Beauty Industry

Zendaya Is an IRL Goddess With Waist-Lenth Wavy Hair — See Photos

We'll remember this as the moment braid crowns made their comeback.

AAdmin
July 6, 2026
2 min read
Zendaya Is an IRL Goddess With Waist-Lenth Wavy Hair — See Photos

Photo: Getty Images Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story Four months into Zendaya ’s bixie , we haven’t come close to tiring of it. She's cycled through soft curls, slicked-back styles, and vintage-inspired swoops that have made her hair one of the biggest beauty stories of the year. But for the world premiere of The Odyssey , she surprised us by suddenly wearing waist-skimming waves and a braid crown that couldn’t be more fitting for someone playing a goddess.

Zendaya arrived at the London event on July 6 with not several inches but several feet of additional hair. Simultaneously regal and seemingly effortless—her hairstylist would surely disagree—it cascaded in the softest of undone waves down to her corseted waist.

Her rich brunette color was brightened with shimmering, blonde highlights that were especially apparent in her half-up braid crown. Two thick braids began just above the temples before wrapping over and around her head like an organic headband. Rather than being tightly woven, the braids had a relaxed texture that blended with the softness of her length.

Photo: Getty Images The style feels especially appropriate given her role as Athena in Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated adaptation of The Odyssey . It evokes exactly what you’d picture for mythological beauty, and just like so many of Zendaya’s premiere looks for other movies, it stays on-theme.

Photo: Getty Images Her makeup by Ernesto Casillas was even more ethereal, thanks to a wash of frosty, pearlescent eye shadow emphasized along the inner corners of her eyes and blended out both above and below, behind well-defined lashes. Her nails, on the other hand (no pun intended), went in the opposite direction with a super-dark, short manicure, keeping the look from skewing too angelic.

Between the braided crown, flowing waves, and luminous makeup, Zendaya's latest red carpet appearance feels like what we might see if Athena herself showed up for an A-list movie premiere.

Now, watch Penelope Cruz and Olivia Wilde sip truth serum: