Designing the Darkness: The Makeup & Hair Secrets of Wednesday Season 2 Part 2
- Victoria Lyn
- Sep 4
- 6 min read
There are very few shows that have reshaped gothic beauty the way Wednesday has. From slick, razor sharp braids and smoked out eyes, to hair design that is instantly unforgettable. This Netflix hit has made an iconic aesthetic that continues to stay consistent throughout each episode. With the long-awaited Part 2 of Season 2, the glam team has pushed their artistry even further—elevating the classic Tim Burton aesthetic and characters’ style while staying true to the eerie elegance fans are obsessed with. I had the rare opportunity to interview Wednesday Season 2 Part 2’s Lynn Johnston makeup designer, Nirvana Javaland makeup artist and hairstylist to Jenna Ortega, and hair designer Francesco Pegoretti - I am pulling back the curtain on their creative process, inspirations, and the secrets that brought Nevermore Academy to life.
Meet the Artist Behind the Muse: Nirvana Jalalvand
A month ago, I had the oppuritnity to meet Jenna Ortega's personal hair and makeup artist, Nirvana javaland with Netflix in London at Tik Tok UK Headquarters.
Dressed in all black (pure wednesday fashion) Her warm smile and energy was so infectious. I could tell how excited she was for fans to see upcoming season and everything that went into creating looks for Wednesday.
"We share a pinterest board, me and Jenna. Any idea I have or she has, we share it to the board."
So yes, The looks you see on screen are very much a collaborative effort, and it is up to Nirvana to execute the look to perfection. Which, she manages to do in every single episode.
If you watched Part 1, you’ll remember the jaw-dropping moment Wednesday sheds black tears from exhaustion due to her psychic visions. From the first time I saw it, I knew it would inspire a Halloween makeup trend we’ll be seeing everywhere. Curious about its origin? I asked Nirvana how the idea came to life. “Tim Burton did not want any special effects—this makeup had to be practical, no CGI was used.” the emmy-award winning artist explains.
What you see on screen is pure artistry, achieved entirely through makeup. So how was it done? “I reached out to the makeup artist who created the black tears makeup look for Billie Eilish in her When The Party’s Over music video.” What makes this detail so impactful is how perfectly it fits Jenna’s portrayal of Wednesday. The black tears not only deepen her goth aesthetic but also serve as a visual cue—signaling to the audience that something pivotal is about to unfold.
Wednesday's Soft Goth Beauty Favorites:
In both Part One and Part Two of Wednesday, Nirvana shared with me that the makeup looks remain true to the same products introduced in the first season. At the heart of it is her
Iconic soft goth lip: a blend of MAC’s Nightmoth lip liner—a deep plum shade—finished with a touch of Paw Paw ointment for that effortless, lived-in effect. Another signature detail of Jenna’s modern Wednesday is her natural freckles, which Nirvana intentionally allows to shine through. I don't know about you, but I want every single product she told me about in my fall makeup bag. Shop them all here: https://liketk.it/5n1mz
A question to the artist: Fans are obsessed with Jenna’s looks this season. It appears more elevated and a bit bolder too in some scenes —are there any go-to or hero products you can share that helped create her look?
"It's funny because everyone keeps saying this to me, but I probably put less makeup on her this season." Nirvana explains. "But purely because, a few years have gone by since season one and obviously, Wednesday has grown up a lot in that time. The more makeup I put on Jenna, the more grown up it was making her character look. I want to keep her looking like a teenager. I kept a lot of the same products I used on season one. But the one product I changed this year that really helped was that I switched out her foundation and used Pat Mcgrath Sublime Skin Fetish Foundation. It's a really beautiful, natural and buildable consistency that allowed me to get that porcelain skin on Jenna. I mixed a couple shades to get her perfect Wednesday shade."
