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Home · Hair

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms

The self-proclaimed "Hair MacGyver" is known for making hairstyles pop with the use of unconventional accessories.
17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
getty images
By Jennifer Ford · Updated October 26, 2020

For standout summer hair inspiration, we’ve combed through our rolodex of inspiring mane moments from celebrity hairstylist, Nikki Nelms. Over the past few years, she’s created some of the most memorable looks we’ve seen on the red carpet.  

The self-proclaimed “Hair MacGyver” is known for making hairstyles pop with the use of unconventional accessories like craft stickers, wires and jewels. So if your goal is to turn heads this season, you needn’t look any further for mane motivation.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest in hair, beauty, style and celebrity news.

Whether you’re a fun natural or protective style devotee, Nelms offers a mixed bag of styling methods to take your tresses to the next level. Click through the gallery of below to see some of our favorite lewks that’s she created for the hottest starlets in Hollywood. 

01
Towering Top Knot

We loved this skyscraping top knot that Nelms styled for Zoe Kravitz’s Allegiant movie premiere. This is how you take hair to new heights. 

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Taylor Hill
02
Pretty Protective Style

Nelms slayed Zoe Kravitz’s braided blonde buzz cut for the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Alberto E. Rodriguez
03
Bob and Pins

Nelms made bobby pins the new “it” accessory when she used them to decorate DJ Kitty Cash’s bob for the 2016 Glamour Women of Year Awrads.

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Frederick M. Brown
04
Tribal Tresses

If you’re looking for festival season inspo, Nelms has a mixed bag of looks to pull inspiration from, like these cronrows intertwined with rope. Lala Anthony wore the fresh look for the Yeezy Season 4 fashion show.

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Jamie McCarthy
05
Eye-conic Double Buns

How could we forget the googly-eyed double buns Janelle Monáe sported during press rounds for Hidden Figures?!

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Mireya Acierto
06
Big Hair, Don’t Care

If you’re going to rock big hair, take a cue from this look Nelms styled on Serena Williams during 2016 Style 360 Week.

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Monica Schipper
07
Bling It On

When it comes to standout ‘dos, she literally blings it on and Janelle Monáe’s 2017 Met Gala look is proof.

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
John Shearer
08
Messy Mane

Leave it to Nelms to make Solange’s 2016 Met Gala tousled mane look totally polished.

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Dimitrios Kambouris
09
Bedazzled Buns

We’ve seen Janelle Monáe rock these signature double buns quite a few times, but Nelms manages to keep the look fresh by inorporating fun hair accessories like these floral hair clips, spotted at the 2017 SAG Awards. 

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Steve Granitz
10
Retro Coif

Nelms shows us how to put a modern day twist on retro hairstyles like these romantic pin curls seen on Janelle Monáe during a 2017 screening of Hidden Figures in New York.

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Noam Galai
11
Wavy Wonder

Our list of standout summer looks wouldn’t be complete without beachy waves. Nelms shows us how to work them into one of our fave go to looks styles, the bob, on Kelly Rowland.

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Dimitrios Kambouris
12
Laced Braids

To turn even the simplest hairstyles into works of art, you need crafty supplies. Nelms is known for using items from craft stores like this gold ribbbon to create stand out styles for her celebrity clients. We loved this one on Janelle Monáe at a December 2016 screening for Hidden Figures. 

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Paul Morigi
13
Teased and Textured

Flat hair is no-no and Nelms knows how to bring strands to life. Case in point: this mane moment from Jurnee Smollett during an Underground interview.

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Matthew Eisman
14
Unique Updo

If you want to update your go-to updo for formal ocassions, incorporate standout hair accessoies like silver wire to stand out. Janelle Monáe sported this luxe look at the 2017 Producer’s Guild Awards. 

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Jason LaVeris
15
Blonde Bombshell

If you’re planning to big chop this summer, up the ante by going completely blonde like Zoe Kravitz, who debuted her look at the 2017 Met Gala. 

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Team GT
16
Crowned Glory

Nelms gave us all a lesson on how to play up short hair when Janelle Monáe debuted her pixie cut on the 2017 Oscar Red Carpt, accompanied by a gold double crown. 

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
Jon Kopaloff
17
Pump It Up

Take your ponytail from ordinary to extraordinary with black pins, like Lala Anthony at the 2017 Met Gala. 

17 Truly Unique Celebrity Hairstyles Crafted By Nikki Nelms
John Shearer
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