Styling the Stars
If you’ve watched Netflix’s “The Hunting Wives,” you know how crazy each scene was — but there’s even more happening behind the scenes. Pinehurst resident Diamond McCall has spent the last 10 years in the film hair industry and knows showbiz inside and out. “It’s all a ‘who you know’ thing,” she says. Diamond is a regular Netflix contractor but has also worked with Hulu, Lions Gate, Marvel, DC, and more, which means she’s usually on the move. Her most recent project was Season 2 of “The Hunting Wives.”
Despite being set in Texas, the show is filmed near Charlotte, and although she’s been part of it since season one, Diamond says no two days are the same. When Diamond isn’t traveling, she’s working at Merlot Beauty Bar. One day, with more than 400 people on set and extra help needed, she called Merlot owner Mandy Bradshaw in to help.
“You have the main cast, the supporting cast and all of the background people. It’s a huge machine,” says Diamond. “I love the hustle and bustle of all the people,” adds Mandy, despite being a little nervous to work on a show for the first time. “I think I would do it again though,” she says.
Diamond’s favorite hair motto: Set it and forget it.
Diamond says working behind the scenes isn’t as glamorous as it seems, with constant prep for weather like rain or humidity. “You really have to pay attention to continuity between takes. How someone’s hair looks when the scene starts and when it ends, if it’s behind the shoulder or in front, and you have to remember that for 48 people,” she says.
Vision boards are usually made for each episode or movie with inspiration for looks. “Something I realized is that movie hair isn’t usually glammed up how you would think, because they’re supposed to be real,” says Mandy. “Not everyone can look the same,” adds Diamond, “Like certain people we want to have big Texas hair but not everyone on set will be dressed to the nines. Some people need to look ordinary.”
“Now when I watch a movie or a show, I think about the background part of it,” says Mandy.
Mandy and Diamond agree “wild” is the only way to describe “The Hunting Wives.” “But I think it’s good TV,” says Diamond, “It’s like “Desperate Housewives.” It has so much drama going on you just can’t stop watching.”
Okay, so what about the spicy scenes? Diamond says spicy scenes are all closed sets. “There’s a lot of prep work and you have to chat with an intimacy coordinator but then you kind of just set things up and leave, as many times as it takes to get the shot,” she says. Lucky for her, we imagine slightly disheveled hair is probably ideal anyway.
And no, they can’t spill any spoilers, but Diamond says shows never end up how you expect once the music, effects, and other edits are added.
Diamond’s next assignment is working on “Wednesday” in Ireland and will be gone for around seven months. “I have people ask me all the time ‘why don’t you live in LA or New York or Atlanta?’ but there’s just something about North Carolina. The people are friendly, I’m from here. I like to take a step back from Hollywood sometimes, it makes you appreciate everything more. I’m a Carolina girl at heart,” she says.
“Diamond has been a truly special addition to Merlot. Balancing film hair on set and salon life behind the chair, her dedication and work ethic are unmatched. We absolutely love her hustle, her grind, and the energy she brings to our space,” says Mandy. She’s looking forward to pointing out whose hair the two of them styled when watching the next season of “The Hunting Wives.”
