It started as a trope. In the first season of Stranger Things, Steve Harrington was basically the disposable 80s jerk with the perfect girlfriend and the punchable face. But something weird happened between the casting call and the final edit. Joe Keery’s hair took on a life of its own. It became a character. If you look at the evolution of Steve Stranger Things hair, you aren't just looking at a grooming choice; you’re looking at one of the most successful character redemptions in modern television history.
Honestly, the "The Hair" (yes, it deserves capital letters) is the show’s secret weapon. It’s a gravity-defying, feathered masterpiece that somehow stays perfectly intact while fighting interdimensional monsters.
The Secret Formula: Farrah Fawcett and Fabergé Organics
Fans were dying to know the secret. How does it stay so vertical? In the second season, we finally got the "recipe." In a surprisingly tender moment in the woods, Steve lets Dustin in on the secret to his iconic look. He uses Fabergé Organics. Not just the shampoo, but the conditioner too. And then? Four puffs of Farrah Fawcett hairspray when the hair is still damp.
That’s the lore. In reality, the hair department had a much more grueling task. Sarah Hindsgaul, the show's lead hairstylist, has been vocal about the process. She didn’t want a wig. That is all Joe Keery. It’s a lot of hair. Like, a lot. To get that specific Steve Stranger Things hair height and texture, they avoided heavy waxes. Waxes make hair look greasy and flat under studio lights. Instead, they leaned into volume-building mops and specific blow-drying techniques that pushed the hair back and up, rather than just slicking it down.
Hindsgaul mentioned in interviews that they actually stopped using the Farrah Fawcett spray in real life because it didn't hold up against the humidity of Atlanta filming locations. They swapped it for professional-grade products like Oribe Rough Luxury Molding Wax for the base and Kevin Murphy’s Night.Rider for that matte, lived-in texture. It’s funny how a show set in the 80s uses 21st-century chemistry to recreate a look that supposedly came from a drugstore bottle.
Why the Mullet-Pompadour Hybrid Works
It’s not quite a mullet. It’s definitely not a standard pompadour. It’s this weird, hybrid beast. The sides are shorter, but not buzzed, while the back flows into a "ducktail" that screams 1984. The top is where the magic happens.
Think about the silhouette. Steve Harrington is often the "babysitter." He’s the protector. Having that massive, unmistakable silhouette makes him a focal point in every frame. Even in the dark, even in the Upside Down, you know it’s Steve because of the hair. It’s a visual shorthand for his ego in Season 1, which softens into a sort of "cool older brother" vibe by Season 4.
The hair actually gets messier as the seasons progress. In the beginning, it’s pristine. It’s the hair of a kid who has nothing better to do than spend 40 minutes in front of a mirror. By the time we get to the battle at Starcourt Mall or the trailer park in Season 4, it’s matted with sweat and blood. Yet, the volume remains. It’s a symbol of his resilience. You can beat Steve Harrington up—and let’s be real, the Duffers love giving Joe Keery a black eye—but you cannot kill the volume.
The Cultural Impact of the Harrington Look
You’ve seen it at every Halloween party for the last eight years. The "Steve" costume is incomplete without the hair. But it’s gone beyond just cosplay. The Steve Stranger Things hair phenomenon actually helped spark a real-world resurgence in longer, feathered hairstyles for men. Before Stranger Things, the "clean-cut" fade was the dominant trend. Now? Gen Z is obsessed with the "wolf cut" and the modern mullet.
Joe Keery himself seems to have a complicated relationship with his tresses. He’s been known to show up to red carpets with wildly different styles, occasionally sending the internet into a literal meltdown by cutting it into a bowl cut or a short crop. It’s almost like he’s trying to prove he’s more than just a head of hair. And he is—his performance as Steve is genuinely heartfelt—but the hair is the trademark.
Breaking Down the Evolution
- Season 1: The "King Steve" look. High shine, very structured, slightly aggressive.
- Season 2: The introduction of the "Farrah Fawcett" routine. It gets a bit more "winged" at the sides.
- Season 3: The Scoops Ahoy era. Even under a sailor hat, the fringe manages to escape. This is peak volume.
- Season 4: The "Metal" influence. It’s a bit longer in the back, reflecting the 1986 transition toward heavier rock influences. It looks more natural and less "done."
There is a technicality to this that people miss. If you have fine hair, you can't get this look. You need density. Joe Keery has a thick, coarse hair type that allows for "structural integrity." If his hair were thin, it would just flop over his eyes like a 2005 emo kid. Instead, it stands up like a crown.
Achieving the Look Without a Professional Stylist
If you’re trying to replicate the Steve Stranger Things hair today, you have to understand the mechanics of a blow-dry. Most guys just towel dry and go. That won't work here. You need a round brush. You have to pull the hair up and back while applying heat to the roots. That "sets" the height.
The "Salt Spray" trick is also vital. In several behind-the-scenes clips, the stylists use sea salt spray on damp hair to give it that "grit." Without grit, hair is too slippery to hold a shape. You want it to feel a little bit like you’ve been at the beach, then you add the pomade to the ends to define the flick.
The Hair as a Narrative Tool
The Duffer Brothers are smart. They know the hair is a meme. They lean into it. When Steve is feeling insecure, his hair usually looks a little "off." When he’s in hero mode, it’s glorious. It’s a literal barometer for his character arc.
Remember the scene where he’s preparing for a date and he’s frantically checking the mirror? That’s not just vanity. It’s a shield. Steve uses his appearance to hide the fact that he’s actually a sensitive, slightly confused guy who just wants to be part of a family. The hair is his armor. When he loses the "cool guy" status and becomes the "mom" of the group, the hair stays, but the attitude changes. It’s the juxtaposition that makes him so lovable.
Actionable Tips for Your Own Harrington-Style Mane
If you're serious about the volume, follow these steps. Don't skip the prep.
- Start with a Volumizing Base: Use a thickening shampoo. Avoid heavy conditioners that contain too many oils, as they weigh the hair down.
- The Blow-Dry is Non-Negotiable: Use a blow dryer on a medium heat setting. Use your fingers to lift the hair at the scalp while drying.
- Use Matte Products: If you use a high-shine gel, you’ll look like a 1950s greaseball, not Steve. Use a matte clay or a "dry" paste.
- The Hairspray Finish: Don't be afraid of hairspray. A light misting of a high-hold spray from 12 inches away will lock the "sculpture" in place without making it look crunchy.
- Embrace the Natural Texture: If your hair has a slight wave, use it. Steve’s hair isn't stick-straight; it has a natural "S" curve that gives it that 80s bounce.
The most important thing to remember about Steve Stranger Things hair is that it’s about confidence. Steve wears the hair; the hair doesn't wear him. Even when he’s covered in Upside Down slime and looking like he hasn't slept in three days, he carries himself like he’s still the king of Hawkins High. That’s the real secret. It’s 10% product and 90% bravado.
Whether we get a final, even more massive hair evolution in the upcoming final season remains to be seen. Rumors of a time jump suggest we might even see Steve heading toward the late 80s "big hair" rock era, which would be a fitting finale for the most famous head of hair on Netflix.
To maintain this look long-term, ensure you are getting a "layered" cut. Tell your barber you want "long layers with weight kept in the back." If they take too much weight out of the top, it will go flat. If they cut the back too short, you lose the "Harrington" silhouette. Keep the length on top at least 4-5 inches to allow for that iconic sweep-back.