Period Films: Why is the Hair So Bad? Writers Don't Make this Mistake

Thank god for Netflix.  After binging over the past weeks on Breaking Bad, Orange is the New Black and The Walking Dead, last night I decided to enjoy a bit of retro schlock that I found on an internet list of best films on Netflix: Mel Gibson's Braveheart.  While I readily admit to thoroughly enjoying the movie, I struggled to get past the hair, that mane of tinted '90's locks atop the Scottish hero's head that looks more Kurt Cobain than William Wallace.

Which led me to think of a bigger question, that is: Why are Hollywood period dramas so bad with the hair?  The thing is, we're supposed to be transported into another era, another realm.  And movies often do this very well.  But for some reason, no matter what the era or the century, the stars typically have thoroughly modern hair (though often the supporting characters actually have more realistic period styles).

I will be the first to admit that when watching a new period piece I don't notice this.  The hair just looks normal and does not distract from whatever 'time' is supposed to be portrayed.  But as time passes, the anachronism becomes apparent.

Liz Taylor in Cleopatra? I would bet that audiences at the time were wowed by the authentic historical recreation.  Watch it now and it's difficult to get past that perfectly coiffed bundle of 1960's hair atop Cleopatra's head.

Kate Winslet's hair in Sense and Sensibility?  Looks pretty '90's if you ask me.

I don't wish to belabor the point as (I'll be the first to admit) it is a petty one.  And one that applies to women more than men as all you need to do for a man in a period film is plop a top hat atop the leading man's head.  But I do wish that, when going to such great lengths to accurately recreate a specific time or place, that more would be done to make authentic those mops atop the stars' heads.

While I have focused here on movies, the real advice goes out to authors of period fiction.  Don't make this same type of mistake.  Pay attention to details, including appearance.  Readers are an astute lot and historical errors will detract from their enjoyment.