The Art of Star Trek Hair with Ryan Reed

This week, we go full warp into the world of on-screen transformation with Emmy-level hair wizard Ryan Reed —the creative force behind the iconic looks of Star Trek: Discovery , Star Trek: Section 31 , and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy . From designing bold new alien aesthetics to shaping deeply intentional character arcs through hair, Ryan pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to run a department on a massive franchise. We get into the artistry, the chaos, and yes—the occasional "that wasn't my decision" moments 👀. We dive into: The collaborative (and sometimes complicated) process between designers, producers, and actors Crafting culturally authentic and story-driven hairstyles—especially for Black characters and textured hair The evolution of Burnham's hair (and why those braids mattered) Building unique looks for Klingons, cadets, and brand-new alien species The technical magic behind wigs, prosthetics, and continuity (spoiler: it's a LOT of work) Why hair is never "just hair"—it's storytelling Plus, Ryan shares how Michelle Yeoh helped shape her own look, how younger casts bring new creative freedom, and why background aliens deserve just as much love as the leads. This episode is a love letter to the unsung artistry behind the scenes—and proof that in Star Trek, every strand has a story. Support Us at:

You can listen to The Art of Star Trek Hair with Ryan Reed online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

The Art of Star Trek Hair with Ryan Reed is an episode from Hailing Frequencies Open Podcast by Mike Jones.

This episode is 51:33 long.

This episode was published on Mar 31, 2026.

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