Sarah Hindsgaul, the head of the hair department for “Stranger Things,” collaborated with wig maker Rob Pickens and the skilled hair team to infuse the fourth season of the popular Netflix series with significant volume and frizz.
This season showcases a range of iconic hairstyles, from the matching perms of characters Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono) to Eddie Munson’s (Joseph Quinn) dusty rocker look. Notably, Hindsgaul, who recently received an Emmy nomination for outstanding period and/or character hairstyling, estimated that they worked with over 250 wigs for this season.
In describing the creative process, Hindsgaul emphasized the essence of movement inherent in the ’80s aesthetic. She shared her fascination with the era, noting its intriguing and liberating aspects. However, she acknowledged the challenges of capturing the spirit of the ’80s without making it appear outdated or rigid. According to Hindsgaul, the key was to strike a balance that celebrated the era’s dynamism without falling into the trap of making it look too conventional or stifled.
As the adolescents maneuver through the daunting terrain of high school, Hindsgaul emphasized the importance of ensuring that the hairstyles of each character mirror their emotional journey and development over the years. She expressed the belief that during this stage of life, individuals experiment with various looks and styles as they seek to understand themselves. “It is part of being that age where you look up to others, try different things, and that’s how you figure out who you are,” she remarked.
Highlighting Lucas’ (Caleb McLaughlin) high-top fade, she noted that it symbolizes his “eagerness to blend in” with the popular crowd at Hawkins High and his attempt to “distance himself from his usual group.” On the other hand, Mike’s (Finn Wolfhard) longer hairstyle in this season is predominantly influenced by his newfound idol, the beloved breakout character Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn). She mentioned, “The Hellfire Club has a distinct aesthetic, so I’m working on integrating both [Mike] and Dustin into that, but they haven’t quite nailed it yet.”
To accentuate Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) assimilation into the Byers family, Hindsgaul, recognizing her tendency to “[melt] into her surroundings,” bestowed upon Eleven the distinctive “Byers bang cut,” closely resembling Joyce’s (Winona Ryder) style.
Hindsgaul shared a humorous anecdote about the trailer dynamics, saying, “It’s amusing when people walk into the trailer and see their continuity pictures on the walls.” She recounted a particular moment with Winona Ryder, who exclaimed, “Oh, that’s me,” and then realized, “Oh my God, that’s Millie!” It was endearing to witness the striking resemblance between the two in their continuity photos.
While many characters have maintained their iconic looks since Season 1, like Will Byers’ (Noah Schnapp) enduring bowl cut, Jim Hopper (David Harbour) undergoes a dramatic change in “Stranger Things 4” with a completely shaved head. The Hawkins police chief, presumed dead after the Starcourt Mall explosion in Season 3’s finale, finds himself imprisoned and tortured in a Russian prison camp in the latest season.
In a brief 20-second scene, Jim’s shaggy locks and mustache are shaved off by a fellow inmate, and Hindsgaul revealed that the crew had only one opportunity to capture the moment. In preparation for this single take, the hair department devoted a full day to instructing the extra playing the “gulag barber” on how to properly hold the razor and where to begin shaving Harbour’s head.
“He had practiced a lot of shaving on [about 25] inmates, and that’s how we rehearsed it,” Hindsgaul explained. “I was worried he might get nervous, but he was really committed to it. Spending time on [the shaving] helped him become comfortable with the process.”
“Stranger Things 4” also brings back one of the series’ most iconic looks from its first season: Eleven’s buzz cut.
Following the fifth episode, a lingering question among viewers was, “Did Millie Bobby Brown shave her head again?” As it turns out, the short hairdo is, in fact, a wig.
“No one has crafted a wig like this before,” Hindsgaul remarked. “It had to replicate something universally recognized. If the buzz cut suddenly appeared markedly different, it would lose its authenticity, and that was something we wanted to avoid.” Hindsgaul explained that a hairstyle as short as a buzz cut would traditionally involve prosthetics. However, given that Brown was still a child actor during filming, Hindsgaul had to devise a strategy to recreate the iconic buzz cut within a constrained timeframe.
Studying Brown’s hairline and head shape, Hindsgaul was determined not to have the actress appear as if she were wearing a “bulky, old hat.” This led to months of experimentation with application techniques, and a collaborative effort with wig maker Rob Pickens to achieve the perfect illusion.
“We incorporated multiple layers of silk into the design to achieve a sense of transparency in the wig,” Hindsgaul explained. The entire application process, involving three hair stylists, took approximately 30 minutes each time, with nearly half of that time dedicated to wetting, slicking back, and tightly wrapping Millie Bobby Brown’s hair.
Despite the formidable challenge posed by the delicate nature of the wig — which had three variations rotated throughout filming — Hindsgaul regards the buzzed look as her personal favorite this season. “I had to push myself to my limit,” Hindsgaul remarked. “It’s not often that you find yourself wondering, ‘Is this even possible?’”
“Stranger Things” Season 4 is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
Source: https://dominioncinemas.net
Category: Artisans