Sex and the City 2: Kim Farrington chats with the man who coiffed the ladies fab looks for the movie, Frank Barbosa, Hair Department Head of Sex and the City 2
We’ll all be running in heels to the movie theater this weekend to catch up on Carrie and Big’s marriage, Charlotte’s growing family, Miranda and Steve’s reconciliation and Samantha’s latest lovers in the May 27th release of Sex and the City 2. With a flashback to the '80s (what SATC devotee hasn’t caught a glimpse of the pictures in the tabloids by now?!) and a trip to Abu Dhabi, the sequel is sure to promise some fabulous fashion transformations.
But as a beauty girl, I want the inside scoop on the hair and makeup metamorphoses our four favorite city girls will undergo on their globetrotting escapades. Lucky for us, I was able to catch up with the man responsible for Carrie’s free flowing waves, Frank Barbosa. Frank is Hair Department Head for Sex and the City 2 and was of course on-set and privy to all the plot secrets of the film.
I caught up with the busy hair department head and have the inside beauty scoop to share before the movie comes out. While Frank stayed mum on Carrie’s romantic life, he did open up about the fabulous foursome’s tresses. As much as I tried, Frank wouldn’t divulge if the man who wins Carrie’s heart is Big or Aidan, we’ll have to wait until Thursday for that!
Read on for a few behind the scenes secrets to steal from the man who kept the four leading ladies looking SEX-Y whether they were filming in the city or the Sahara.
SARAH JESSICA PARKER as Carrie Bradshaw and KIM CATTRALL as Samantha Jones in New Line Cinema’s and Village Roadshow Pictures’ romantic comedy “Sex and the City 2,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
Photo by Frank Barbosa
I know much of the movie was shot in Morocco, how did the climate impact styling?
FB: The climate actually was on our side. I have to say filming around that time of the year was great for the hair and while filming in Morocco it was a very dry heat, not humid at all.
What was your go-to product for the set?
FB: My favorite product for the set was the René Furterer Fioravanti No Rinse Detangling Spray. It left a great sheen on the hair—we loved it! Also the Klorane dry shampoo with oat milk was a lifesaver.
What's the most complicated hair look in the movie?
FB: The most complicated was the scene where SJP has very big, crimped hair. Mandy Lions was a genius with that.
What was your favorite look from the movie?
FB: The opening scene with SJP in the white Halston dress.
SARAH JESSICA PARKER as Carrie Bradshaw in New Line Cinema’s and Village Roadshow Pictures’ romantic comedy “Sex and the City 2,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
Photo by Craig Blankenhorn
Do the actresses have any say on the hair?
FB: Definitely. It’s a meeting of the minds between stylists and actresses.
What’s the process for deciding on each look? (Is it laid out ahead of time, do you play with it and tweak it as you go? Is it based on the outfit, atmosphere?)
FB: The process on deciding a look depends on the scene, wardrobe and meeting of the minds.
What was a typical day like on the set with the girls?
FB: I would get everything ready for the girls and then do about two hours of styling before going over to the set and watching the magic begin!
What's one thing that happened on set that you'll remember forever?
FB: When we were all serenaded by the legend Liza Minnelli!
How does styling hair for filming differ from styling in the salon?
FB: When styling for the movies, your styling for the camera so everything should be stepped up a notch. Especially taking into consideration the profile—it’s a huge thing with hair. It has to look just right from every angle.
(L-r) CYNTHIA NIXON as Miranda Hobbes, SARAH JESSICA PARKER as Carrie Bradshaw, KIM CATTRALL as Samantha Jones and KRISTIN DAVIS as Charlotte York-Goldenblatt in New Line Cinema’s and Village Roadshow Pictures’ romantic comedy “Sex and the City 2,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
Photo by Craig Blankenhorn
Can you give us a few at home tips to achieve Carrie's signature bun?
FB: The bun is fairly easy to do. Rough up the hair a little bit while blow drying and then use a round brush to add a little volume at the crown. Pull hair back into a high pony, spreading the hair out. Then just wrap and tuck in the ends.
Do you ever get star-struck working with big celebrities like the girls?
FB: I usually don’t get star struck, but there are those special few that you would love to meet. I think everyone has them. Mine right now would be Oprah.
