Remember the “A Girl’s Halloween” SNL sketch, in which Aidy Bryant and friends spend hours getting all dolled up in their cute-ass costumes only to show the horrific wear and tear on said looks as the night progresses? Hey, it happens. One way to help dodge the costume-gone-askew curse: Skip the wig — which somehow always ends up kattywompus or in the back of a cab — and pick a costume that makes smart use of your real hair.
We’ve already made a case for costumes inspired by celebrity blondes, but this year, it’s the brunettes who have their choice of timely pop culture ensembles. That’s because some of the year’s biggest movies, from Crazy Rich Asians to A Star is Born, are lead by brunettes. Ditto for the TV characters we’d most like to emulate (hello, Bonnie from Big Little Lies). Find the heroine who speaks most to you, inspired by a collection of badass brunette celebs, ahead.
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Janet Jackson as Justice in Poetic Justice
Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Maya freaking Angelou: If you haven’t seen the 1993 John Singleton film Poetic Justice, the legendary cast alone is reason enough. But the movie also serves up some major hair goals, thanks to Jackson’s flowing box braids topped off with an oversized newsboy cap and a pair of hoops.
Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Maya freaking Angelou: If you haven’t seen the 1993 John Singleton film Poetic Justice, the legendary cast alone is reason enough. But the movie also serves up some major hair goals, thanks to Jackson’s flowing box braids topped off with an oversized newsboy cap and a pair of hoops.
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Alison Brie as Zoya the Destroya in Glow
To get the retro look of Glow’s plucky protagonist, gather a boatload of styling products and a prepare yourself for a chunk of time in front of the mirror. The show’s lead hairstylist, Theraesa Rivers, told Refinery29, "Alison Brie's normal hair is naturally a little fine, so there’s a lot of teasing, mousse, and hairspray we have to pack in there, which takes around 30 minutes, but that's what they did in the '80s."
To get the retro look of Glow’s plucky protagonist, gather a boatload of styling products and a prepare yourself for a chunk of time in front of the mirror. The show’s lead hairstylist, Theraesa Rivers, told Refinery29, "Alison Brie's normal hair is naturally a little fine, so there’s a lot of teasing, mousse, and hairspray we have to pack in there, which takes around 30 minutes, but that's what they did in the '80s."
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Lady Gaga as Ally in A Star is Born
It’s a rare thing to see Mother Monster as a brunette or without her signature full-stop glam, which is why we’re particularly drawn to the idea of recreating her character’s every-girl look (sans stick-on brows) in A Star is Born. Well, that and the hair is super low maintenance: Try an uneven center part doused in dry shampoo and third-day waves pieced out with matte pomade to get the look.
It’s a rare thing to see Mother Monster as a brunette or without her signature full-stop glam, which is why we’re particularly drawn to the idea of recreating her character’s every-girl look (sans stick-on brows) in A Star is Born. Well, that and the hair is super low maintenance: Try an uneven center part doused in dry shampoo and third-day waves pieced out with matte pomade to get the look.
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Thandie Newton as Maeve Millay in Westworld
There’s something that just feels right about channeling the robotic doyenne of Mariposa Saloon, who has enough sheer will in her robotic fingertip to topple a man-made universe. Get in on the action with a halo of braids festooned with boa feathers or crimson leaves, then try tips from the show’s own makeup department head for nailing Maeve’s makeup look that outlasts the elements.
There’s something that just feels right about channeling the robotic doyenne of Mariposa Saloon, who has enough sheer will in her robotic fingertip to topple a man-made universe. Get in on the action with a halo of braids festooned with boa feathers or crimson leaves, then try tips from the show’s own makeup department head for nailing Maeve’s makeup look that outlasts the elements.
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Zazie Beetz as Domino in Deadpool
The comic book character exudes power from her hair to the soles of her kickass black boots. Replicate her fluffed Afro on your textured hair by using an Afro pick for ultimate lift and styling products geared to lock in moisture and pump up volume.
The comic book character exudes power from her hair to the soles of her kickass black boots. Replicate her fluffed Afro on your textured hair by using an Afro pick for ultimate lift and styling products geared to lock in moisture and pump up volume.
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Constance Wu as Rachel Chu in Crazy Rich Asians
There are so many luxe looks to choose from when considering the Crazy Rich Asians gold mine for costume inspo — and no wrong choices. We love the idea of channeling this modern princess vibe with a chic chignon and delicate hair vine. Get the look by adding shine spray — and plenty of it — because when it comes to hair nothing says expensive like vibrant, healthy tresses.
There are so many luxe looks to choose from when considering the Crazy Rich Asians gold mine for costume inspo — and no wrong choices. We love the idea of channeling this modern princess vibe with a chic chignon and delicate hair vine. Get the look by adding shine spray — and plenty of it — because when it comes to hair nothing says expensive like vibrant, healthy tresses.
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Zoe Kravitz as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (via Big Little Lies)
When it comes to Audrey Hepburn cosplay, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a typical go-to. But leave it to Big Little Lies’ painfully cool Bonnie to bring something different to the table. Her take on Hepburn’s Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady includes sweeping ultra-long micro braids into an elegant updo and adding a tiny tiara front and center.
When it comes to Audrey Hepburn cosplay, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a typical go-to. But leave it to Big Little Lies’ painfully cool Bonnie to bring something different to the table. Her take on Hepburn’s Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady includes sweeping ultra-long micro braids into an elegant updo and adding a tiny tiara front and center.
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