As the 73rd Emmy Awards kicked off in Los Angeles, television’s biggest stars headed to a Covid-safe red carpet in an outdoor space near the Microsoft Theater. Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, the 2021 Emmy Awards were a contest between some of our favourite shows, including The Crown, which tied with Disney+’s The Mandalorian for the most nominations with 24, and Apple TV’s Ted Lasso. 

Nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Period And/Or Character Hairstyling for his work on Bridgerton was makeup and hair designer, Marc Pilcher, who is the man responsible for the regal looks on the period drama… and he won! The Netflix series, produced by Shonda Rhimes and adapted from a book series by Julia Quinn, was the show of summer, and had us escaping to the Regency era of opulence, drama, love and seriously impressive hair. You can thank Pilcher for the latter, whose job it was to come up with the looks worn by Daphne, Lady Danbury, Queen Charlotte and more. 

Gritty Pretty had the chance to chat with Pilcher, who is also an ambassador for hair care brand HASK, ahead of the Emmy Awards and he shared how the looks came together.  

How did you approach creating the vision for each character’s hair during the ideation process for the first season of Bridgerton?
I always start my research by reading the scripts over at least three times and as I go, I start to formulate my ideas on a character’s personality and how I can reflect this in their hair and makeup. I draw from images in my mind (I have a memory like an elephant) from people I have known, from movies, from public figures of history, etc., and use them to create my characters. In addition to this, I look at historical books and paintings for new ideas, I’m always buying new books, it’s become an obsession.

You were nominated for an Emmy Award for the Bridgerton episode ‘The Art of the Swoon’. Congratulations! What is your favourite look from the episode?
Gosh the ‘Art of the Swoon’ episode contains so many of my favourite looks! I chose it because this episode had so many parties and events. Two of my favourites are firstly Queen Charlotte’s Beyoncé style afro. I wondered if I had gone too far with this look but from the reactions I have received, I think it was a winner.

My other favourite, was Cressida’s look for the prince’s ball. With this look I wanted Cressida’s hair to look like a crown, she is trying to ensnare Prince Friedrich into marrying her, what better way than to show him how great you would look with a crown on your head, even if it’s made with hair.

What are some of the products you use to create these looks and how long does any given look take to create?
My must-haves on set are the HASK range of Shampoos, Conditioners, Deep Conditioners, Hair Shine Oils, and 5-in-1 Leave-In Sprays. These products are a great base for styling, leaving my actors’ hair healthy and hydrated. Alongside these. L’oreal Tecni Pli and Elnett for setting and good old Vitapointe for dressing out.

Can you tell us about one of your favourite memories on set?
My favourite Bridgerton moment was the Princes Ball—there were so many characters at this Ball, Cressida’s crown-shaped hair, to entice Prince Friedrich and as Daphne is descending the staircase the entire room is gasping as they note her beauty. The diamond of the season.