Interview: Hair Department Head Daniel Curet Talks ‘Nyad’

Recently, Awards Radar recently had the opportunity to speak with Daniel Curet, the hair department head of the Oscar-nominated film Nyad and Make-Up Artists & Hairstylists Guild Award nominee. In the interview, Curet discussed his role in perfecting the beach-worthy wet hair look for the film, how he ensured that the hair under the swimming caps remained intact, and how he worked on more than 150 background actors during the flashback scenes, accurately depicting the 60s era. 

Nyad is based on the true story of athlete Diana Nyad’s journey to achieve her lifelong dream of swimming 110 miles from Cuba to Florida in open ocean waters with the help of her best friend and swim coach. The movie Jodie Foster and Annette Bening in the title role. 

Keep reading to learn more about Daniel and his work.

Congratulations on your MUAHS Guild Award nomination! How does it feel to receive this recognition for your work?

Daniel Curet: Thank You. It was great news to start the new year with. I feel really honored to be in such good company as my other nominees.

Can you tell us about your background and how it led you to become involved with Nyad?

Daniel Curet: I have been a hairstylist since 1977. I became a member of Local 706 in the fall of 1996. I just got my Gold Card and retired my health benefits. You can say I’m a veteran, and my reputation precedes me, which is how my name got thrown in the hat. It didn’t hurt that one of the producers remembered me from another movie we did umpteen years ago. I interviewed with the Director, Chai, and fell in love with her.

Given that this film is based on a true story, how did you approach the research process for it? 

Daniel Curet: I love Google images. I remember the days when you had to either go to a local library or the Academy to get printouts of archival photographs for research. One thing they did make clear is that we were not doing a biopic. So, we had creative license to create seaworthy characters.

What techniques and products did you use to perfect the beach-worthy looks in the film? 

Daniel Curet: I love Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Infusion and Surf Wave Foam. We also concocted a mix of pomades that held up to multiple water immersions. We told the actors not to wash their hair with shampoo during the week while we filmed and to use Surf or Invisible Oil shampoos. We only used blow dryers to dry wet hair in the mornings and added texture by braiding and scrunching. We did not use curling irons.

Apart from using clear, unflavored, unsweetened jello for the hair under swimming caps, did you utilize any other industry tips that you can share with us? 

Daniel Curet: Learn to swim – lol! I learned the jello trick from synchronized swimmers on the finale episode of Pushing Daisies called “Aquacade!” I was fortunate to be asked by the personal hairstylists of Ms. Benning and Ms. Foster to touch up their color and continue their styling along with my Key, Vanessa Columbo when they had to leave the film early.

How did you manage to work on 150+ background actors during the flashback scenes and ensure that their looks accurately reflected the 60s? 

Daniel Curet: Luckily, the Dominican Republic has some amazing, talented hairstylists, and my counterpart, Jandeira Aviron, was indispensable in coordinating the local hires and keeping them on point, particularly with the flashback scenes to the 1960s.

What were some of the most memorable moments for you working on the film?

Daniel Curet: Honestly, steeping into the local culture and dancing in the streets of the capital’s Zona Colonial at a music festival was the most memorable. But as far as filming goes, the most dramatic moment was when they recreated the storm in the tank that wiped one of the stunt people off the ship’s deck during a rehearsal.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while working on this project?

Daniel Curet: Every film has its innate complications. This one was fraught with some logistical and location-specific issues that were ultimately resolved. This did not affect me or my work in any way. I always like to mind my Ps & Qs!