Inside Charli XCX's "The Moment" Hair: The Bumble and Bumble Products Behind the Look
How Matt Benns Created Charli XCX’s Hair in “The Moment” Using Bumble and bumble
When Charli XCX steps on screen in “The Moment,” her hair didn’t just complete the look—it embodied the chaos, control and contradictions of what the movie is about. “The Moment” is a satirical hyper-pop mockumentary movie starring Charli XCX (as well as Kylie Jenner, Rachel Sennott and Alexander Skarsgård) as a fictionalized version of herself, diving into the alienation, pressure and creative trade-offs that come with pop superstardom after the explosive success of her album “Brat.”
Created by Principal Hairstylist Matt Benns (@mattbenns) using Bumble and bumble., Charli’s signature hairstyle throughout the film is a waist-grazing, inky black wavy look with lime green highlights that leans into texture, movement and a perfectly imperfect finish that mirrors that tension on screen—fully embodying the current messy girl aesthetic hair trend.
Rather than overly polished glam, Matt built a look that feels lived-in—hair that moves, shifts and evolves scene to scene. Here’s exactly how he did it.
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Related: Get Charli XCX’s Inky Black Hair Color Formula
See exclusive behind-the-scenes footage courtesy of Charli’s glam team here:
The Foundation: Softness and Flexibility
Every look started with Bumble and bumble.’s Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer, applied to damp hair before styling. This step created a workable base that could be restyled again and again on set.
The primer smoothed and detangled while protecting against heat, but more importantly, it kept the hair touchable and flexible. In some scenes, Matt even reapplied it lightly at the end to enhance natural texture and definition without adding weight.
The Texture: Undone, Not Unintentional
To achieve that signature “Brat-coded” texture—airy, effortless, slightly rebellious—Matt relied on Thickening Dryspun Texture Spray.
After styling, he used it to lift at the roots, break apart curls and create separation throughout the hair. The result is volume without stiffness and movement that reads naturally on camera, not overworked.
The Detail: Shine Without Sacrificing Movement
Styling Oil was used sparingly but strategically. Matt tapped it in where needed—softening ends, adding subtle shine and refining select pieces.
The key here is control without heaviness. It polished the look just enough while keeping the overall texture intact and fluid.
The Finish: Hold That Moves
To lock everything in place without freezing the hair, Benns finished with Spray de Mode Hairspray.
This step ensured the style held its shape through movement-heavy scenes while still looking touchable. The hold is flexible and buildable, allowing the hair to maintain its natural motion—critical for a performance-driven film like “The Moment.”
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