Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1545191
24 • THE ARTISAN SUMMER 2026 HAIR Continued from page 21 dynamic, but you also feel inspired by their performances. That same sense of connection is carried through every department. Collaboration was truly the heartbeat of this show. Working alongside Wonder Man costume designer Joy Cretton was incredibly inspiring—her work informed every hair decision and gave me a clear understanding of each character before a single strand was touched. Marvel held regular creative "show-and-tell" meetings with Destin, Andrew Guest, Brian Gay, our directors, and department heads across hair, make-up, costume, and production design. These meetings became a space where ideas evolved in real time and collaboration was constantly encouraged. I created extensive hair boards for each character, as well as for background performers, which became an essential part of shaping the overall visual language of the show. My goal throughout was to ensure the characters felt real and grounded—keeping the hair natural and never overly polished, always staying true to the people we were creating and the story we were telling. This was my first time collaborating on a show with Department Head Make-up Miho Suzuki—whom I've known for many years— and my third show with Co-Department Head Make-up Angel Radefeld-Wright. It was great to create alongside both familiar faces and artists who share such a deep love for storytelling. I intentionally built my core hair team with flexibility in mind so I could bring on hair stylists and barbers based on the specific skill sets needed for each moment. It was essential to have the right artist for the right task. This approach also allowed me to bring in many talented members of our Local 706 family during a time when opportunities were limited due to the industry slowdown ahead of the strike. For my core team, I brought on Kent Nelson as my Assistant Department Head. Kent is an exceptional talent, particularly in wigs. The incredible Nick Castellanos joined as Yahya's personal barber, alongside Traci Garrett, Natita Stribling, and Candi Russell, all of whom bring unique hair styling techniques and an artistry I deeply admire— making them perfect for this show. They were joined by many other incredible artists you'll hear more about throughout. For Simon Williams, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, the goal was to visually track his evolution through three distinct stages. I worked closely with Yahya and his longtime barber, Nick Castellanos—whose precision and understanding of texture were instrumental in grounding the character's transformation. Simon begins as a struggling actor, so we kept his look clean but slightly undone. Nick knew exactly how to shape his cut and style, keeping his hairline softly tapered rather than sharply defined to give him a natural, approachable quality. I custom-colored his hair to a deeper brown so it would read consistently across all lighting conditions while still feeling subtle and real. When Simon lands Wonder Man, we gradually elevated his look. For the premiere, Nick refined the cut with a more defined lineup, and I deepened the color once more to enhance richness. The shift is subtle but powerful. Because we block-shot much of the series, continuity became its own craft. Nick used compression techniques to preserve shorter silhouettes. Designing Trevor Slattery required honoring an established character while evolving him for this series. Working from wigs created in a previous Marvel project for Trevor, I collaborated with Sir Ben, Destin, Andrew Guest, Brian Gay, and Joy Cretton to develop Trevor's new hair look. What an honor to take care of Sir Ben and design his hair for Trevor and the Mandarin. Trevor's wardrobe suggested a wise, expressive actor, and I wanted his hair to reflect that sensibility. I collaborated with wig maker Justin Stafford to completely X Mayo as Janelle Jackson