Lizzo’s BET Awards performance was an epic reminder of why we love the talented twerking artist. Her red carpet (and performance) look was a reminder of why we love on her hair and beauty moments. Just days before the BET Experience weekend, which ended with the BET Awards, the singer got candid on social media about her struggles with depression. But at the event, she was all smiles and brought the juice, rocking her natural curls and a custom-made wood grain hairpiece. We hope she was feeling good as hell, because she was looking it, and it made our night. Celebrity hairstylist Shelby Swain gave us the lowdown on the updo, and the idea behind the wood grain hair piece.
“I wanted to create an iconic look specially since Lizzo wanted to wear wood grain. I thought wood grain hair would be perfect!” said Swain.
For this style it was all about having the right products. Swain started off by prepping Lizzo’s hair with the Suave Professionals for Natural Hair Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Moisturizing Curl Conditioner.
“The Conditioner provided a great amount of slip which helped with detangle and bring out her luxurious curls thanks to the shea butter and pure coconut oil found in this line,” she said.
Then she used the Suave Professionals Nourish & Strengthen Leave-In Conditioner to moisturize Lizzo’s hair “to help protect against any damage and help fight frizz.” She let the hair air dry then pulled all of the hair back and tied it up into a pony tail by wrapping it with a hair tie. She secured the pony by inserting bobby pins into the center of the bun, and finished the ‘do with Suave Professionals Firm Control Finishing Hairspray to seal the look for the night.
Then came the headpiece. Lizzo’s matchy-matchy head to toe look was wood grain magic. From her boots and dress, the singer donned wood grain, and didn’t stop there. She came up with the idea to work it into her hair look as well, and as the self-proclaimed “Beyoncé of Baby Hair,” Swain obliged.
“It took about an hour to mold the hair and an hour to paint the wood grain. First I sculpted and formed the hair as a base and then painted and highlighted the hair to exact a perfect wood grain, complementing the dress and shoes,” Swain told ESSENCE.
She also told E! News that she was hand-painting the custom head-piece just an hour before Lizzo was due to hit the red carpet. It was sewn into the singer’s hair with a braid at the base of the bun.
Lizzo’s custom wood grain headpiece matched her dress and boots. 
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“I made sure to take my time and prayed to Jesus, hoping I would get this wood grain right,” she said. “I’ve never done this type of look before, so this was all new to me, but I really wanted to get creative and try something new.”