It's hard to believe that last month marked the 25th anniversary of the release of the groundbreaking hit film Working Girl. Who can forget the smart, plucky, and lovable Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith), who struggled to break through barriers and rise from Wall Street secretary to executive?
Griffith wore loads of gold jewelry, heavy make-up and big, big teased hair. (It was the '80s, after all.) Alan D'Angerio, the department head and hair stylist on Working Girl, remembers creating a very teased and frizzy look for Griffith. "I would throw Melanie's hair in rollers, tease her hair in the front, bring it forward, and spray it to death," he recalled. "I didn't even blend it."
In fact, her big red tresses are a key part of the story. As Tess realizes that she has a chance to finally prove herself, she tells her equally big-haired friend Cyn (who stands behind her with scissors), "You want to be taken seriously, you need serious hair." Her hair makeover proves to be transformative. The new hairdo is conservative and super-sensible, and helps propel her forward in the corporate world.
"In a film, hair can create and give personality to a character," says Julien Farel, celebrity hair stylist and owner of Julien Farel Haircare. "It's amazing." Over the years, we've seen some wild hairstyles in film. Take a look at some of our favorites.