Why ‘Ma Rainey’s’ Creative Team Used Horsehair to Reflect Authentic Black Hairstyles of the 1920s
variety.comJazz Tangcay Artisans Editor“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” hair department head Mia Neal had never worked with horsehair before until she needed to create wigs for the new Netflix film starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman.Few photographs existed of the real Ma Rainey, known as the “Mother of the Blues,” but costume designer Ann Roth pointed to reading material that suggested Ma’s social status meant she would use wigs imported from Europe and they would be made of the highest quality horsehair.Both Roth and Neal decided they would keep that authentic and Neal, who previously worked on “Uncut Gems,” sought out horsehair to make Ma Rainey’s “performance wig.”Below, Neal shares her mood board and breaks down how she created wigs for the film.
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