How Heartbreak High became a hot source of beauty inspo
The Heartbreak High remake is a global hit – not just because of its chaotic plotlines. The ’90s and Y2K-inspired character looks have also captivated audiences.
When the Heartbreak High reboot was announced last year, it triggered a wave of nostalgia among fans of the original 90s series and a resounding “huh?” from Gen Z.
But since its debut season premiered on Netflix, the show’s topical plotlines, authentic representation, breakout cast and easter egg references to the original have connected fans young and old.
While much of Heartbreak High’s coverage on social media stems from championing diversity and inclusion while depicting an accurate portrayal of high school culture in Australia, there’s just as much discourse surrounding the show’s unique beauty looks.
From makeovers involving bleach, gem stickers and pink dye to shaved-off locks, it’s clear the beauty crew had a lot of fun developing looks with the cast.
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How the characters’ looks were developed
The hair and make-up department are the unsung heroes of Heartbreak High, comprising a small team of creative talent led by industry heavyweight, Rosalina Da Silva, along with hairstylist and make-up artist Camilla Leery.
“The discussion we had with the scriptwriters was that Darren (James Majoos), Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran) and Quinni (Chloe Hayden), in particular, would be more experimental and forward-thinking with their approach to make-up,” Camilla says.
The process of character development is a labour of love, which is why Rosalina and her team became so attached to all of the cast.
“The characters jump out of the script, so it was easy to envision who they were and what they would look like,” Rosalina explains.
“I think my favourite beauty look was Sasha. I remember suggesting on the spot that we dye her hair pink, and it ended up being the best impulsive decision because it really elevated her look for the series.”
With input from costume designer Rita Carmody, Sasha’s look was created to have a modern, edgy aesthetic, while Quinni’s was more experimental – which is why her make-up often included stickers and glitter.
“We wanted Sasha’s look to be quite precise and meticulous with how she does her eye make-up and hair and then with Quinni, her make-up is very sporadic and reflective of how she’s feeling on the day,” Camilla explains.
One of the great things about having such a young cast was youthful skin, which is why minimal foundation was a conscious decision by Camilla and helped the make-up accents shine.
“We even had fun with the teacher’s make-up,” she says.
“Chika’s (Jojo Obah) hair and make-up looked young and fresh because her character wants to be seen as down with the kids, so there was a reason behind every hair and make-up decision we made.”
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How to get Sasha’s Heartbreak High look
- Prep your face with your preferred moisturiser (don’t forget to apply sunscreen if this is a daytime look.)
- Ditch the foundation in favour of spot-concealing blemishes, dark circles or hyperpigmentation. If additional coverage is necessary, substitute a heavy base with a CC cream or primer/tinted base product hybrid.
- Sasha loves a colourful graphic eye, so pick a vibrant eyeshadow and apply it to the upper lid, ensuring it’s packed on with a flat brush for a pigmented effect. Diffuse the shade with a blending brush for a softer look and apply gemstone stickers for an added touch of drama if you’re feeling adventurous.
- Apply mascara and eyeliner to further enhance the look.
- Sasha is also privy to a luminous, glowy cheek so to complete the look, use a shimmery blush to give a glowing-from-within look to the face.
- Fresh, youthful-looking skin was a major theme in the beauty looks of the entire cast, so to complete the look, you’ll want to apply a luminous finishing spray to set the make-up while giving it a skin-like finish.
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Written by Charlotte Brundrett. Photo credit: Lisa Tomasetti/NETFLIX
