How hairstylist Laini Reeves created Emily Blunt's laid-back bun for the 2023 Met Gala

• Emily Blunt attended the 2023 Met Gala on Monday night in a custom Michael Kors ensemble.
• She also wore a laid-back bun created by her longtime hairstylist Laini Reeves.

Need some hair inspiration post-Met Gala? Look no further than Emily Blunt.

The "Jungle Cruise" actor made a fashionable appearance at the "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" event on Monday night, wearing a custom Michael Kors ensemble and a laid-back, messy bun atop her head.

The latter perfectly complemented her complex look, adding more texture while still keeping the focus on her fashion.

Just hours before the big night, hairstylist Laini Reeves spoke with Insider about how she planned the style, the affordable products she used to create it, and what it's like to work with Blunt on events like the Met Gala.

Laini Reeves planned Emily Blunt's Met Gala hairstyle in just a few days

"We sort of knew what she would be wearing about a week ago, so we were going off the designer's timeline," Reeves told Insider.

She said she focused on the outfit's high neckline and thought about how it would impact Blunt's hairstyle.

"If it's something up here," Reeves said while gesturing to her neck, "then you're not going to have loads of hair. We're thinking, hair's gotta be gone. It's gotta be an updo, or something like that."

It was also key for Reeves to collaborate with fashion stylist Jessica Paster, makeup artist Jenn Streicher, and Blunt herself.

"For this type of thing, you can go a bit more extreme — but I know my limits with her," Reeves said about working with the actor. "There's no point in me showing up going, 'OK, we're gonna do this. We're gonna do that.' Because she'll be like, 'Hell no, it ain't gonna happen.'"

That said, she focused on making sure Blunt felt comfortable and confident in the hairstyle they chose.

"She has to carry it. She has to feel confident, and she has to feel beautiful," Reeves said. "If I'm doing a hairstyle and she's not feeling it, you'll see it straight away."

They decided on a 'less is more' approach with the messy bun

Reeves said she doesn't usually do much prep when working with Blunt because the actor "always shows up with really lovely, clean hair."

"She's actually very thoughtful and a really good client to work with because she always thinks ahead," the hairstylist said. "Normally, she goes a little bit far and tries to style it herself! I have to back her up a little bit, calm her down, and say, 'No, no, no, no.'"

So for the Met Gala, Reeves was able to focus on styling. She used a selection of items from John Frieda's Frizz Ease line and minimal tools.

"I never use products that are really hard, like alcohol-based. I always use things that are more natural and more cream-based," she added.

As for the bun's placement, she typically tries updos "two or three times" to see what spot suits the outfit best.

It doesn't take Reeves and Blunt too long to complete hairstyles like the one she wore on Monday. Still, Reeves said she and the actor usually pencil in three hours together.

"That's purely because we talk," Reeves said with a laugh. "We might order some lunch. It doesn't physically take that long to get it ready. We just make it an event."

Ultimately, Reeves knew that less would be more with such a standout outfit on Monday night.

"Choosing the right thing for a look from head to toe is the right way to go," Reeves said. "So if that means I just do some really slick little bun, I'll make sure it's the best slick I've ever done and that it's done to perfection. That's what it's about."