How Abbott Elementary’s Lead Stylist Reinvented Janine’s Look to Mirror Her Growth
Brace yourself for this hair-soaked saga from Abbott Elementary, because apparently the fate of our favorite pretend Philly school hinges on a few well-placed curls. The show’s lead hairstylist casually let slip to People that Janine Teagues’s signature top knot underwent a subtle yet glaring makeover—and no, this isn’t another “just fluff” styling update. According to the insider scoop in People and a follow-up on TVLine, the shift from that tight, polished updo to a more relaxed, face-framing curl in Season 3 was anything but arbitrary. It was all about signaling Janine’s newfound confidence (or so they say), rather than just saving a few minutes on set prep.
In a conversation detailed by People Magazine, stylist Tracy Montoya revealed that Abbott Elementary’s costume and hair departments teamed up to retool Janine’s visual narrative. “We noticed Quinta’s character was stepping into a leadership role this season, and her hair needed to reflect that transition,” Montoya explained. TVLine later confirmed that Montoya and showrunner Quinta Brunson huddled over various looks, finally landing on a loose twist-out style that evokes both professional polish and personal flair. Brows may have been raised—because it’s a sitcom, after all—but this maneuver allegedly underscores Janine’s move from eager rookie to classroom hero.
Let’s get real: when your biggest on-screen drama boils down to which hairpin you’re sporting, you know TV’s landscape is firing on all cylinders. Montoya’s strategy involved swapping rigid pins for subtle coils held by custom-colored claw clips, an upgrade that, according to Entertainment Weekly, “mirrors the ebb and flow of Janine’s emotional journey.” There’s even talk of a signature kinder-snap moment when Janine loosens her hair during a pivotal staff meeting scene—clearly intended as a visual mic drop. Yet one can’t help but wonder if viewers truly needed this level of cinematic hair-direction or if it’s simply a shiny new talking point conjured up to distract from recycled show plots.
Fans on Reddit have already weighed in, some calling it “brilliant” while others dismiss it as “hair-gimmick theater.” But here’s the rub: Montoya insists this wasn’t about chasing trends or generating Instagram buzz. She told People it was “pure storytelling through texture,” as if we all weren’t staring at our screens going, “Cool curls, but what about the jokes?” If nothing else, this so-called hair arc proves that Abbott Elementary’s creative team is willing to sweat the small stuff—because nothing says “educational satire” like debating the dramatic potential of barrel curls.
So there you have it—another layer of hyper-focused TV minutiae packaged as meaningful narrative choice. And that’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, TVLine, Entertainment Weekly
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
