Mediocre Fantasy TV Shows Single-Handedly Keeping Wig Businesses Afloat
Influx of Shows Has the Industry Wigging Out
Now that the dust has settled on the first seasons of TVs two biggest fantasy shows, wig industry workers are waiting for the next big franchise to launch so they can get back to doing what they do best: making ridiculously long wigs for series stars.
Both The House of the Dragon and The Rings of Power reestablished what we already knew. One, no matter how badly thrown together, fantasy shows are a viable bet for the entertainment industry. And two, good wigs are essential to the believability of the constructed world of fantasy.
A terrible wig can make or break the success of these shows.
Think of this as vindication for all the wig makers out there who decided to forgo a proper career with security, steady paychecks, and benefits to pursue their dreams and risk it all on rugs.
Think of this as vindication for all the wig makers out there who decided to forgo a proper career with security, steady paychecks, and benefits to pursue their dreams and risk it all on rugs.
Their skills are much in demand as evidenced by the dozens of fantasy tv shows being released on streaming networks each season.
And this is good for wig makers because their industry took a hard hit the last few years.
During the Great Recession, nobody was spending their hard-earned dollars on wigs the way they used to. Before 2007's housing bubble burst and the global financial crisis, it was not uncommon for families to head out to the wig shop to be fitted by the perruquier for a fun and trendy new hair-piece. The money just wasn't there for such frivolities. Sadly, a lot of good wig shops were forced to close their doors.
Then during COVID, nobody could make it to a salon or barber shop so everyone was just growing their hair out. There was no need for wigs because now everyone was sporting long, flowing locks like the Witcher. Looking like Gandalf the Grey was in.
But wig makers in Hollywood took one of the biggest losses as movies and shows that traditionally relied on wigs just weren't getting made anymore. If a show or movie was getting made, things got smaller and budgets got slashed, and one of the first things to be cut from production budgets (somewhat ironically) was the wig budgets.
But luckily, things reopened and we started getting back to normal. In the last few years, the streaming networks have been making so many mediocre fantasy shows that wig makers are back in high demand.
And it's not just Dragon and Rings that helped save this industry. There are tons of crappy fantasy TV shows that need combos, wefts, and toppers.
Like Wheel of Time. So many wigs needed for the Robert Jordan adaptation. Not only do they need wigs for Rosamund Pike and all the other primary actors, but hundreds of villagers need some sort of ragged hairpiece or ponytail extension. In one scene of Episode 2, "Shadow's Waiting," we counted at least 150 different real/artificial rugs. That might be a new record for most wigs in one scene.
Outlander is another series that is a gold mine for wigs. Since there's time travel to a bunch of different locations and periods, wig makers really get to put their talent to good use since the show's success rides on "Highlander Hair." Sam Heughan's wig for the Jaime Fraser character takes 15 wig-specialists alone. There is even one guy who just stands around during shooting to strategically place loose strands of the wig down for extra-sexy effect.
But perhaps there's no bigger upcoming score for a Hollywood Hair Maker than season 2 of the History Channel's Vikings Franchise, Vikings: Valhalla. Wig makers and wig stylists make up more than half of the staff on that production, and any one episode of that show could feature hundreds of the best wig makers in the business, even being asked to create fake beards, manly chest hair, and even wild and overgrown pubes. It's the History Channel, so you know everything needs exact detail to the time period.
So, we ask you this: did streaming save the wig maker, or did wig makers save streaming?