On one long-term stand-in gig I had, my hairstyle was somewhat important.  When I got a maintenance haircut on my own on a weekend off from filming, I learned just how important.  When I returned to set from the weekend off, I got a friendly but panicked lecture from the assistant directors about next time consulting production before getting my hair cut!

The reason in this film was that as the stand-in, I was also a potential photo-double for the principal actor.  While I thought my going out to get a haircut on my own was a professional thing to do (I was getting shaggy), I learned that the proper protocol would have been to check with the assistant directors first.  After my maintenance cut, I learned that they probably would have provided me a haircut if I needed one.  While it suddenly made sense after the fact, it never crossed my mind to ask production if they want to cut my hair.

When I get booked to day-play as a stand-in, oftentimes I will do a little research into the actor for whom I’m standing in to see what his hair is like.  Of course, I never really know what the actor will look like the day I show up, but I try to put my hair at least somewhat in the style of the actor’s hair as I generally understand it to be.  With my usual haircut, I have a nice amount of flexibility.  I can part it in different places.  I can wear it from conservative to bedhead.  I don’t want to show up with the bedhead look for a generally conservative-looking actor.  And I want to try to match the part the principal actor has in his hair in case it matters on camera.  I won’t go so far as to dye my hair overnight just to day-play, but I will usually make some effort toward wearing an appropriate hairstyle if I can find some information about it.

Recently for a stand-in submission I was asked if I would shave my head if I got the gig.  I thought about it for just a second, and said “Yes.”  The gig was going to last for a few months, so I thought I would make that drastic change for the work.  It surprised me just how much I would give for a stand-in job.

But that’s just how important hair can be in standing in.  If you are  a man booked on a long-term stand-in gig, getting your hair cut is one thing, but you might also be asked to dye your hair, wear a moustache or beard, or shave.  While not all productions are demanding about hairstyles, some can be for good reason.  These are just some things to consider when you are a man thinking about getting a haircut as a stand-in.

Any other tips on stand-in hair?  If so, please share in the comment section below!  (The plan is to have a column on stand-in hair for women in the future.  Check back!)