Natasha Lyonne is famous for her fiery red curls, but fans may have noticed a change in her look during the first season of Poker Face. The transformation was a creative decision influenced by series creator Rian Johnson, who envisioned Lyonne’s character, Charlie Cale, as a blonde.
To bring that vision to life, hair department head Marcel Dagenais and his team had just four hours to turn Lyonne’s red hair blonde. “We were slapping on bleach,” Dagenais told IndieWire in 2023, noting that the process was challenging after years of red coloring. Fortunately, the dye lifted just in time.
Charlie Cale’s character—a rebellious drifter with a rocker vibe—called for a unique look. Dagenais drew inspiration from iconic musicians like Stevie Nicks, creating a shaggy mullet with volume at the crown and straight edges. The style wasn’t entirely natural; it relied on product and hair extensions to achieve the final effect. “I threw them in and Rian and Natasha both said, ‘Boom, that’s it,’” Dagenais recalled.
Although the blonde look defined Season 1, Lyonne returned to her signature red curls for Season 2. According to Dagenais, her red shade was created with a gloss treatment, a temporary dye that gives flexibility without long-term commitment. Lyonne learned the drawbacks quickly. “She was like, ‘It’s turning my towels orange!’” Dagenais said, adding he solved the problem by buying her black towels.
Lyonne’s naturally curly hair requires care and a light touch. Dagenais prefers to style it while it’s still wet, applying products for shine and shape before letting it air dry. He advised against overhandling curls: “The more you fuss with it, the larger it becomes.”
In a Vogue interview, Lyonne shared her own curly hair wisdom. She brushes her curls with a wide-toothed comb while conditioning in the shower and has learned to embrace her natural texture. For years, she felt pressure to straighten her hair to be taken seriously. Now, she sees beauty in authenticity.
“It puts my soul at so much ease,” Lyonne said, reflecting on how her journey might inspire younger girls to love their natural hair. “That’s such a more boring and lamer world if we all feel like we have to look the same.”
