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Met Gala Monday is like the Super Bowl for hairstylists, makeup artists, and manicurists. We caught up with celebrity hairstylist and Rōz Hair founder Mara Roszak, as she prepped Daisy Jones & The Six star Riley Keough for fashion’s biggest night on the first Monday in May, whose theme this year was “The Garden of Time.” From ribbon shopping to a Bed Bath & Beyond pit stop, and finally a beauty insider dinner, here’s how Roszak spent her day as the 2024 Met Gala approached.
10:00 p.m. (Sunday night before the Met Gala) Prep for the Met Gala starts days—even weeks—in advance. Unlike the Oscars or any other award show, there’s a theme, so research beforehand is required. Met Gala challenges you to think outside of the box, and it can be inspired by shapes, architecture, and sculptures because it’s so tapped into a creative side in a different way than an award show. If I’m using hair extensions, I make sure all the extensions are washed, dried, and prepped the night before, which is when I make sure I have all of my ducks in a row. We also get one of those full-length mirrors from Bed Bath & Beyond that’s around $15. I know it sounds psychotic, but I love to be extra prepared and have a mirror just in case. I also make sure my client’s hotel shower is stocked with Rōz minis, including the Foundation shampoo and conditioner, so they can prep hair, since I’m usually not there when they are showering.
7:00 a.m. (the day of the Met Gala) As soon as I wake up, I have coffee and some kind of juice or smoothie. I know, very L.A. of me, but that’s really what gets me going. On busy days like today, it’s very rare to have a full, sit-down meal, so I usually try and pack some snacks—whether that means popping by a bodega to grab a couple of things or a coffee shop to stash some snacks in my bag. A lot of times I stay at the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, and there’s a coffee shop that has beautiful coffees and croissants. Then, I’ll head back to my hotel room to make sure my kit is in order. Once I get closer to the Met, I will grab a bagel and another juice or snacks from Juice Press.
8:00 a.m. For my dream Met Gala day, everything is prepped and ready with no hiccups. But the Met is so unpredictable. Some Met Galas, I’ve forgotten my sneakers and have to make a Nike Store run so that I can run up and down 20 flights of stairs from client to client. Personal-prep-wise, I don’t want anything physically that prevents me from being able to focus on my work fully. I like to really zone in. Last night, I gave myself a nice blowout, and then I threw on a comfortable outfit this morning: jeans, a light sweater, a cute, comfortable tank top, and running sneakers. I make sure to dress in layers, in case it gets super warm or cold. I put on very light makeup, too. I always keep Homeoplasmine from the French Pharmacy in my bag as a lip balm—it’s the only product that actually works for chapped lips. If I feel like adding a little color to mask my total exhaustion, I use Monika Blunder’s lip crayons or stain, in like a plump or berry color that I can pop onto my lips with my fingers and even cheeks.
10:00 a.m. I love working with natural elements and using fresh flowers, so I am so thrilled that this year we can bring in that garden for Riley’s look. I went shopping for ribbons at M&J Trimming on Sixth Avenue early in the morning and brought them back to my hotel room arrange and cut the ribbons, so they are prepped and ready to apply once I finish styling Riley’s hair.
11:00 a.m. [Makeup artist] Mai Quynh and I made a pit stop at the Chanel store for Riley’s dress fitting.
2:00 p.m. I’ve seen up to three clients for Met, but this year, I am just doing Riley Keough. Since it’s just Riley, I can really focus on her, which is nice. This year, we are getting Riley ready at the Carlyle. I never know what the room is going to look like, so I try to scope out the outlets and make sure I have a comfortable chair for the client. Plus, these hotels are usually so overwhelmed with Met clients, so you can’t call down to ask for anything, which is why I grab an extra mirror. I usually go down with at least an hour to spare before setting up, to make sure we get through security. The majority of the stress doesn’t come from styling, but just from being on time and making sure everything is smooth sailing. I usually run into some stylist or makeup artist friends in the lobby.
3:00 p.m. I officially start working on Riley, which is always amazing. We had so much fun collaborating on this look. I used the Rōz Milk Hair Serum and Santa Lucia Styling Oil to give shine and smoothness and then created a beautiful bend in the hair extensions. To finish, I added one of the ribbons—a floor-length silk chiffon one that I picked up earlier. We were inspired by her beautiful Chanel gown to create a 1920s-style wave. I love how the ethereal look all worked perfectly with the Met Gala theme.
6:00 p.m. After I finish styling Riley, we have a buffer for her to get dressed. Then I do touch-ups and BTS content. I usually try to map out, like, all the content that we want to capture ahead of time with my assistant. After the look is done and before Riley heads out the door, we shoot the planned content.
6:30 p.m. Once all of the talent goes to the Met, the hotel is super quiet. Since I’ve relied on snacks the whole day, I make quick pit stop at the hotel restaurant for a glass of wine and a more substantial snack, before heading to a fun evening event.
8:00 p.m. This year, I am attending the Violet Grey Met Artists Dinner at Mr. Chow on 57th. Violet Grey hosts a dinner for all of the hairstylists, makeup artists, nail techs, and more who work on clients for the Met Gala red carpet. I attended last year, and love making this special dinner after a hectic day. It’s a chance for me to catch up with all my beauty friends and peers. Even though we’re all so exhausted, it’s fun to catch up. Usually, we are scouring the internet for photos of our clients on the carpet to show each other and discuss.
10:00 p.m. Unwinding usually takes a little while. Going for a walk at the end of the night while chatting with a girlfriend on the phone after a big red-carpet moment is helpful.
12:00 a.m. Once I get back to my hotel, I can’t wait to wash my face and get into comfy clothes. I have a sweet tooth, so a dessert like chocolate cake may or may have not been ordered. After I said goodnight to my family, I take a peek at the red-carpet photos of Riley and read the press on her. I’ll text with a few friends who have also created some incredible Met Gala looks. Then, I pass out in bed.
