Inside the massive hairstyling kit Halley Brisker brought with him to create Lily James' slick Met Gala hair

• Lily James attended the 2023 Met Gala on Monday wearing a slick bun and sharp bangs.
• Her hairstyle was the work of her longtime friend and hairstylist Halley Brisker.
• Ahead of the event, Brisker walked Insider through his massive kit and go-to products.

When celebrity hairstylist Halley Brisker traveled to New York City for the 2023 Met Gala, he came prepared.

The "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" event was Brisker's second time styling hair for the fashion-filled fundraiser. He first worked with Nicola Coughlan for her Met Gala debut in 2022 and joined Lily James — his longtime friend and client — this year.

But before the gala, Insider met with Brisker at the Ned Nomad Hotel in New York City to go through his massive hairstyling kit.

He shared his go-to products, discussed the tools he brings as backups, and explained why he packs hundreds of hair products for events like the Met Gala.

What celebrity hairstylist Halley Brisker brought with him to NYC

"I'm very organized, as you can see," Brisker said as he opened a giant travel tote filled with smaller bags of hair supplies. "People are like, 'What the hell?' I have three of everything."

Still, Brisker was quick to note: "This isn't all of it."

His hairstyling kit, as he told Insider, contains hundreds of items. If he counted every bobby pin, hair tie, and styling piece, he estimates the total would be somewhere over 500. 

"I've seen some people with kits where, when they open it, it's just a plastic bag of some hair products and a few combs. That's how they work, you know?" he said. "I just have to have this level of organization to feel like I can create."

For this specific trip, Brisker knew he'd likely style James' hair in a slick bun and micro bangs. So he packed his favorite Olaplex products, Great Lengths hair extensions, and leather flower pieces from Lelet NY.

But he also brought extra supplies in case there was a last-minute change of plans.

"For something like this, I actually prepare up to five potential looks in advance," he said. "So if there's any changes to direction on the day, we're not scratching our heads and saying, 'What should we do?'"

Those extra tools include claw clips, different-colored hair pieces, accessories from France and Japan, stuffing for sky-high updos, and multiples of his go-to electric tools.

"Things blow up!" he said with a laugh. "It's happened to me."

Brisker told Insider there are some events where he truly only needs a few styling products and a comb.

But as he explained, his kit is more than just supplies — it's a reflection of his career.

"This is a collection of 20 years of stuff. That's how long I've been doing hair," he said. "The bits and bobs are constantly evolving — like, you're obviously replenishing products all the time. But then there's little accessories and combs and things that I've had for that whole time in this kit."