By Jia Lissa 
The much-anticipated return of the Owens sisters in Practical Magic 2 has not only delighted fans with its magical narrative but has also sparked considerable interest in the meticulous artistry behind the film’s enduring visual appeal. Nearly three decades after the original cult classic cast its spell, the creative teams responsible for Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock’s iconic looks have unveiled the secrets to re-imagining their beloved characters for a new generation. This deep dive into the hair and makeup trailers reveals a thoughtful blend of nostalgia, technological advancement, and a profound understanding of character development.
A Nostalgic Return and Emotional Resonance
For many involved, stepping back onto the set of Practical Magic 2 was an overwhelmingly emotional experience. Janine Thompson, Sandra Bullock’s personal hairstylist who also worked on the 1998 original, recounted being overcome with tears upon her return. "I couldn’t help it. I just started to cry," Thompson shared. "You’re remembering things in your life from that time period, right? I found out I was pregnant with my first baby when I worked on [the original film], and when I walked back into that dining room, it all came back…they put that house back together like it had never been gone. It was amazing." This poignant connection to personal history underscored the profound impact of the original film and the excitement surrounding its sequel.
This deep personal connection also manifested in tangible ways within the film. Thompson revealed that several cherished hair accessories from the original Practical Magic were ingeniously incorporated into the sequel. "In the sequel, [Bullock] wears one in the cemetery scene," she explained. "I brought a huge box of them and gave them to the [hair department head] for the sequel, and she snuck them in, in different places." These subtle nods serve as easter eggs for devoted fans, weaving a thread of continuity and shared memory throughout the narrative.
Reimagining Gillian Owens: A Modern Witch’s Crown
Nicole Kidman’s iconic auburn-and-copper wig in the original Practical Magic was a stroke of genius, so seamlessly integrated that many viewers believed it to be her natural hair. For Practical Magic 2, the creative team, led by Kidman’s longtime hairstylist Kim Santantonio and wigmaker Rob Pickens, aimed to evolve Gillian’s look while retaining her captivating essence.
"The first wig was very straight, like we flatironed it," Santantonio explained, contrasting it with the new iterations. "It felt heavy [and looked] all one length. This time around, [Kidman] was moving her head a lot, wanting a lot of movement, flickering and flying, so when I put [the new wig] on her the first time, we razor-cut into it around her face, creating a lot of layers." This deliberate addition of layers and texture provided the wig with significantly more movement and dynamism, reflecting a more spirited and perhaps less constrained Gillian.
The styling process for Kidman’s new wigs—two were created, one as a backup—involved a sophisticated interplay of tools. Santantonio employed a curling iron to build volume before using a flatiron to strategically straighten sections, achieving what she described as a "rock and roll" effect. This styling choice was a deliberate nod to the character’s inherent edge, a quality that resonated deeply with audiences in the original film.
Beyond the cut and style, the color of Gillian’s hair also underwent a thoughtful revision. "In the first film, she had that edge to her," Santantonio noted. "When it came to the color of the original wig, the shade was very flat. There was no color variation. So when Rob made [the wig for the second film], we had highlights and beautiful color through it because natural hair has a highlight in it." This subtle but significant enhancement aimed to create a more realistic and multidimensional look, a testament to advancements in wig technology and understanding of natural hair aesthetics.
Angela Levin, Kidman’s makeup artist, elaborated on the impact of evolving filmmaking technology. "When they shot the first one, the camera and the stock were so different than they are today," Levin observed. "Throughout the years, everything changed: the way it’s been lit, the colors, like Kim said, the highlights and the lowlights [in the hair] became crucial because the camera will pick it up." This technological leap means that what might have appeared realistic on 1998 film stock could look flat or artificial on contemporary digital cameras. The updated hair and makeup were thus tailored to perform optimally under modern cinematic conditions, ensuring a seamless and believable portrayal.
Sally Owens: A Narrative Woven into Her Hair
Sandra Bullock’s character, Sally Owens, has endured significant hardship since the events of the first film, including the loss of another husband to the family curse. This personal turmoil is subtly but powerfully reflected in her hairstyle throughout Practical Magic 2.
"Sally’s had a really rough go of it, and she’s very conservative and very tight because of all the horrible things she’s been through," explained Janine Thompson. This internal struggle is visually represented by Sally’s hair being more meticulously pulled back, a desire for control in the face of overwhelming circumstances. However, the deliberate inclusion of stray pieces of hair speaks to the underlying magic and her inability to entirely suppress her true nature. "Her hair is pulled back because she wants to control everything, but Sally isn’t really in control. So pieces are falling out. We very specifically pulled those pieces out to make it look like she can’t fight who she is."
