There’s perhaps no one better placed to advise us on looking our absolute best for the festive social circuit than Ms Laila Hayani. In her years as a highly sought-after celebrity groomer, she’s helped prep some of Hollywood’s most handsome men (Messrs Dan Levy, Winston Duke and Kit Harrington to reel off a few names) for a smorgasbord of swanky premieres, galas and award ceremonies. Safe to say, then, that she has a veritable gold mine of tips for getting camera-ready for a big night – one that we at MR PORTER have duly raided. From refreshing locs and braids to concealing a pesky blemish that’s gate-crashing for the night, read on to discover the insider tricks and holy-grail products she swears by.

For most men, party preparations kick off with a shape-up. But how far in advance should one make a date with the barber? “I advise getting a haircut one or two days before,” says Hayani (who herself trained at barber school and always has her clippers and comb handy). “Hair looks good when it’s fresh and crisp, but there’s something a little more believable when it has a day or two of growth and the texture of it starts to get into its normal direction.”

The same thinking goes for your wash routine. “If your hair runs dry, then the day before is best because then you have that natural oil and texture to work with,” she says. “For hair that’s finer and oilier, then I would do it the day of. Although if you do wash it the night before, you can just use a dry shampoo to absorb any excess oil.”

Meticulous skincare prep is key to a polished final look, and it pays to start planning a couple of days in advance. “One thing I try to advise my clients is that if they going to do a peel or use anything that has a [high-strength] acid, it should be two or three days prior, so their skin is not extra sensitive from exfoliation,” says Hayani. Layering in hydration begins the night before the big day, when clients are stocked up with sheet masks.

For depuffing, tightening and hydrating the under-eyes on the day, Hayani turns to 111SKIN eye masks. “They’re great for men, since that area may not be used to too much application of creams, so it’s the best way to surge it with moisture and make sure the skin has absorbed the product.” This is followed up by a hydrating toner with fruit acids to gently slough away dead skin cells and help any products applied thereafter penetrate deeper.

Then, she recommends using a moisturiser, such as La Mer’s Moisturizing Matte Lotion. “It’s the perfect marriage of ultra-hydration and a satin-matte finish,” says Hayani. “You don’t have to worry about your skin overproducing oil, and it helps to even out the pH and just calm the skin down.” Finally, she applies La Mer’s lip balm to ensure maximum hydration without any oily residue.

’Tis the season to switch things up, we say. If you’re open to experimenting with your hair for upcoming soirees, try drawing inspiration from the slicked, side-parted look sported by Dan Levy at this year’s Met Gala (and executed by none other than Ms Hayani). “Dan’s hair is just magic,” she tells us. “But it’s naturally curly and to set it I had to act as if it was naturally straight.”

How exactly did she go about it? “The process involved blowing it out and then straightening it in the areas that created waves. Then once I got the hair in the position, I wanted to set it in, I started to slick it back with water, applied an ultra-high-gloss gel and then blow-dried it. Ideally use a diffuser – too much pressure can interrupt the structure you’ve created, whereas a diffuser gives a nice amount of heat to set the hair in the direction you need it to be in.”

There’s nothing textured hair loves more than hydration, and for clients sporting a full ’fro, Hayani sets about locking in layers of moisture. “Before clients wash their hair, they have to make sure they’re using a great conditioner, but once they’re in my chair and it’s dry then I use more of a leave-in.” A steel pick is then deployed for fluffing hair out from the root, while maximum glossiness is achieved by massaging in castor oil and applying a spray sheen.

As a go-to groomer for Messrs Lewis Hamilton and Luka Sabbat, Hayani is also experienced in reviving braids and locs for photoshoots and red carpets. The secret to getting them to look their most lustrous on the night? “I recondition them with a foam and set that into hair. Then I tie it down with a thin, breathable [scarf] and place a diffuser on top to the let the product dry into the braids without interrupting the texture.” From here, edges and flyaways can be smoothed and set into place with the help of an edge brush and a pomade.

By now, you’ll have heard us extol the benefits of a light touch of make up here and there but prepping for the red carpet is a whole different ball game. Under the glare of HD cameras and unforgiving flash photography, blemishes and dark circles are magnified and illuminated – and as such Hayani has become well-versed in applying product that’s imperceptible.

A stick concealer is your best friend here: picking a good-quality product that’s packed with pigment will mean a little goes a long way and Hayani recommends covering up blemishes using a small, tapered brush and then buffing it out with a finger. Meanwhile, glistening foreheads can be avoided with the use of an oil-absorbing translucent powder – Hayani prefers to apply it with a brush and then touch up with a sponge – and keeping blotting papers on hand throughout the evening.

There’s a long-running joke on the internet that facial hair is really just the male equivalent of contour, deftly employed to hide a multitude of sins. One could say there’s an element of truth to the statement, as a well-defined beard can really sculpt a jawline, while groomed brows add structure to the face. A pair of tweezers is your best bet for polishing up any straggling stray hairs that have popped up since your trip to the barber. But what to do about facial hair that could use a little bit of a helping hand?

“A lot of guys have great beards with volume and texture, but there can be gaps which the camera can pick up,” says Hayani. “The issue with that is if there’s more volume or hair one side than the other, that imbalances the symmetry of the face.” The solution, she says, is a beard-defining mascara, which can be used to cover up any patchy areas, as well the odd grey. Sparse brows, meanwhile, are filled in with the help of a pencil or powder (although for the less skilled, we suggest a swipe of the Brow Definer by TOM FORD).

“For a lot of men, nails are often the last thing they think about,” Hayani says. Regretfully so, as the show-stopping watch you’ve pulled out of the vault just for the evening won’t be afforded its due if hands aren’t well-maintained. A pre-party manicure is a treat worth indulging in, as a pro technician can ensure nails are immaculately clipped, filed and buffed, and cuticles are tidy and hydrated (warning: the results will likely lead to you to making it a regular expenditure). For an at-home quick fix, however, Hayani recommends applying an all-purpose balm around the cuticle and nail bed to combat any dryness.

The nail-polish-for-men trend might not appeal to everyone, but even those with conservative tastes can benefit from a clear, non-shiny coat. “It gives you an immediate manicure that looks well-groomed and like you’ve actually put some effort in,” says Hayani. Finally, seal in all your hard work with a bit of lotion – a dedicated hand cream by the likes of Le Labo or Byredo is not only thicker and more concentrated than a standard body product but will smell absolutely glorious to boot.

The people featured in this story are not associated with and do not endorse MR PORTER or the products shown