Key Hair

The Key Hair leads the hair department. This position is separate from makeup, even if both often work in the same trailer — hair is its own craft with its own continuity.

Responsibilities

• Design. Hairstyles per character and time period, coordinated with the director, cinematographer, and costume designer.
• Wigs and hairpieces — procurement, fitting, maintenance. A hand-tied wig requires weeks of lead time.
• Continuity. Photos for each scene, because shooting is done in production order, not narrative order.
• Team. Assignment of hairdressers to base camp and set.

The Conflict That Always Arises

Hair grows and color fades — over a multi-week shoot, the character changes without anyone doing anything. Trimming and recoloring during the shoot is therefore planned work, not an exception.