6 episodes
Wigs and Makeup National Theatre
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- Arts
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4.5 • 4 Ratings
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Hair and makeup provide the finishing touches to the creation of a character. A team of makeup artists and wig makers take care of the actors' heads and bodies before and during every show. Capable of creating burns or scars, dreadlocks or beards, the wig and makeup team at the National Theatre are a highly skilled and essential part of any production.
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Buying and storing hair
Real human hair is bought from a hair merchant and stored in the Wig Department.
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Different styles of wig
Staff in the Wig Department are always learning new skills for creating different styles of wigs.
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Facial hair
Beards, moustaches, eyebrow hair, sideburns and even armpit hair are all examples of smaller hairpieces which may need to be made.
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Knotting a wig
Hairs on a wig are knotted individually or in small groups into the foundation. Avoiding tangles can be tricky!
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Storing a wig
All the wigs made at the National are kept in big plastic boxes in the storeroom, as many can be adapted to suit another show at a later date.
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Wigs overview
The Wig Department is responsible for hair, wigs and special effects make-up. Wigs are quite often worn when a character needs a particular hairstyle but doesn't have natural hair which is entirely suitable. The National handmakes its wigs, and most are made to measure or adapted from existing stock.