I am getting headshots and was deciding whether or not I should straighten my hair of keep it with a bit of wave. What does your hairstyle tell casting directors when they look at your headshot?

Also, B/W or Color? I know most say Color, but I look great in B/W! I'm more of a stage actor than TV/Film.

Your hairstyle absolutely defines you.

Think of the major stars of the past, and you'll agree... Barbra Streisand, Marilyn Monroe, Farrah Fawcett -- they all had hair styles that not only defined them, but became overnight fads all over the country.

But the most important thing is that you find a hair style that looks great on YOU.

If you've followed this board at all, you know by now that in spite of our love of classic B&W headshots, color is king.

Get with the program!

If you're asking how you should wear it for the photo -- it should be similar to how you wear your hair most often. How will you be walking into an audition?

And as for BW/COLOR : COLOR. BW looks like you're trying to hide something. If you're going to have multiple images on a comp card, it would be ok if one were in BW. But your headshot should now be in color.

Hope that helps!

Talk to your photographer about your concerns. Some photographers will do anything to make sure their clients are happy and let you change up your hairstyle mid-shoot. I would. :-)

Poster fiveyearplan came to me very concerned about whether or not to wear her hair in braids or not.

She posted about it here.

My solution...do both!

I shot her with her braids (which apparently took 8 hours to put in)...



Then we loosened things up...



And finally we took a long break and had her hair straightened...



(I know a lot of people hate the looking-away headshot. Don't worry, there were plenty where she wasn't. I just dig the more cinematic look.)

How long was the freaking break???? We black women plan our LIVES around our hair! We don't swim, don't shower without caps, block out 2 hours min when we wash our hair... don't get me started on taking out braids.

"Girrrl... what's going on with your hair?"

"Oh, I'm taking my braids out."

"Mmmm..."

I agree looking away headshots are risky but that 3rd one is by far the best..among the 3. others look little forced..doesn't look comfortable. looks like it was the first hour of the session? hairstyle-wise, she looks good in both but different, which depends on what kind of role she's going for.

btw, that's a nice way of changing the hairstyle! smart!! nice tip ;-)

quote:

Originally posted by Lonni Delane:
How long was the freaking break???? We black women plan our LIVES around our hair! We don't swim, don't shower without caps, block out 2 hours min when we wash our hair... don't get me started on taking out braids.

The "break" was actually a week long I think. :-)

quote:

Originally posted by Eunina Jung:
I agree looking away headshots are risky but that 3rd one is by far the best..among the 3. others look little forced...

I don't believe she ended up using any of these as her final picks. (Headshot selection is so subjective.) I just chose them for posting here because they showcased the different hairstyles well.

The good thing about head shots now is that many cd's are looking at them online instead of hard copy. You can afford to wear your hair a few ways and not have to get 100's printed out in each look.
For the main headshot I would always go with the way you look most of the time. Cd's don't like to call you in based on a headshot and see someone else.
I shoot mostly children but I always change up the hairstyle throughout the shoot. Depending on the tye of audition you are going on determines the look you are going for.