’s nails at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards? No worries if you didn’t, but we’re still going to talk about them—unsurprisingly, they’re something to behold.

A first-time nominee, the pop star was up for six awards at the September 11 show, including the highly prized Song of the Year for “Espresso” and Artist of the Year for being her adorable self. Arriving at Long Island’s UBS Arena, she wore a white sequin gown with a scalloped, plunging neckline—the same archival Bob Mackie dress worn by Madonna at the 1991 Oscars—that matched her bedazzled mani. Painted white (I’d guess her regular nail artist Zola Ganzorigt used OPI’s Alpine Snow) each medium-length, almond-shape nail was decorated with a cluster of glittering gemstones that were most concentrated toward her cuticle, spreading out as they reached the tip.

As for her makeup, the entire look was the work of celebrity makeup artist Carolina Gonzalez. In a previous interview with Byrdie, the professional shared that the one word she’d use to describe Carpenter’s makeup style is “glowy.” “We just think ‘baby’ and glow is what we really go for,” she explained.

While the glow was definitely there, “baby” isn’t the word I’d use to describe the arguably grown-up makeup style, a nod to old Hollywood (and that once-upon-a-time Madonna look!) with a slick, ombre red lip and silver eyeshadow. This time around, the vision also included soft blush, soap brows, and fluffy lashes courtesy of Velour (Gonzalez used the brand’s Lash Curler, Lash Applicator, Black Lash Adhesive and—most importantly—Classic Velour Extensions in 10mm and 12mm from the mid to end of the lash line to get the look).

Renée Rouleau, Carpenter’s esthetician of 10+ years, used her own collection for a seven-step facial prior to the event to level-up her red carpet glow (look closely, she’s seriously shimmering). Manual extractions were included—a decidedly un short-n’-sweet process but a necessity nonetheless.

And you know what else was short n’ sweet? Carpenter’s hair, which was worked into the very bounciest curls that gave the appearance of a lob. God bless your mom’s genetics, Sabrina. (And mother Madonna’s influence, obvi.)