This guarded aesthetic persists until a pivotal moment of release: the midnight margaritas at her daughter Kylie’s wedding. This scene marks a turning point for Sally, where she begins to embrace her heritage and find peace. "Sandy and I had a conversation about her look for the end of the film and wanting to show that Sally had calmed down," Thompson shared. "The curls have relaxed because she finally gets to a peaceful place. We wanted to show that she hasn’t just embraced it—she’s taken control of it."
To achieve Sally’s signature curls with a more relaxed and "effortless" feel, Thompson turned to LolaVie, the hair care brand founded by Jennifer Aniston, a close friend of Bullock’s. "It’s the only thing I’ve ever used on Sandy that’s worked this well on her hair," Thompson enthused. A specific regimen involving the Leave-In Spray and Detangler, applied generously to wet hair and left to dry overnight, was followed by the LolaVie oil to soften and break up the curls. The final touch involved using both half-inch and one-inch curling irons to create a consistent yet natural-looking wave pattern, reflecting Sally’s newfound serenity.
The Magic of De-Aging and Digital Enhancement
Practical Magic 2 opens with a poignant flashback to the time of the original film, showcasing Sally and Gillian as they were nearly three decades prior. This sequence utilized sophisticated de-aging technology, a significant advancement since the original’s production. Whitney James, Bullock’s makeup artist, emphasized that the visual effects relied on more than just digital filters.
"For that scene, they couldn’t rely on digital filters alone, keeping the makeup clean and minimal given Sally’s emotional state (and to complement the AI technology)," James stated. The makeup team meticulously recreated the younger Sally’s features. "In the first film, James says Sally’s brows were thinner, and she had a ‘fresher, more flushed cheek’ versus the more chiseled features she has in the current day, which she emulated through makeup for the flashback scene." The inclusion of eyeliner on the lower lash line, a characteristic of Bullock’s look in the original, further cemented the illusion. "Looking at the pictures from then and getting as close as we could [to the original], still making her look good, and then being able to de-age. It was a balancing act in all ways." This delicate balance between historical accuracy and modern technological capabilities ensured a believable and impactful return to the past.
Gillian’s Enchanting Glow: A Whimsical Approach to Witchcraft
In contrast to Sally’s more grounded aesthetic, Gillian’s makeup in Practical Magic 2 embraced a whimsical and luminous quality, perfectly aligning with her mystical persona. Angela Levin, Kidman’s makeup artist, aimed to maintain the audience’s familiarity with the character while infusing her with an ethereal glow.
"The character already existed, so we did have to allow the audience to see the girl that they knew from the first film," Levin explained. "But I wanted to add a little sparkle." This conscious decision to incorporate shimmer, typically avoided in realistic on-camera makeup due to its tendency to magnify under studio lights, was a deliberate choice for a film steeped in magic. "When you do movies, you don’t really use anything sparkly because the camera tends to pick it up tenfold, and sometimes it’s not very realistic," Levin elaborated. "But in this case, because the movie is not very realistic, I wanted to add something that’s not your everyday routine."
Levin’s palette for Gillian focused on soft, luminous tones. Instead of dark eyeshadows, she opted for beige and gold hues with a subtle shimmer. The blush, a standout element that garnered significant praise on set, was described as "transparent" and provided a dewy, almost otherworldly radiance. "It didn’t look like something that was applied; it looked like something that came from within," Levin remarked, highlighting her use of Dior Beauty’s Rosy Glow Radiance pH-Activated Blush Stick in Pink Lilac.
The color story extended to Gillian’s eyes, where Levin incorporated cool tones such as lilacs, lavenders, and grays. "Those are all colors that really complement [Nicole’s] eyes and her skin tone," she stated. The Lisa Eldridge Betty Eyeshadow palette proved instrumental in achieving this effect. Levin’s artistic choices deliberately defied traditional makeup conventions for film. "I could have gone with browns, but that wouldn’t have been the mystical, good witch kind of girl. Every [traditional film makeup] rule was something I ignored because I just wanted to evoke that mystical feeling." This commitment to magical realism through makeup artistry further enhanced the film’s enchanting atmosphere and solidified Gillian’s character as a beacon of otherworldly allure.
The collaboration between the hair and makeup teams, coupled with advancements in filmmaking technology, has successfully resurrected the beloved Owens sisters for Practical Magic 2. Their meticulous attention to detail, from the subtle placement of vintage hair accessories to the strategic use of luminous makeup and layered wigs, ensures that the magic of their beauty continues to captivate audiences, proving that some spells, like iconic style, truly stand the test of time.
