Oscars 2012: The Best And Worst Hair And Makeup Of The Night

HuffPost Social Reading

Every year around this time, we camp out in front of the TV and brace ourselves for the stunning, but oft-underwhelming beauty looks that come traipsing down the red carpet. Whose chignon will be the most perfectly-sized? Who will nail smokey eye makeup better than the rest?

While awards season hair and makeup seems formulaic at this point, we were honestly surprised by the number of ladies (and fellas) who brought it tonight: Viola Davis went au naturel, Gwyneth was literally glowing and Angelina Jolie looked the prettiest (and happiest) she has in a while. While there were mostly successes, there were unfortunately a few who fell short. See all the standouts -- the good, the bad and the meh -- in our beauty gallery below.

And check out our picks for Oscars 2012 worst-dressed and Oscars 2012 best-dressed. And after all that, see many more Oscars 2012 red carpet looks over at HuffPost Style.

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02:38 PM on 03/01/2012
Very nice and modern hair lokking

Thanx

Om Prakash Nagar
10:30 PM on 02/29/2012
Milla Jovovich!Love her,love her film!!

------ We may live alone,but we are not longly.we are all here:[pozmates]-[c][0][m].----------
05:41 PM on 02/29/2012
Where's Rose Byrne? We don't see her often enough!
02:36 AM on 02/29/2012
Rooney Mara looks great!
12:08 PM on 02/28/2012
Mara looked like Olive Oyl. Horrible, unflattering dress too
08:40 PM on 02/27/2012
Seeing all those buns and the woman wearing them, now I've lost my appetite for danish for good!
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Portann
Lola: Punish the deed not the breed
05:02 PM on 02/27/2012
Hail to Queen Angelina. Breathtakingly beautiful, as always.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Skiwee
Just taking my time...
02:35 PM on 02/27/2012
I Much prefer Brad with long hair, but he isn't aging well, is he!
08:34 PM on 02/27/2012
nope, but who over 40 with a slew of kids does, lol.
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JC2009USA
Everybody has an opinion
01:08 PM on 02/27/2012
There were quite a few hits and misses on the Oscar's carpet...I thought Natalie Portman was lovely all round, I thought most improved was Miley Cyrus who's gown/hair/makeup was lovely...probably the best I've ever seen her look.

Melissa McCarthy - sorry didn't like the dress or the hair; never heard of Berenice Bejo...but her hair was bad; Shailene Woodley - bad hair; Rooney Mara - bad hair - with the jet black color and straight severe bangs - pulling it back made it look even more severe...
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
BBLOND
Anyone but Obama
12:35 PM on 02/27/2012
Milla is pretty but looks like a man!
02:36 AM on 02/29/2012
lol its possible to do both simultaneously?
03:17 AM on 02/29/2012
only if ur leonardo dicaprio
12:25 PM on 02/27/2012
Jolie looked horrible!!!!!! Is she ill? Her pose was so stupid to the "real" world. What was she trying to do? She is so skinny now she is looking emaciated, and old. Why would anyone think she is the most beautiful woman? Not only is she NOT the most beautiful, she is not even beautiful!!!!
05:21 PM on 02/27/2012
My My Such hatred you have towards one person. Is it jealousy? Envy? FEAR??
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
12:06 PM on 02/27/2012
My husband's comment about A Jolie? He texted me, "AJ looks scary"

Who has given her this Moniker, Most Beautiful Woman in the World and why do we keep seeing this title attached to her name? I can't think of 10 people....men or women....who would agree with this.
12:27 PM on 02/27/2012
THANK YOU!
05:22 PM on 02/27/2012
Well than ask 90 more and you will very likely get at least a 65-70% approval of her as Beautiful AND ELEGANT.
08:43 PM on 02/27/2012
that woman is a natural beauty, we should all be so lucky.
11:50 AM on 02/27/2012
Some absurdly bad bangs (Ellie Kemper and Rona Mara)
09:33 AM on 02/27/2012
Sorry, but Rooney Mara looked stunning!! I didn't get any minnie mouse vibe. She was actually one of the most completely (hair, m/u, dress, shoes) put together looks of the evening, flawless (re; her styling).
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
alsm9
Bombshell
11:13 AM on 02/27/2012
I agree. I though Mara looked fantastic!
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09:31 AM on 02/27/2012
Minnie brain observation by this writer .

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