Zendaya Debuts Avant-Garde Wet Hair Look at 'The Drama' Premiere

The actress' latest hairstyle evolution features a slicked-back, crunchy bixie cut with a single strand falling over her eye.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:55pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of Zendaya's wet, slicked-back bixie hairstyle, featuring crunchy, matted-down texture and a single strand falling over her eye, captured in dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting to create a glitzy, high-fashion aesthetic.Zendaya's avant-garde wet hairstyle for the 'The Drama' premiere evokes an underwater aesthetic, showcasing her willingness to experiment with bold looks.NYC Today

At the New York premiere of 'The Drama' on Thursday, Zendaya debuted a striking wet, slicked-back bixie hairstyle created by her longtime stylist Ursula Stephen. The look marked a bold departure from the 1920s-inspired styles she has worn to previous premieres for the film, featuring matted-down curls and a single strand falling over her eye.

Why it matters

Zendaya's ever-evolving hairstyles for the 'The Drama' press tour have captivated fans, showcasing her willingness to experiment with avant-garde looks that push the boundaries of traditional red carpet beauty. This latest wet, textured bixie is a major departure from her previous flapper-inspired styles, signaling a new creative direction for the actress.

The details

For the New York premiere, Zendaya's hairstylist Ursula Stephen used Moroccanoil products to create a crunchy, matted-down effect on the actress' short bixie cut. The style featured a stark side part and a single strand falling over Zendaya's right eye, adding an edgy, underwater aesthetic to complement her blue Schiaparelli gown and bold blue eyeshadow.

  • Zendaya first debuted the bixie cut in Louis Vuitton's 130th anniversary campaign in February 2026.
  • At the Los Angeles premiere of 'The Drama' on March 17, 2026, Zendaya's bixie had a more traditional 1920s-inspired look with face-framing flapper ends.
  • For the Paris premiere on March 26, 2026, Zendaya's bixie featured sophisticated 1960s-inspired pin curls.
  • At the Rome premiere on March 26, 2026, Zendaya's bixie had messy waves covering the right side of her face.

The players

Zendaya

An American actress and singer who is the lead star of the HBO series 'Euphoria' and has appeared in films such as 'The Drama'.

Ursula Stephen

Zendaya's longtime hairstylist who created the actress' avant-garde wet bixie look for the 'The Drama' New York premiere.

Robert Pattinson

Zendaya's co-star in the film 'The Drama'.

Ernesto Casillas

Zendaya's makeup artist who created the bold blue eyeshadow look for the 'The Drama' New York premiere.

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What they’re saying

“Zendaya brought an underwater aesthetic to 'The Drama' premiere in New York on Thursday night, ahead of the film's release in theaters on Friday.”

— Kaleigh Werner, Author

What’s next

As press for HBO's 'Euphoria' ramps up, Zendaya may find herself returning to the long, frizzy curls that resemble her character Rue's look on the show.

The takeaway

Zendaya's ever-evolving hairstyles for the 'The Drama' press tour showcase her willingness to experiment with bold, avant-garde looks that push the boundaries of traditional red carpet beauty. Her latest wet, textured bixie is a major departure from her previous flapper-inspired styles, signaling a new creative direction for the actress.