The third season of Stranger Things offered plenty of exciting elements: nostalgia for ’80s shopping malls, Steve in a sailor uniform, creepy rats in the underground tunnels, Erica Sinclair’s sarcasm, and a host of new hairstyles. In film and TV, hairstyles can reveal a lot about a character—often more than their words do.
Max
In the previous season, Max moved to Hawkins, Indiana, from California and initially had a rocky relationship with Eleven. Thankfully, they’re now best friends who love shopping, chatting about boys, and flipping through teen magazines. Like her friend, Max is growing up and becoming more interested in her appearance, which Sarah Hindsgaul reflected in her hairstyle.
“When Max arrived in Hawkins, she was pretty laid-back, a bit of a rebel, skating around with her messy, loose hair parted in the middle, seemingly without a care,” Hindsgaul explains. “But in season three, Max and Eleven are maturing, starting to date boys, and checking themselves out in the mirror a bit more.”
So, Hindsgaul decided to update Max’s hairstyle. It remains carefree and relaxed, but she added mousse to enhance Max’s natural curls and give her hair more texture.
Naturally, Max also has a collection of vibrant scrunchies that match her colorful wardrobe. “We found green and yellow ones that look great in her hair,” Hindsgaul notes.
Eleven
No character has undergone more significant changes in both hairstyle and life than Eleven. When we first met her, she had a shaved head, was closed off from the world, and struggled to control her powers. Now, she’s a full-fledged teenager having sleepovers with her best friend, arguing with her strict father figure, and, of course, continuing to save the world.
During pre-production for season three, Hindsgaul and Millie Bobby Brown discussed what length of hair would suit Eleven, considering the time that had passed between seasons.
Texture was crucial to capturing the ’80s aesthetic, so Hindsgaul used a special hair powder on Millie. She also lightened a few strands to show that, yes, the show is set in summer, and Eleven spends a lot of time outdoors.
But Max was the style guide for Eleven. “Max clearly socialized more and went out more,” says Hindsgaul. “She’s more outgoing, so when they become friends, Max kind of guides Eleven.” The stylist explains that their similar looks represent the “best friend style.” It makes sense—we’ve all been influenced by our friends’ fashion choices at that age, asking for advice on what to wear.
However, there’s a difference in how Eleven’s hair looks at home with Hopper versus when she’s out with her friends.
“We all did this as teenagers. At home, Eleven tries to appear a bit more innocent, but with her friends, she shows her true self.”
Nancy
Nancy’s life also takes a new turn in this season—she starts working as a reporter at the local newspaper. She works hard to uncover stories, but her stern, older bosses laugh at her and clearly don’t take her seriously. They mockingly call her “Nancy Drew” and seem to think she’s only good for fetching coffee and sandwiches.
“Nancy’s story is somewhat tragic,” says Hindsgaul. “She was a top student, and now she’s working tirelessly, but no one takes her seriously. Yes, she still has a boyfriend and maybe sleeps in a bit later than usual, panicking when she realizes she might be late, but she always makes time to do her hair before heading out. Recreating Nancy’s curls requires a whole set of tools, and it probably takes her a while.”
Hindsgaul wanted to highlight the stark contrast between Nancy’s effort to look good at work and the total lack of respect she receives from her male bosses.
Natalia Dyer, as dedicated to her work as her character, curled her hair herself. For added volume, the stylist used a special clip, which also helped maintain the hairstyle during action scenes. Like with Eleven, Hindsgaul lightened a few of Nancy’s strands.
Robin
We first meet Robin as Steve’s coworker at the Scoops Ahoy ice cream shop. She comes across as confident, sarcastic, and a bit nerdy—the perfect mix to immediately fall in love with her character. Plus, she treats Steve’s younger friends with respect, which instantly earns her extra points. But what’s the coolest thing about Robin? Her chic bob, of course! Sarah Hindsgaul shared how she and the creators developed this look:
“We started small, knowing only that she would be a bit of a tomboy. Nothing too cute or delicate was supposed to be part of her look. Matt and Ross [Duffer, the show’s creators] wanted something natural yet charming.”
