Interview With A Hairdresser: Hunger Games Edition -- by Nat Hall

 Well hello!  I am so happy to see you!  Have a seat...now lets talk about what you are thinking for your hair and yourself...Lie back while I wash you.   
I am a modern hairdresser, who does modern things!  I am a part of several Facebook like'ings.  I have taken part in several webinars for haircuts, color, and updo's.  I have educational access to several hair product companies.  One of the greatest thing about being a modern hairdresser is that you get to see what others are doing or working on.  What an opportunity for inspiration and education!  Joico has been such a great place for me as a modern hairdresser.  They post daily on their facebook, for future education, but for the last several months I have witnessed how a book has inspired a hairdresser, or several hairdressers.( NO LESS THAN 16 HAIR STYLISTS. )  

 I am sure that when you are approached by someone like THE HUNGER GAMES Director Gary Ross and make-up artist Ve Neill you immediately agree to participate in a collective inspiration to bring fiction to life. Cherry Petenbrink , colorist for Joico, co-created wigs and hair pieces for 500 extras. 

"Well, that's three done..."

 I can't imagine how exciting it was to go to work every day and think, "What character am I going to be working on?  What color would they be wearing on when they go to watch Katniss being interviewed with Cesar?  Where will they be going to dinner after they watch the episode of the Hunger Game?" 


I think that I am not the only hairdresser that carefully followed these pictures, studied them. I love that there is a lot of imagination going to each hair piece.  NONE of these colors were accidental.  EACH extra had a specific look and color and each hair piece or wig was lovingly colored and styled.  This LOVE and PRECISION and ATTENTION that every extra set in the Capital received on their hair made each person stand out individuals and not just a group.

Though maybe this is a guy you DON'T want to notice...

Katniss, (Jennifer Lawrence), is a ACTUALLY a blonde who was already nominated for an Academy Award already, and last seen and a VERY YOUNG Mystic in the X-Men:First Class.  

She might not be naturally as blonde as been sporting but this makes for a VERY interesting color(correction). The character in the book has long dark (some say black) hair, gray eyes, and olive sunned skin.  As your hairdresser, if you come in, sit in my chair and and say "I want Black Hair. Put black - straight Black from roots to ends!" then you, in MOST cases, will look pale, and your facial features (which are beautiful) will just fade behind that color rather than letting the color highlight those features on your face that need to be seen (your eyes, your nose, your cheeks, your chin).  This is even more tricky when you are dealing with someone who is going behind the camera.  When you are going darker on pre-lightened hair you have put back the pigments that are lacking.   Cherry Petenbrink took this on, and her task was going to be seen -- VIVIDLY SEEN.  

The hair on screen was BEAUTIFUL, it was a natural color, with movement.  There was a point in the movie where I looked at that color and thought to myself, that is the most beautiful brunette that I have ever seen.  I made a point that when the Filler, Tinting, and Refreshing formulations were published in all 3 of my professional publications, I copied them for my personal clients. 


 It wasn't just Katniss color that I watched in awe.  Peeta's character is naturally a darker color, and to take him to a believable lightness for a male is a careful balancing act.  You can go from natural, and beautiful 

to Backstreet Boys via 1990's super quickly. 

I did not expect to see the hard work that I witnessed through photos come to life.  My sister, the English teacher, accompanied me to a showing the Saturday after it opened.  She had expressed her concerns that I would not be able to follow the story seeing how I had not read the book.  Seeing the work that went into the picture for each actor, I honestly didn't care if I ever read the book.  I could VISIBLY see the story through the people and their make-up and hair.  My sister watched Effie, and turned to me and said "She looks just how I thought she would, who is it?"

 When I told her it was Elizabeth Banks under the wig, she was floored.  Ms. Banks wore her hair proudly, and it looked like it was her own.  

 When the movie ended the English Teacher turned to me and said "Can you imagine how amazing it would have been to do hair and make-up for this??"   I nearly cried.  She finally understood where I was coming from!