Oscars (AMPAS)

98th Oscars: Makeup and Hairstyling | Meet The Nominees

The video spotlights the 98th Academy Awards’ Makeup and Hairstyling category, introducing the nominees and revealing the creative process behind their celebrated looks. It emphasizes how the artists prioritize authenticity, layering prosthetics, bruises, and sun damage to match each character’s physicality and narrative. The team recounts tackling more than 80 distinct effects—from full‑body vampire suits to 14‑karat gold grills for Michael B. Jordan—requiring ten‑hour sessions and a five‑person crew for a single character. They also detail innovative set‑ups, such as a modified barber chair for a massive Dwayne Johnson physique, and the decision to forgo wigs in favor of culturally resonant hair textures. Quotes like “We didn’t want to make fun out of anyone” illustrate the delicate balance between period realism and the whimsical tone of stories like Cinderella. The artists stress that every extra detail, whether a subtle “whipped‑cream” finish or precise blood coloration, serves the larger narrative and audience connection. These insights underscore the growing technical sophistication of makeup and hairstyling, reinforcing its pivotal role in storytelling and setting new benchmarks for future Oscar contenders.