During her turbulent employment journey on the TV series ‘Abbott Elementary‘, Ava’s appearance underwent significant transformations, from being fired to getting re-hired. These changes were not only reflected in her facial expressions but also her hairstyles. Interestingly, this hair transformation serves as a subtle Easter egg that hints at the principal’s state of mind during this period. I had the opportunity to chat with Moira Frazier, the Makeup Department Head and hair designer for the show, who shared insights about Ava’s evolving hairstyles and their symbolic significance.
While catching up on the last episodes of “Abbott” during its 2025 broadcast season, I pondered over how Janelle James’ character transformation mirrored her emotional state. This idea became more intriguing as Ava lost her job and Gregory temporarily took over as principal. Therefore, I reached out to Moira Frazier about the specific changes in Janelle James’ appearance during these episodes, and she began addressing this by sharing her insights on:
This season, we aimed to create a story that stood apart from others for her, while still maintaining her bravery and changing wigs each episode. However, this time around, we decided to tone down the uniqueness a bit. You see, in Season 3, she was focusing on solidifying her role as principal at Abbott Elementary, striving for groundedness. In contrast, during Season 4, she wanted to be seen as more serious. Therefore, we opted for a calmer, cooler, and collected aesthetic while ensuring the style remained bold enough to stand out.
If you tune into the current season of “Abbott” with your Hulu account, you’ll catch Ava sporting a stunning burgundy ombre hairstyle, her iconic long, straight black hair, and a brief, slightly blonder phase. This temporary lighter look appeared following her dismissal in the episode titled “Music Class.
Frazier shared that the action was performed to vividly portray Ava’s latest circumstances and make a strong point, as he put it.
When I lost my job, I had to gather my belongings during my free time since I chose to stay strong and keep leading. It felt invigorating to reclaim control in such a way. We decided to emphasize this empowerment by sporting bold hairstyle.
Shortly following that event, Ava was once again employed as the principal of Abbott, and with it came another adjustment to her hairdo. Yet, this alteration wasn’t entirely fresh. Frazier elaborated that they combined the two distinctive styles they had created for James’ character during this season and slightly enhanced them.
Ava’s transformation solidified her status at school while highlighting her self-assuredness, authority, and maturity, as the hairstylist put it, it underscored that Principal Coleman remained “the same confident girl.” To elaborate on this, using James’ ombre burgundy wig as an illustration, Frazier explained:
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1. By styling her hair in a unique way, Ava established herself firmly within the school community while exuding confidence, power, and maturity. As the hairstylist pointed out, this transformation served to remind everyone that Principal Coleman is still “the same self-assured girl.” Employing James’ ombre burgundy wig as an instance, Frazier expounded on this idea:
This season, I incorporated an ombre burgundy shade, a rich and lively color that mirrors Ava’s maturity and growth throughout her journey so far. This hue catches the eye when light strikes it, reflecting both its vibrant color and a sense of confidence – ‘I’m still the same strong girl, don’t underestimate me.’ The ombre effect is particularly noticeable towards the ends of Ava’s long 26-inch hair, whether styled with a side part or center part. This season, we blended her ombre style with her classic, heroic Ava look – sleek, classy, and timeless.
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From my perspective as a film enthusiast, it’s intriguing to notice that hairstyles, similar to wardrobe and makeup choices, often tell compelling stories about a character’s journey or state of mind.
Ava had quite an experience during the latest season on “Abbott Elementary,” and I appreciate that her appearance underwent changes in sync with her character development. This show truly stands out as one of the top sitcoms due to its attention to detail, as it cleverly employs subtle Easter eggs and intricate character details to hint at a character’s current state and emotions.
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2025-05-10 04:46