E! News Reporter Calls Chase Infiniti’s Oscars Braids “Almost Undone”
Chase Infiniti’s Oscars Hair Moment Turns Into a Bigger Conversation
Chase Infiniti’s appearance on the 2026 Oscars red carpet turned into more than a fashion moment after commentary about her hairstyle sparked debate online.
The One Battle After Another star arrived in a custom lilac Louis Vuitton gown with cascading ruffles, paired with natural glam and boho knotless braids styled by celebrity hairstylist Coree Moreno, according to theGrio’s report and red carpet coverage.
During E! News’ red carpet coverage, a commentator described Infiniti’s hair as “almost like undone,” while also saying the look mirrored the ruffles on her dress.
While some viewers took the remark as an attempt at praise, others said the wording immediately stood out because Chase Infiniti’s Oscars braids were recognizable to many Black women as a familiar protective style with loose curls and braided texture.
Why the Comment Hit a Nerve
The reaction online was not just about one phrase. For many viewers, it echoed a long history of Black hair being misread, mislabeled, or treated as unusual in mainstream fashion and entertainment spaces.
That is part of why the conversation moved so quickly beyond a single red carpet moment and into a larger discussion about who gets to define what polished, formal, or “done” looks like.
The backlash also brought back memories of the 2015 Oscars, when Giuliana Rancic drew criticism for comments about Zendaya’s faux locs, saying the young star looked like she smelled of “patchouli oil or maybe weed.”
Zendaya later said those remarks left her “in awe,” and the controversy became one of the most cited examples of stereotypes and ignorance surrounding Black hair in celebrity media coverage.
Chase Infiniti Said the Look Was Intentional
Infiniti has been clear that her hair choices are not accidental. Speaking with Essence on the red carpet, she said the decision to wear curls and braids in formal settings is deliberate and rooted in showing the full range and beauty of Black hair.
“It is intentional,” Infiniti told Essence.
“I’m in this very fortunate place where I have an incredible team around me, and we can showcase curls in their full beauty and also show that, like, they can be dressed up, and you don’t have to show up with a silk press to every event because that’s what is, I guess, palatable for people.”
She added that it is important to show the versatility of Black hair, including braids on a night as visible as the Oscars.
Braids Were Part of the Night’s Bigger Style Story
Infiniti was not the only Black star to wear braids on Hollywood’s biggest night. TheGrio reported that Sinners director Ryan Coogler also used braids as a form of visual storytelling on the carpet, wearing cornrows shaped into a musical note and guitar as a nod to his film.
Essence separately highlighted Coogler’s braid look as part of his awards season styling.
That broader context is part of what made the reaction around Chase Infiniti’s Oscars braids so pointed. To many viewers, the issue was not simply whether the comment was meant kindly.
It was that Black hair is still too often filtered through language that suggests it is unfinished, unusual, or outside the standard of glamour, even when the styling is plainly intentional and expertly executed.
