In the upcoming film, Pascal plays Alex, a prodigal cellist who returns to LA and the world of Hollywood film scoring after decades spent performing symphonic work. The story spans around 25 years of his life, which means lots of Pedro Pascal (lucky for us), lots of cello, and, judging by the first-look images, some genuinely elite hair.
Searchlight Pictures
It’s chestnut brown, curly, pushed back and away from his face, but not so slicked that all the fun’s been ironed out of it. There’s a proper wave running through the top, loads of texture around the sides, and then, just as you think you’ve got it figured out, a wee bit of mullet action kicks off around the back. In one of the shots, a single strand of hair falls across his forehead. Just one. The rest stays perfectly in place. Was it put there by a hairstylist? Probably. Does that make it any less powerful? Oh, absolutely not. And the salt-and-pepper thing is still very much happening, with little hits of grey running throughout, making it look even tastier.
Pascal is one of those Hollywood guys who’s been naturally blessed with incredible hair. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a go yourself. If you’ve already got a bit of a wave or curl, ask your barber to keep plenty of length through the top and back, with enough weight around the sides to stop it looking too neat. A curl cream or lightweight mousse will help bring out the texture, and then you want to push it back while it’s still damp and leave it alone. Seriously—the more you mess with curls, the angrier they get.
And if your hair is naturally poker straight? Well, a perm is not off the table (as long as it’s not a “broccoli perm”). Modern versions can be much softer and looser than the crispy spirals you might be picturing. Ask for a loose, natural-looking curl and, yeah, take a pic of Pascal with you. Your barber will understand.
Pedro Pascal spent months learning the cello for Behemoth! and, in a recent interview with Vanity Fair, called it the “hardest, hardest, hardest thing [he’s] ever had to learn to do” for a role. Very impressive. Very dedicated. But, with respect, look at the hair.
A version of this story originally appeared in British GQ.