Angelina Jolie, known for her impeccable style, experienced a major beauty misstep at the 2021 Rome Film Festival during the premiere of Eternals. The event, which was already buzzing with media attention due to Jolie’s starring role, became the backdrop for one of the most noticeable beauty fails in recent memory.
Jolie, who usually exudes chic elegance, appeared with hair extensions that were far from seamless. The extensions, instead of blending naturally with her hair, stuck out awkwardly beneath her natural locks, creating the appearance of an extended mullet. Despite attempts by those around her to adjust the extensions, it was clear that the damage had already been done.
Beauty expert Amber Renee, a well-known makeup artist and hair specialist on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, weighed in on the issue in an exclusive interview with Glam. She explained that the problem likely stemmed from poor blending, which can happen when extensions are not properly installed or styled. The visible gap between Jolie’s natural hair and the extensions suggested they were clip-ins that hadn’t been blended or layered effectively, resulting in a choppy, disconnected look.
Renee explained that flawless red-carpet beauty is akin to a magic trick—where the goal is to hide the work behind a perfect finish. Unfortunately, Jolie’s extensions were anything but subtle, drawing attention instead of blending seamlessly.
“Extensions should blend so well with natural hair that they become virtually invisible,” Renee said. “What we saw with Jolie was a classic case of poor blending, which can happen with clip-ins if they’re not layered correctly.”
Renee also speculated that the mishap might have occurred during Jolie’s wardrobe change. Earlier that day, Jolie had sported her usual mid-length hairstyle, so the extension issue appeared to be a last-minute styling error.
For events like the Rome Film Festival, Renee suggests using tape-in or keratin-bonded extensions instead of clip-ins, as these types lay flatter against the scalp and offer a more natural finish. Additionally, the color and texture of the extensions were mismatched. Jolie’s natural hair has warm brunette tones, but the extensions had a slightly different hue, making them stand out even more.
“Color and texture matching are crucial,” Renee emphasized. “The extensions should have matched both the color and the undertones of Jolie’s natural hair to create a seamless blend.”
Furthermore, the texture and density of the extensions also played a role in the misstep. Jolie’s finer hair would have been better suited to lightweight or double-drawn extensions, which create a softer, more natural look without appearing bulky.
While it’s easy to critique the choice of products in hindsight, Renee noted that there are always steps a stylist can take to fix the issue. “If clip-ins were the only option, the extensions should have been layered, trimmed, and texturized to match her natural hair,” she explained. A quick pass with a curling iron could have helped to blend everything together.
Today’s hair extension technology offers solutions to avoid such blunders. “Invisible tape-in extensions are virtually undetectable and perfect for red-carpet events,” Renee said. If Jolie had used this more modern option, the look could have been flawless at the Eternals premiere.
In the end, the mishap serves as a reminder that even celebrities aren’t immune to beauty blunders. However, with the advancements in hair extension technology, such mistakes are becoming easier to avoid.
