Before You Sign

5 Questions to Ask Any Production

When a production has no hair infrastructure, the labor doesn't disappear — it lands on you. Here's how to find out if a production meets the Texture Ready standard, in five questions.

Who is your Hair Lead, and what's their training on textured hair?

Title without adequate training may not cover your needs. Ask about both.

Likely Prepared "[Name]. Trained on all hair types. Owns the budget and schedule."

Likely Burden "Our costume designer covers it." / "We'll find a stylist."

Do you have a dedicated hair budget for all hair types — and was it built before or after casting?

Built before is a system. Built after is a workaround that lands on you.

Likely Prepared "Built in pre-production. Covers products, tools, and consultation time."

Likely Burden "We have a hair budget." / "We'll sort it once we know the cast."

If a protective style is required for my role, where does maintenance time live on the call sheet?

Maintenance is production time, not personal time.

Likely Prepared "[X] minutes built into your call. On the daily call sheet."

Likely Burden "We figured you'd come in early." / "We'll talk about it in rehearsal."

Before anyone touches my hair, what's the process?

Intake. Consent. Scope. In writing — before the first hair call.

Likely Prepared "Intake meeting with the Hair Lead. Consent signed before service."

Likely Burden "Our stylist will check in." / "We'll figure it out at the table read."

If something goes wrong with my hair during the run, who do I escalate to?

If the answer isn't a name, there is no process.

Likely Prepared "[Name]. Stop-the-line protocol is in your performer packet."

Likely Burden "Just let us know." / "Talk to your stage manager."