Zendaya's Transformative Halle Berry-Inspired Pixie Haircut Proves She Can Rock Any Length

Zendaya has a face card that's perfect for virtually any hairstyle. Since her acting debut, we've seen the star rock sleek long hair, voluminous curly tresses, cornrows, elaborate afros, bobs, lobs, a mullet – you name it. We've seen this hair chameleon impeccably pull off a pixie cut before, much like these famous women who look amazing with short haircuts. However, it certainly didn't have the same impact as the Halle Berry-inspired version she came slaying with at the 2026 Emmys red carpet.

Wearing a custom crystal-embellished, nude-illusion Prada gown with a deep plunging neckline and a body-hugging silhouette, the "Euphoria" actor may have opted for a short, cropped, and intentionally understated hairstyle to delicately complement her ensemble. Instead, she stole the show with how exquisitely the hair suited her. "For Zendaya, the inspiration is a classic pixie reimagined through a modern, editorial lens," her Emmys hairstylist Coree Moreno said, per Allure. "I wanted the silhouette to feel feminine and refined with a little rebellion — sleek around the perimeter with airy, piece-y texture and controlled height through the crown."

While Moreno planned for a fresh take on the classic cut, Zendaya completely exuded Berry's iconic  pixie with effortless ease, now making it one of the iconic celebrity pixie cuts to inspire your next super short haircut. The "Challengers" actor's choppy top layers, which tapered into full, textured side pieces, were especially reminiscent of Berry's look at the "Die Another Day" movie premiere and when she picked up an Oscar for "Monster's Ball" in the early 2000s. Berry reacted to photos of Zendaya's cut shared online, writing, "She murdered the night," and later reposted a side-by-side photo on Instagram, according to Page Six⁠.

Zendaya, who was nominated for a third time for her role as Rue Bennett on HBO's "Euphoria," also presented at the Emmys ceremony. When she took the stage, everything about her look nodded to Halle Berry, from the shimmering Prada gown to her pixie cut. All of which was a premeditated vision by her fashion stylist, Law Roach, in an effort to pay homage to the Oscar-winning star.

Channeling Berry's Collette Dinnigan mini dress she wore at the "Die Another Day" premiere in 2002 was half the challenge, while nailing her pixie hairstyle was another. Hairstylist Coree Moreno shared all the details for achieving Zendaya's Emmys 'do. "Because this look relies on manipulating short sections while maintaining softness, I wanted the hair to feel supple and healthy before introducing heat and texture," Moreno said via Allure, noting he prepped the actor's hair with Schwarzkopf's KERATÎME Deep Repair Detangling Treatment and Hair Bonding Oil.

After blow-drying Zendaya's hair using an Arache Mini Shine Boost Gloss Infusion Daily Boar Brush, Moreno sprayed göt2b glued 2-in-1 Spray Wax. "I concentrated the product where I wanted the most movement, allowing the perimeter to remain cleaner and more controlled," Moreno explained. He then styled her look with a flat iron, sculpting and shaping the layers to add depth and texture. To finish and hold the style, he used the spray wax and göt2b glued Blasting Freeze Spray.