Where Darkness Meets Elegance: Lynn Johnston’s Gothic Vision for Wednesday
Lynn Johnston is the keeper of Wednesday’s gothic vision. As makeup designer, her ideas are lke spinning beauty straight out of a Tim Burton sketchbook. Her artistry walks the tightrope between eerie and enchanting. With Johnston’s touch, the characters don’t just look like they belong at Nevermore Academy—they become part of its hauntingly beautiful world. I loved getting to speak with her about her work on the show.
A question for Lynn: As the makeup designer for Wednesday, did any of the actors have input on their looks, or was it fully your vision?
"No, it is always a collaboration. Maybe Tim Burton has a note or Colleen Atwood has a note
or the actors themselves have a specific idea. We would draw references and have an idea to begin with but it's always a vision between the makeup artist and the actor themselves."
Nirvana Does It All: Even Wednesday’s Hair
Wednesday’s braids are so iconic—what products or techniques did you rely on to keep them flawless through long shooting days?
"The best product I found for keeping those braids perfect, were by Pattern the edge control gel. That is a really beautiful product, so is the Eco gel, the Olive Oil one. I also keep a little crochet hook around with me." Nirvana giggles with excitement as she explains she will tuck little tufts of her hair back in with the crotchet hook to keep it looking sleek and perfect in every scene.
Francesco Pegoretti: Master of the Mane
Francesco weaves hair into something far beyond style—it’s storytelling. His work on Wednesday gives the characters their sharp, gothic silhouettes. Every twist and parting feels deliberate, almost architectural, building the eerie, Burton-esque world strand by strand.
Francesco, can you tell me a little bit about your work on the season and what your inspiration was when it comes to your hair design and ideas you come up with for Tim Burton-esque characters?
"I start of course from reading the script, and for the male actors, we need hair that reflects the age of the character at the time in the show. For example Enid, with Emma, I changed her haircut and the hair color is more intense then it was in the first season. She has a more wolfie style. Even with the guys, we try to keep it consistent with what kind of outcast they are. I use a lot of wigs, even for the main cast.
Francesco explains: "There is inspiration drawn for each character. From the fashion, to the script, to the kind of outcast they are in the show. For example - Joanna Lumley's hairstyle in the show is inspired by Daphne Guiness, english fashion designer and socialite."
My personal favorite, Steve Buschemi's Edagar Allan Poe inspired hairdo.
"For Steven Buschemi, the team asked me to create something inspired by Egar Allan Poe." You can telll by the tone of his voice, he is smiling from ear to ear as he explains what inspired him to create these gothic styles. "A puffier styled hairdo with a reddish tint. Also, to remind fans of the power his character holds, which is fire. We start from venetian 18th centerury to inspire the fashion. It is a lot of things."
Another favorite look of mine personally is Agnes Demille played by actress Evie templeton. Her braids are reminiscent of her idol in the show, Wednesday. This is a prime example of how hair can tell a story. I loved this parallel between these two charcaters and watching their frenemy relationship blossom in each episode. Excited to see Agnes character arc in season 3!
A question for all of the artists: Were there any funny or unexpected hair and makeup moments on set that actually made it into the final cut?
Nirvana: "The only thing that I can think of that is funny, and it was meant to happen is at the end of the body swap episode that is happening in part 2, Wednesday has this big allergic reaction. She is covered in these red itchy hives, her eye is swollen and she is foaming at the mouth. It's all very silly and campy. That was really funny, trying to figure out what product to put in Jenna's mouth to get this foaming effect. Me and Jenna had a great time doing that.
Image Credit: @nirvanajavaland
Lynn Johnston: One of my favorite things that I had forgotten about, when Agnes ends up getting zapped by uncle fester. I love what they did with the wig. It's so cartoonish, it's just brilliant.
Francesco Pergotti: I tried to make the hair look very electrified in the scene, so I used a ballon to make the hair stand up. The static effect was perfect for the scene.
From bold braids to gothic glam, every look in Wednesday is a masterpiece of dark beauty. The glam team has outdone themselves once again—and you can see it all in Part 2 of Wednesday Season 2, now streaming on Netflix! Go Watch!
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