Zendaya debuts a curly pixie cut and lilac Prada Beauty makeup look
Lilac shadow on a golden complexion, soft short curls that bare the nape of the neck: Zendaya’s latest look has all the makings of a true moment. At a pop-up event hosted by Prada in New York, the actress unveiled a curly pixie cut that marks a radical departure from her usual lengths. This bold hair change, paired with a meticulously orchestrated makeup look, is well worth a closer look.
The lilac makeup that gives the pixie cut its full meaning
Makeup artist Ernesto Casillas is the mind behind what he calls the wisteria look. Behind that poetic name lies a precise approach: makeup that reads as minimalist but is elaborately considered in every detail. The central idea hinges on a lilac eyeshadow, a shade rarely associated with sophistication, yet remarkably effective against a warm, luminous complexion.
That is precisely the strength of this look: every element plays a defined role. The lilac shadow lends an almost ethereal softness to the eyes, while the cream-powder blush in Touch shade Cherry introduces a vibrant warmth to the cheeks. This interplay between lavender tones and the warm flush of the blush creates a visual balance that feels simultaneously fresh and feminine.
To intensify the gaze without weighing down the overall effect, Casillas used a black eyeliner pencil and a lengthening black mascara. The result is a doe-eyed effect that contrasts beautifully with the lightness of the rest of the face. On the lips, a nude balm in the shade Noisette completes the look without overloading it.
The skincare routine that lays the groundwork
Makeup this precise does not go on just any base. Before applying a single drop of colour, Casillas first worked on Zendaya’s skin with an intensive hydration routine. He used three products from the Prada Beauty line: the Augmented Skin cream, the Augmented Skin essence, and the Augmented Skin eye contour cream.
This preparatory step goes a long way toward explaining the smooth, luminous finish of the final complexion. The Reveal Skin Optimizing Foundation in shade MW55 and the Blurring + Micro-Correcting Concealer in shade MN5 were then applied to even out the skin tone while preserving a natural finish. The Reset Rebalancing Setting Powder concluded this stage, locking in the makeup without erasing the skin’s natural glow.
- Augmented Skin cream, essence, and eye contour cream to hydrate the skin beforehand
- Reveal Skin Optimizing Foundation (shade MW55) and concealer (shade MN5) to unify the complexion
- Touch cream-powder blush in shade Cherry to add warmth
- Dimensions 01 Portrait eyeshadow for sophisticated lilac tones
- Pradalines pencil and Pradascope mascara in black to define the eyes
- Noisette balm on the lips for a harmonious nude veil
The curly pixie cut: a nod to the sixties
While the makeup commands attention, the pixie cut is the real turning point of this look. Zendaya, who typically wears length with the help of extensions, opted for a short cut that fully bares the nape of the neck. The soft, voluminous curls, free of frizz, bring movement and lightness to the overall silhouette.
The style evokes the aesthetic of 1930s animation, most notably the iconic Betty Boop, while firmly anchoring itself in a sixties sensibility. The curly pixie cut acts here as a frame for the makeup: it opens up the face, draws attention to the lilac eye look, and gives Casillas’s work all the space it deserves.
Beyond that, this hair choice reinforces the overall coherence of the look. Long hair would have diluted the impact of the lilac shadow and Cherry blush. The short cut, by contrast, concentrates all attention on the face, where the essence of this wisteria look truly plays out.
Zendaya, Prada Beauty ambassador and architect of her own image
This look was unveiled at the Prada Paradoxe pop-up photo studio, held during New York Fashion Week. Zendaya, actress, singer, and producer, is also a global ambassador for Prada Beauty. That context is far from incidental: every public appearance by the star becomes a showcase for the brand, and this wisteria look is no exception.
What makes this look particularly compelling is its dual reading. On the surface, it appears simple, almost natural. But beneath that minimalist exterior lies a meticulous construction, in which skin preparation, shade selection, and precision of application each contribute to the final result. Zendaya’s curly pixie cut is therefore no mere hair whim: it is part of a broader aesthetic vision, considered down to the finest detail by Ernesto Casillas.
