Kerry Washington's Short, Curly Hair Closed Out Fashion Week

From her screentime on Scandal to her photo shoots for Neutrogena ads, we're most familiar with Kerry Washington wearing her hair sleek and straight or in smooth waves that cover her collarbone. And you can't blame her for loving that look — she's nothing less than stunning in it. But every now and then — most recently on Wednesday at New York Fashion Week — she busts out the beautiful curls, reminding us that she looks absolutely incredible in every imaginable texture.

Washington debuted what may very well be her shortest-ever curls sitting front row at the Michael Kors Fall/Winter 2019 runway show, flanked by Kate Hudson, Doutzen Kroes, Priyanka Chopra, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Billy Porter, Regina King, and Olivia Wilde. The style reached no lower than her jawline at its longest point, with layers helping to create a voluminous look. Her bangs were softly swept ever so slightly to the side, and in certain lights you could see vibrant caramel highlights on the dark-brown base color.

Washington's go-to hair pro Takisha Sturdivant-Drew regularly creates straighter styles for her, but she clearly knows how to give Washington a stunning curly look, too. "I highlighted a TSD Hair Extensions Curly Wig to a light, soft brown. Then I cut the wig on Kerry’s head," Sturdivant-Drew tells Allure, explaining that she used a razor to shape the style and leave volume on top. "I left the natural texture in the front and used a 1.5-inch curling iron on certain sections." To lay down the sides, Sturdivant-Drew used a lightweight gel by Hask, and to finish off the look she pulled it out with her fingers and used a Dove texturizing spray.

Later in the day, Washington attended the Marc Jacobs show and perhaps it was just an illusion created by a midday restyling session, but her hair looked even shorter, the layers taking on an almost angular look. The longest layer just barely brushed her bold earrings and she wore more short pieces across her forehead, sparking some serious curly-bangs envy.

Although we rarely see Washington rocking tight ringlets, this isn't the first time we've gotten a look at her in such a closely curled style. She stepped out in a similarly layered, shoulder-skimming Afro in August 2017. And while this latest look is a wig, Washington wore her natural curls in a longer style at the 2016 Emmy Awards.

"I'd been relaxing my hair since I was a little girl, so part of it was just wanting to see what would happen if I didn't," she told Redbook at the time. "Quitting has been such a time-saver and my hair feels much healthier now. It's been fun getting to know my real curls."

It's been fun for us, too — and hopefully we'll get to see them even more.

More on curly hair:

• Here's What You Need to Know Before Bleaching Your Curls

• My Washday Routine: How I Wash and Style My 2C Curls

• Woman Hits Back at Jerk on Dating App Who Told Her to Straighten Her Curls

Now watch Kerry Washington play, "Would you rather?":

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