Crowning Glory: The Best Tressed Red Carpet Stars

When it comes to red carpet style, the one thing reporters always want to know is which designer the star’s wearing. But for the hair-obsessed, nothing’s more important than a fabulous, traffic-stopping, who-did-your-hair-and-does-she-make-house-calls ‘do. Starting with a ponytailed Jennifer Hudson, here are our contenders for this awards season’s “best tressed” red carpet stars.

Beyonce is one of those rare style icons who finds a winning look early on in her career and rarely veers too far from it. Smart girl—her long, blonde blowout is always the epitome of red carpet elegance.

Ever the trendsetter, Rihanna’s buzzed on the sides, long on top crop is the hairstyle that’s spawned a zillion copycats (it even looks good fresh out of the ocean, as evidenced by her pics with Matt Kemp in Mexico last month). We can’t wait to see what Le RiRi does next!

Alicia Keys has come a long way since her youthful micro-braids in the early 2000’s. These days, her red carpet hair game is constantly evolving—just check out this Diana Ross-inspired, half-up/half-down curly number.

Part of the new guard of trendsetters, Keri Hilson’s red carpet hairstyles—everything from a modified mullet to a retro asymmetric bob—are always inspired, unique and envelope-pushing. Her twisted bun at the Grammy’s was truly spectacular.

Red carpet queen Iman is famously a fan of wigs because they give her a variety of chic styles to choose from. Here, she’s rocking a side-parted bob style that flaunts her iconic, impossibly graceful neck.

Is this the same Mary J. Blige who flaunted platinum dookie braids and a ’tude on the cover of “My Life?” The former ’round-the-way-girl is now a bonafide beauty icon who always sports a supremely chic red carpet hairstyle.

With the unfathomable success of “Avatar” came endless red carpet appearances for Zoe Saldana—and, in the process, she became a strand star. Her wavy, shoulder-length cut flawlessly highlights her delicate features.

Oscar-nominated Taraji P. Henson knows her way around a red carpet! Her hair is always fierce—and we especially love this sleek bob she’s been wearing lately.

Halle Berry has the distinction of having one of the hottest short cuts in the history of hair. Whether she rocks it wash-and-go curly, sleek, or lightly tousled (a’la her Golden Globes look, here), her signature pixie ’do is always on point.