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Head Stylist Moira Frazier Shares How She’s Shaping The Culture On The Set Of ‘Abbott Elementary’
A permanent smile radiates from my face while watching ABC’s hit sitcom, Abbott Elementary. Is the storyline or the will-they-won’t-they love story budding between Janine Teagues and Gregory Eddie the cause? Absolutely. But underneath the hilarious punchlines and perfectly executed jokes, there’s another story to take note of.
And it’s all about hair.
Moira Frazier, the Emmy-nominated Hair Department Head of Abbott Elementary, is the stylist bringing each character's hair story to life.
And with the world of film and television being a space where success often hinges on being in the right place at the right time, Fraizer attributes her entry into the industry to working “small $100-$200 jobs” early on. As a licensed cosmetologist with over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry and more than a decade in entertainment, Frazier has established herself as a hair maven in her own right.
Being the Hair Department Head of a Hollywood set can be made to look effortless, but Frazier says that work all begins with “meeting, upon meeting, upon meetings.”
“Once I get a script, we’re breaking down every character from the standpoint of how they’re written,” she tells xoNecole. “I'm going into the psyche of each [Abbott] character we’re developing to see what this person is like.” As a viewer, it’s easy to spot the intention behind the character’s hair story as they embody personalities and even figures we might know in real life.
Take Barbara Howard, for instance. A poised, matriarchal presence among the teachers, with a church background that keeps her grounded in her work and a beacon of wisdom when needed. For here, a classic pixie cut just makes sense. “We all know that older lady at the church, honey,” Fraizer says. “She'll never change her hair. She wears the same wig for years and years.”
Courtesy of Moira Frazier
For Ava Coleman, an around-the-way, career-oriented, bougie cousin archetype played by Janelle James, a slick, long, yet kinky straight style was chosen. “When it comes to hair, especially on Ava, the hair has to move,” she tells xoNecole. “If you notice, none of my wigs on the show are stiff because, working with Janelle James, she moves a lot, and she talks with her hands. So it’s important for me to use super high-quality hair.”
Creating wigs that match the highest quality standards is no small feat, especially in the latest season of Abbott where their 8K cameras captured every detail. Frazier dedicates an entire week to building each full lace wig from scratch. “We have to step our game up this season because we filmed in 8K cameras, which means you're going to see everything,” she says. “I had to get lace that's not available on the commercial market, my lace gets flown in from London.”
Unlike traditional methods that involve simply bundling hair, her wigs are created by hand, resulting in a natural and flexible appearance. “And when I say from scratch, I mean I ventilate every wig,” she punctuates. This meticulous process ensures the wigs are custom-fitted and highly realistic, particularly for high-profile clients like Tatyana Ali and other guest stars, to achieve an impeccable finish.
Over the last three seasons, we’ve seen the evolution of our Philly-based characters, not just in how they present themselves but in how they’re coming into who they are as a person. This is particularly true for Janine Teagues.
On Abbott Elementary, Janine's hair evolution mirrors the universal experience of growing into oneself, particularly for young women just trying to figure themselves out. “She's a young teacher in her early 20s, just graduated college, and she's trying to find herself. We've all been there, trying to find our look. She's coming out of that awkward stage and trying to get into adulthood and womanhood,” she says.
In the first season, Janine is seen with her natural curly hair, a look that signifies her initial stage of self-discovery. As the seasons progress, her hairstyles evolve, symbolizing her gradual shift towards maturity and self-confidence, experimenting with straight hair and on to a half-up, half-down style. These changes reflect her exploration of different looks and her journey towards finding a style that truly represents who she is. “It's like she's easing into these looks,” Frazier says.
On the set of shows where characters constantly change their styles, proper hair care is essential. Fraizer uses her Lace Lock Melting Spray instead of glue to secure wigs, to hold the hair in place for the duration of filming. Unlike glue, which can be impractical for daily application, the melting spray and her unique Lace Lock Wig Grip provide a reliable hold without causing damage.
This thoughtful approach to hairstyling on Abbott Elementary underscores the importance of hair in the self-expression, identity, and representation of Black women both on- and off-screen.
Janine Plays Barb and Melissa Perfectly - Abbott Elementary
Black hair carries profound cultural and personal significance, a reality that deeply influences hairstyling choices for Black characters on television. For Fraizer, the styles, colors, lengths, and textures are deliberate in accurately portraying Black hairstyles to the masses. “Because it has to make sense,” she says. “As Black people, we wear our hair in so different ways. It would have been easy to put everybody in a super kinky curly wig on our show, but for us, I wanted to show versatility.”
By embracing this diversity, the show honors the cultural richness and individuality of Black hair, ensuring that every character’s hairstyle, as well as the child actors, adds a meaningful contribution to the narrative.
For Black women aspiring to excel in the world of styling and department leadership, Frazier says that the journey to the top is paved by continuous growth and cultivating strong relationships.
“Don't burn the bridge along the way,” she says. “You have to have a positive attitude and be ready to come to work and do the work. You can never give up because one job can lead to the next job, and that can lead to the biggest job.”
She continues, “Learn how to do everything. It's okay to specialize in one thing — but now you're limited. Keep educating yourself because there are levels to this, and the more you educate, the higher you go.”
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Feature image courtesy of Moira Frazier
Aley Arion is a writer and digital storyteller from the South, currently living in sunny Los Angeles. Her site, yagirlaley.com, serves as a digital diary to document personal essays, cultural commentary, and her insights into the Black Millennial experience. Follow her at @yagirlaley on all platforms!
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Tubi has been gaining popularity due to its free sign-up and a vast selection of series and films. According to Deadline, the FAST (free ad-streaming television) service has seen a 14.7% growth from May and now has similar numbers to Disney+. So while many people have joked about Tubi having low-budget movies, the numbers don't lie.
In fact, I was one of those people who didn't get the appeal of Tubi, but the more I watched it, the more I enjoyed the content. They have some of our favorite TV series, such as Scandal and Star, as well as big films like the Fast and Furious franchise and cult classic Love & Basketball.
Tubi even has its own original movies and series that are just as entertaining. But while Tubi is on the come up, some of the low-budget movies and hood movies are still a must-watch. From Tubi originals to the hood movies, we've put together a list of shows and movies to add to your watchlist.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is an original Tubi movie that stars Hailey Kilgore (Juke from Power Book III: Raising Kanan), Damon Wayans, and Pam Grier. It's a love story gone awry after a robbery turns deadly, and a young couple faces many challenges to make it out alive.
The Dirty D
The Dirty D is one of the first things I watched on Tubi, as many people highly recommended it. It's a series set in a Detroit club, and it has all the drama you can think of. Murder, drug dealing, cheating, greed, and more.
Black Men Don't Cheat
In this film, a young woman grapples with the death of her husband while also discovering his secret life, which puts her in danger.
Mother May I
This movie fully captivates the overbearing mother. However, the ending will shock you as she goes a little too far.
The Stepdaughter
When a young girl moves in with her dad and his new wife, a series of unfortunate events occurs. This Tubi original will keep your attention with every turn.
These Men For Everybody
These Men For Everybody is a film that highlights the tangled web of friendships and relationships and how you can't trust anybody.
Best Friend
What happens when your best friend is obsessed with you? This movie, which stars Serayah and Marques Houston, answers this very question and takes us on a ride in the process.
What's Done After Dark
What's Done After Dark shows us that everything isn't always what it seems. The twist at the end is a real doozy.
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