Academy Awards 2014: Kerry Washington’s hair stylist explains her look

Kerry Washington’s baby bump, draped in custom Jason Wu, was at the center of her gorgeous Oscar ensemble, but her relaxed waves punctuated the look.

Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, Washington’s hair stylist of the last 15 years, breaks down the “Scandal” star’s winning Oscar beauty:

“I saw the Jason Wu dress and knew right away that she had to have a lot of hair and texture,” says Sturdivant-Drew. “Also, I wanted it to look kind of beachy, because of the dress was strapless and skin baring.”

More Oscar fashion galleries: Best and worst dressed | Stars on the red carpet | Makeup and hair | Men’s fashionShe prepped Washington’s hair by washing it with Neutrogena Triple Repair Shampoo and Conditioner to give her hair shine.

She then blow dried Washington’s hair with a HairArt Blow dryer and Mason Pearson Brush, setting the dryer at medium in order to get volume without straightening the actress’ hair. A HairArt H3000 Heat Brush Pro gave Washington’s hair more volume at the roots, and a few flicks from a flat iron to the ends of the hair gave it the piecey, beachy texture the hair stylist was aiming for.

“I teased the roots to get an even volume all around,” says Sturdivant-Drew. For the romantic half up-half down hair do, she decided to pull up the top part of the hair in sections, starting with the left, then right, then center.

“Pulling the hair up separately and creating sections gives me better control,” she says. “I pinned it with bobby pins in an X shape, because it pulls the hair tighter.”

Despite the rain, Sturdivant-Drew didn’t use any hair spray or product to shellac the hair into place.

“Wavy hair is better in this weather.” She says. “Straight hair would have been a problem, but this is great hair weather.”