Movie hair color: great subtle ombre highlights, dark fall hair colors- Total Recall

Total Recall came out in 1990, and I have seen it probably 25 times at least. The original, starring Arnold schwartzenegger and Sharon Stone, was kind of campy sci fi. The effects were decent for the time, and the styling hardly drove anybody out to mimic the looks. The new version, however, has already brought me some requests for the styles Kate Beckensale and Jessica Biel wear in the movie.

Originally adapted by director Paul Verhoeven in 1990, author Philip K. Dick’s classic sci-fi short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” returns to the big screen in this remake starring Colin Farrell, Bryan Cranston, and Kate Beckinsale. The planet has been decimated by war, leaving only two nations — the United Federation of Britain and the Colony. Douglas Quaid (Farrell) is a factory worker with a stable job and a loving wife (Beckinsale), but upon learning that a company named Rekall could grant him the memory of the ultimate espionage adventure, he decides that a virtual vacation is better than no vacation at all. But in the midst of having the new memories implanted, something goes wrong. Still strapped to the chair as the system breaks down, he’s discovered to be a spy as the authorities close in, and quickly flees for his life. Later, Quaid discovers that he has a secret identity, and he joins forces with rebel soldier Melina (Jessica Biel) on a mission to track down  the head of a fierce resistance movement that’s been labeled a terrorist organization by the tyrannical Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston). I probably won’t ruin the story by saying he then saves the world and gets the girl.

The big star hair wise goes to Kate Beckensale. Despite being the bad guy (or girl I guess) she has lots of time for maintaining her awesome hair. Between kicking ass and blowing things up she finds time to keep some really amazing ombre highlights. Not too much, just subtle to keep with grim post apocalyptic feel of the movie. Her hair is curled in long, languid urban waves, perfect for menacing and marshal arts. Her amazing looks earn her much more screen time than Sharon Stone got.

Jessica Biel’s characters hair was a bit more sensible. Helping lead a resistance is a serious matter, and her hair is all business. The hair color matches the palette of the movie, all cool tones. She covers her ombre highlights she usually wears in favor of an all over cool brown. You can still see the light in the ends a bit, but over all it’s much more monochromatic. It spends a bit of time tied up, because that’s what a girl does when she is fleeing evil tyrants and trying to get her man to the leader of the resistance.

The hero, Quaid, played by Colin Farrell, is also really well groomed considering the world is on the brink of destruction. Colin is all about hair; head, body, eyebrows- so it was really a matter of just cutting it away until he looked good. Even his eyebrows looked good in this, and they can get rather unruly in some of his films. The cut may revive the classic men’s square cut, which has been dormant for a while. The result: a great look for a leading man.

Want to try an cooler brunette for fall, or maybe a soft subtle ombre look? give me a call at 480-607-6544.