CGI technology helps the mermaid’s hair float in the water

The red hair with characteristic braids of Ariel, played by Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid, cost over $150,000 and took many hours to create.

In an interview with Variety, Camille Friend, the head of the makeup department for The Little Mermaid, revealed that she was tasked with creating a hairstyle for the lead character that both pays homage to the original version and brings a fresh perspective to the character.

The intricate process of creating Ariel’s hair in the live-action version of The Little Mermaid was quite elaborate.

According to Camille Friend, the process of designing Ariel’s hair in the live-action The Little Mermaid was very meticulous: ‘Halle’s real hair is waist-length, so wearing a full wig would look ridiculous. If we wrapped fake hair around her braids, we wouldn’t have to cut or dye them. We could change the color without altering the internal structure of her hair. We used three different shades of red. I’m not sure of the exact number, but the team probably spent at least $150,000 because we had to redo it and take it apart. It was a painstaking process.‘

The luxurious hairstyle faced numerous “challenging” situations during underwater scenes.

Challenges were compounded during underwater scenes. To create a floating effect reminiscent of waves, Camille Friend had to employ a method of loosening the braids. Notably, in the scene where Ariel emerges from the water and performs her iconic hair flip, the film crew had to use CGI technology to assist.

Reportedly, to achieve stunning visuals for the film, Bailey sat for approximately 12 to 14 hours for the crew to style her hair.

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