The film’s hair and makeup leads fill us in on the behind the scenes secrets.
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For most,Barbiewas hands-down the movie event of the year.
“I took some creative license with the hair design.
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“The film isn’t about public and stage life.
Nobody knows what they looked like in the bedroom.”
This created a more intimate, relaxed feel with the beauty direction.
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“Even though at times the makeup seemed quite heavy, we could always see her fresh skin.
Underneath the makeup, you would see her freckles,” she adds.
“It did give this look of the innocence of this person on this journey.”
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At the start of the film, when Priscilla is 14, she’s wearing a no-makeup look.
“You almost see the makeup pull back again.
It was to show her independence coming into her own,” says McNeil.
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Furey agrees, adding that “it was about her independence, her strength, and her future.”
She also used three different wigs and hairpieces for Elordi’s portrayal of Elvis.
For styling, Furley swears by “good old-fashioned back-brushing and hairspray.”
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For skin, MacNeil used Armani Luminous Silk Foundation because of its sheer finish.
“I could get coverage but sheerness so you could still see her skin through it.”
So, Jacob Elordi’s look is a little more subdued than in other portrayals of The King.
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“We didn’t go over the top with that.
We still kept it subtle and not in-your-face.
But you could see how he was growing.”
The Final Look
At its heart, the film sheds new light on two American icons.
For Elordi, that meant doing less.
For Priscilla, the team focused on mirroring her growing independence with her hair and makeup choices.
Her hair was like these big thick velvet curtains that frame [the face].
You hardly ever saw her ears.”
