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Sarah Polley’s Hairstylist Takes Us Behind the Scenes at the Oscars

It's been an eventful award season for the two talented Torontonians

When Sarah Polley held up her Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for her film Women Talking Sunday, it was the culmination of a months-long awards season journey. A procession of functions, luncheons, photo calls and red carpets, which the Canadian filmmaker soaked in every moment of, revelling in the glittering whirlwind. “Yes I am posting obnoxious fancy photos of myself in a manner that is downright unseemly, cause I have exactly 7 days left of this bizarro life before I return to sweatpants and school drop offs,” she wrote on Instagram.

By her side for the glamorous ride was her trusted team, including Canadian super-stylist Karla Welch and Toronto-based hairstylist Kristjan Hayden. “When it actually happened, I was definitely crying,” Hayden told The Kit, from L.A., still reeling from excitement from the big night. Here, he recounts his awards season odyssey and tells us what it’s really like behind the scenes at the Oscars.

How did you first meet Sarah and start working with her?

“We first met for a portrait shoot for an article that was being written about her for a magazine quite a few years ago. We’ve always gotten along. I think in pairing with a client, even when you’re in the salon, a lot of what works is aligning with personalities. [With Sarah] it’s like working with a friend, so it’s very comfortable.”

How did you come up with Sarah’s hair looks for awards season?

“At the core of all the different things that you consider, you just try to stay true to what’s authentic to that person. Just trying to make sure that it represents them. I think [Sarah] is so authentic and natural. Generally, that was really important for me; that nothing ever seemed overdone. That’s pretty much my aesthetic as well. I like very natural kinds of looks that aren’t necessarily contrived or overdone. From there, we do consider a lot of different inspirations, and that can be from anywhere. I like to do a mood board and collect images that I think might work. And then we discuss things and work with the stylist to collaborate and see what works.”

What was your favourite award season look from Sarah?

“My favourite look was the expression on her face when she won! Definitely the Oscars look was my favourite out of all of them. I think that it was natural and authentic. Just yourself, but the best version of yourself.”

How did you feel when they called her name?

“It was an emotional moment. I might actually tear up talking about that. We had been working together for so long leading up to that. There were lots of events leading up to it, and I was just so happy for her. When it actually happened, I was definitely crying. Friends and family that knew I was working with her blew up my phone, just so excited. And I think that was generally what I’ve seen online and in the media. All of Canada is so happy and excited for her too.”

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by kristjan hayden (@hairbykristjan)

What is awards season like behind the scenes, exciting or stressful?

“It’s important to be prepared, taking a lot of time to make sure that you have everything you need. Just thinking a lot and preparing in advance helps to stay authentic to what you want to convey for that person. I wouldn’t say that it was stressful. There’s always lots of time built in to do things like hair and makeup, as long as you don’t go off the rails and do something that’s not going to work out.”

Did you have any getting-ready rituals?

“For me, my ritual is waking up very early. I always do meditation. I always exercise in the morning and I find that keeps me really calm and grounded, but particularly for something like this where the pressure couldn’t be higher. What I would do while having coffee first thing in the morning is look through things we had done previously and try to imagine the scenario that Sarah would be in. Imagining that picture in advance is always helpful to me.”

Did you have any go-to tools or products this awards season?

“My go-to products are with me all the time. Of course, a Mason Pearson brush. That’s my favourite tool to be using.”

Mason Pearson brush, $184, urbanoutfitters.com. Photo: Urban Outfitters
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“I really like to keep things natural with products, so sometimes I’m not even using a lot of product. Maybe just setting with a bit of spray and that kind of depends on what the look is specifically. I use a classic Marcel iron for almost all of my styles. A big barrel—like an inch-and-a-half barrel curling iron—and I drag that through the hair to get a straighter end so it’ll look a little bit more on the natural side, but polished as well.”

Hot Tools Marcel iron, $55, amazon.ca. Photo: Amazon
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“I also always travel with my Dyson blow-dryer, of course. I have the Dyson flat iron as well, which is also a non-negotiable.”

Dyson blowdryer, $550, sephora.ca Photo: Sephora

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