How "Firefly Lane" Spans 4 Decades of Hair Looks

Few TV shows touch on more than one decade, let alone four, but Netflix's "Firefly Lane" does just that. Chronicling the friendship of Tully (played by Katherine Heigl) and Kate (Sarah Chalke), the series takes us through the '70s, '80s, '90s, and early 2000s. This continuous time jumping makes for an interesting plot, but it also brings about some incredibly fun hair changes.

Between the group of main characters — including Tully; Kate; Kate's ex-husband, Johnny (Ben Lawson); and Tully's mom, Cloud (Beau Garrett), to name just a few — and supporting and background actors, the hair and makeup teams had a big job on their hands. "We had usually anywhere from 30 to 100 background," Sarah Koppes, the show's hair department head, tells POPSUGAR. Wigs played a crucial role, and some of the main characters wore around four to help them fit in seamlessly no matter where they were in the plot.

Ahead, Koppes goes into more detail on all the hairstyles you'll see Tully, Kate, and Johnny wear throughout each decade, as well as a standout new face we meet in season two.

Tully Stays on Trend With Each Decade
Netflix

Tully Stays on Trend With Each Decade

In season one, Heigl used her real hair to play the role of Tully, meaning she had to dye it dark brown throughout filming. "They used her own hair for the majority of the season, except when they went into the '80s," Koppes says. In season two, however, wigs were introduced — four in total, one for each decade, in fact.

This was helpful in more ways than one: not only did it maintain the integrity of Heigl's real hair, but it was also a big time saver. "She had so many different looks — sometimes we would go through three different looks in one day — and it was really easy just to pop one of the wigs off and put another one on," Koppes says.

As someone who worked in a salon in the '80s, Koppes used her own experience to come up with Tully's look. When she signed on to work on season two, she instantly knew she wanted to incorporate one popular hair-accessory trend from the time: a banana clip. "We got that in when she was in one of the clubs in her party look because everybody had a banana clip in the '80s," Koppes says. That look ended up being one of her favorites from the entire season.

In the '90s, we see Tully in an inverted bob haircut. "That was very sleek and iconic for the '90s," she says. And in the decade following, her hair is grown out to her curly lob. No matter how many times Tully's hairstyle changed, one thing had to stay constant. "She's that woman that is always done, no matter what," Koppes says. "Even when she's broken down, she still looks put together."

Kate's Beauty Look Stays Consistent
Netflix

Kate's Beauty Look Stays Consistent

Kate is intentionally less trendy with her look than Tully. "She's a mom, and she's just way more conservative, even though she thinks she's really hip and into it, she's really not," Koppes says. The only time we see Kate really branch out with a bigger style is for the premiere of the Madonna movie. Other than that, they wanted her to look like someone who's kept the same signature hairstyle for their entire life.

Johnny Gets Inspiration From '80s Heartthrobs
Netflix

Johnny Gets Inspiration From '80s Heartthrobs

Johnny isn't immune to the beauty trends of the '80s and '90s. He starts out with a long, flowy, shoulder-length wig, but in the '90s, his look evolves slightly. "We gave him that 'Breakfast Club' look," Koppes says. Using Rob Lowe as a reference, they gave Johnny a slightly shorter style with a floppier, side-swept section in the front. Koppes describes it as "a little boy band-ish."

Lottie Opts For a Classic Perm
Netflix

Lottie Opts For a Classic Perm

In the second season, we're introduced to Charlotte, aka Lottie (India de Beaufort). Though she's just an intern when we meet her in the '80s, she has quite the standout look. "I had this wig that I pulled out, and I was like, 'If you're game for this, I want to put this wig on your head,'" Koppes says. "She just rocked that curly permed, the fuzzy bangs — the whole deal." The permed wig completed Lottie's character, with her over-the-top outfits and large-frame glasses. She ended up with one of the most stereotypical '80s looks of all, and it suited her well.