As one of the biggest breakout artists of 2024, Sabrina Carpenter has been dominating playlists around the world – and her impact on the pop sphere is primed to get bigger with release of her new album Short n’ Sweet.
But it’s not just Sabrina’s music that people can’t stop talking about. The star’s voluminous locks and doll-like makeup have been recreated countless times on TikTok, with videos of people trying to replicate her style amassing hundreds of thousands of views.
Fortunately, the beauty and wellness marketplace Fresha has compiled beauty tips on how to achieve Sabrina’s look – and it’s easier than you think. Even if you don’t have blonde hair down to your waist or similar facial features, the essence of Sabrina can be easily captured by following these simple steps.
Use a heatless curler for a big, bouncy blowout
Sabrina is instantly recognisable for her iconic long, blonde, voluminous waves that might sooner rival the hair of a drag queen or a ‘70s country singer than another contemporary popstar. She rarely deviates from this style and maintains it even during her performances.
While there are a number of ways to achieve this look – with a hairdryer and brush, curlers, or if you have the means, a Dyson Airwrap or similar multi-styler device – the easiest way to do this is with a heatless curler. It’s also the method that is the healthiest for your hair as no heat will be applied.
These can be bought for an affordable price from shops and online retailers such as Amazon, but the cheapest way to go about it is using something you already own. Just grab long socks, your dressing gown tie, a scarf, or any long, soft piece of fabric that fits nicely over your head.
Simply place one side of the fabric against the left side of your face and drape it over the top of your head so that the other end sits on the opposite side. These should sit next to your ears, similarly to how two braids would sit.
Once the heatless curler is in place, wrap your hair around the fabric until you reach the bottom of the curler, at which point you should secure it in place with a hair tie. It’s recommended that you twist the left side of your hair anticlockwise, and the right side of your hair clockwise, as you likely would if you were curling it.
Alternatively, you may want to buy a heatless rod set and split your hair into three or four layers before wrapping each layer around a rod. This option can be comfier to sleep in, particularly if you sleep on your side.
Leave this in overnight – or if you’re styling it for the evening, throughout the day – and when you take out the hair ties, you should be left with big, bouncy blowout-style waves without the damage. Brush the waves through until you’re happy with the result. Be sure to secure the style by spritzing hairspray alongside any other hair products that you’d otherwise use to set your hair.
Style curtain bangs to perfection using a brush and hair dryer
Curtain bangs have been increasingly popular over the past couple of years, and part of that is due to celebrities such as Sabrina spearheading the trend. These bangs are usually parted in the middle and are cut just below the eyebrows, while gradually tapering longer towards the sides to create a soft, face-framing effect.
The first step to achieving the perfect curtain bangs is cutting them, and while you can do this yourself, it’s better to consult a professional for maximum precision. Showing the hairstylist photos of Sabrina’s bangs is the most reliable way to achieve a similar look, but you don’t have to request an exact recreation – you may want to adjust the bangs slightly to compliment your facial shape and features by experimenting with a different length or thickness.
When it comes to styling your bangs, start by blow-drying while brushing your hair down and from side to side to ‘reset’ the hair and create a blank canvas; then, use the brush to curve the bangs outwards. If you want extra volume, you may want to curve the middle section inwards as the contrast can create a more feathery, bouncy effect across your forehead. If your hair is dry, you can replicate this look with straighteners and use heat-free or hot rollers to set the bangs in place.
If you want to try an easier method, simply blow-dry your bangs down and from side to side before setting them by curving the ends under rollers. Since your hair type and texture may affect how your bangs sit even after styling them, it’s a good idea to play around and find out which tools and techniques work best for you. Once your bangs are in place, set them with a holding product such as hairspray, styling cream, serum, or pomade.
A dewy complexion makes the ideal base for your makeup
Your base can make or break your overall look, and Sabrina typically opts for simple, dewy skin that evens her complexion while still allowing her freckles to shine through.
According to a morning tutorial she did for Elle Magazine, Sabrina uses the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter to create a natural glow, followed by the Laura Mercier Ultra-Longwear Concealer, which can be used to cover dark circles and any pimples or blemishes that you wish to minimise.
A popular alternative product that should produce a similar result is the e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter, which you can buy for less than half the price – just a few swipes of it will allow your skin to glow but still feel comfortable and lightweight.
For maximum glow, the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand is the perfect product to replicate the luminous effect of Sabrina’s skin. Dab a couple of drops of product to the top of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, the inner corners of your eyes, and anywhere else you’d like to highlight, to create the perfect shimmer.
Blend multiple shades of blush for a flushed, radiant look
Sabrina is known for her graduated blush which incorporates multiple shades to create a rosy, angelic appearance. She will typically wear a pink colour high on the apples of her cheeks, that will blend out to a more subtle mauve blush. According to Sabrina’s makeup artist, Carolina Gonzalez, she uses Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Cheek Tints in shades ‘53 Bold Pink’ and ‘62 Delicate Mauve’.
While your ideal colours will depend on your skin tone and undertones, the trick is to evoke a sunset-inspired effect by blending two or more shades together. These should transition into each other and to your natural skin. Placing the boldest colour high on the apple of your cheeks and blending out with a more subtle colour will draw the most attention to them, but you can have fun by exploring different combinations to discover that best suits your bone structure.
While you may be able to attain this look with powder blush, cream or liquid blush will allow for the smoothest blending of colours. Apply as much or as little product as you want until you reach the desired effect.
This classic lip combo provides the perfect pout
Sabrina’s full lips are beautifully accentuated by the products that she uses. The star’s favourite lip combo consists of the Makeup Forever Colour Pencil in the shade ‘Whatever Walnut’ alongside the Hourglass Glossy Balm in the shade ‘Desire’ which softly melt together to achieve a warm, glazed effect.
This look could be replicated by using any mauve or brown lipliner in combination with a pink lip gloss, balm, or oil – don’t feel restricted to these options as there are many affordable alternatives that will do the trick. If you want a stronger look, try using a pink lipstick such as Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in the shade ‘Pillow Talk’ before topping off with a layer of gloss.
