Real fans know that there have been several iterations of Captain Marvel, but Carol Danvers — the version Brie Larson plays in the big-screen adaptation hitting theaters this weekend — has transformed perhaps the most since her DNA was altered and she became a human-Kree hybrid in 1977. Though her journey to the top has been questionable at best, Larson is quickly making the unsung hero of the Marvel universe the most powerful Avenger, ever.
But becoming Captain Marvel didn’t just require intense training for Larson. In addition to all the hours she clocked in the gym, Larson underwent some major cosmetic transformations, too. Not all superheroes wear capes, but a hell of a lot of them wear wigs — and this movie was no exception.
We asked hair department head, Camille Friend, everything you need to know about Larson’s Captain Marvel makeover, as well as some bonus beauty details in the film — including how Samuel L. Jackson aged in reverse as Nick Fury and why Jude Law sported unexpected, alien highlights. Her answers, ahead.
One Small Step For Marvel, One Giant Step For Womankind
After working on several films in the Marvel universe (including Black Panther and Captain America), Friend was ready to help this female superhero come to life. "Our executive producer on the film, Patricia Whitcher, told me they were planning on filming another Marvel movie and it’d be about a female superhero, so I said, ‘Sign me up!’"
Friend knew early on that Captain Marvel would be special. "I was ready to do it because I love being a part of the origin stories in Marvel. You get to really explore the character, the universe, and create something no one has seen yet," she says. "And, it’s the first female lead [in the MCU]. It felt near and dear to my heart."
Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Pictures.
Larson’s Wig Had To Fly
Just like Beyoncé, Larson’s hair had to move just right against artificial wind — and getting the texture perfect was a priority for Friend. "We decided to put her in a lace-front wig for the role that basically matched her natural hair," Friend says. "We use a lot of wigs in the Marvel world, because they’re easier to work with and there are double or triple people on set for stunts who have to look very much like the actor."
The color was also dyed to match Larson’s exactly. "It was naturally an ombré color and we added just a few different shades of blonde and some darker shades at the root to blend," Friend says. "Our wig maker, Natascha Ladek, made it so well."
Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Pictures.
If Captain Marvel Travels Through Time, So Does Brie Larson
Captain Marvel is technically a ’90s period piece, which means the hairstyles had to be as reminiscent of the decade as the retro soundtrack. "My partner on this film, makeup artist Heba Thorisdottir, hammered out the ’90s looks with me," Friend says. "We wanted to find something that was from that period, but still stood the test of time." The two ended up pulling inspiration from rocker icons like Stevie Nicks and Chrissie Hynde.
But even more important than mimicking the looks from decades past was cohesion between Larson’s multiple personalities: Danvers, Vers (an elite Kree warrior), and Captain Marvel. To maintain consistency, Friend decided to keep her wigs all the same length.
Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Pictures.
Maria Rambeau’s Hair Is A Major Throwback
Lashana Lynch, who plays Danver’s best friend and fellow pilot, Maria Rambeau, is the breakout star of this movie. "She’s just so absolutely lovely," Friend gushes. "And I’ve talked about this with so many people." Friend wanted Lynch’s hairstyle in the film to be equally unforgettable. "It had to be ’90s, but it also had to be iconic," Friend explains. "We pulled inspiration from Halle Berry’s hair in the ’90s and Vivica A. Fox’s character, Frankie, in Set It Off."
Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Pictures.
Relax! No One Forgot About The Mohawk
Besides all the petty men who are trying to ruin this film’s Rotten Tomatoes score, the biggest debate and controversy surrounding Captain Marvel involves her hair. When the first teaser trailer debuted, and showed only a tiny glimpse of Marvel’s iconic Mohawk, loyal fans freaked out. Well, you can relax, because Friend confirmed the Mohawk does get the air time it deserves, and they spent a painstakingly long time to get it right.
"We really had to work hard on that one," Friend says. "We had to get the texture and the color right, but also figure out how to get it to stand up and move properly when Brie was moving."
Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Pictures.
Samuel L. Jackson Found The Fountain Of Youth
To make Jackson age in reverse, Friend said she went through old photos of the actor, using his real-life look in the ’90s as inspiration. "He knew he was going to have to look younger, so we started doing testing on him about nine months before we even starting filming," Friend says. "I found old photos of him to check where his hairline was at that time and where we had to get it right with his wig in the movie."
Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Pictures.
Jude Law Rocks The Hell Out Of Amber Highlights
Like Friend said, most of the characters in this film depended on wigs, with one amazing exception: Jude Law as Yon-Rogg. Although he got to keep his signature haircut ("I love his fauxhawk," says Friend), she decided to dye his hair to match to the amber-colored contacts he wore as the Kree military officer. "I knew we needed to pop his hair," she recalls. "I went in and added some lighter pieces all over his head, and then he was in his look."
Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Pictures.
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Source: Refinery29 – Samantha Sasso