What I Do in a Day: Katie Gell, Wig Maker
Katie Gell is a freelance wig maker working in film and TV in New York City. You can see her work on shows like Pose, Stranger Things and the upcoming FX series Fosse/Verdon. She lives in Queens with her husband, Joe.
My alarm goes off… at 7:00 a.m., but I snooze a couple of times before getting out of bed. Most days, I wear something comfortable like leggings and a T-shirt. If I’m well prepared, I’ll have overnight oats for breakfast but more often than not, I’ll start my day with just an espresso (the first of many) made in a percolator on the stove. Since I work from home, I don’t have to worry about a commute and start work around 8 a.m.
My morning… is spent in our second bedroom slash office sitting at my desk (it has a great view of the city) and hand-tying wigs. Each wig takes between two to three weeks to make, but sometimes a client will need them sooner, so I’ll actually work with other wig makers and we’ll each do a different part of the wig (like the top or the back) before bringing it all together.
For lunch… I’ll usually try to eat something quick and easy like leftovers from dinner the night before, egg salad or a sandwich from Seamless. I typically work 12 hours a day, so I’ll take a quick break for lunch and then another 45-minute break in the afternoon to go to the gym two blocks away or to pick up groceries.
In the afternoon… I’ll continue working on wigs while listening to a podcast or binge-watching a TV show (mainly true crime and murder mysteries). Most of the time, I’m working by myself but before I start a wig, I’ll usually do a fitting with the actor beforehand to measure their head. I put a plastic bag on them and get a mold of their head—it’s a funny way to meet people. Then, when the wig is finished, I’ll go on set or to the actor’s trailer to make sure it looks right.
I finish work… around 8:30 p.m. or whenever my husband gets back from work. The hard part about working from home is that you never really switch off. Next year, I’m planning on renting a small space so that I can separate my work life and my home life a little more.
After work… Joe and I will make dinner together, something healthy like grain bowls or stuffed acorn squash, while catching up about our day (we’re in the same field but different sides—he's a film and television editor). Or we’ll order Greek food (something we do at least once a week) and then watch an episode of a show or look at funny Reddit videos with a glass of wine. I’ll try to be in bed by 10:30 p.m.—usually I’ll take a little CBD, check Twitter (a terrible habit) and then just fall asleep.
I got the job… by learning how to make wigs in college. I was taking a makeup class and a woman came to school and was looking for people to help her during opera season and she taught me how. I then had a series of internships at various opera houses around the country before moving to New York City and getting my first job at a studio that makes wigs for Broadway shows. After six and a half years, I decided to go my own way and focus more on film—it lets me get into all the nitty-gritty detail that I love like cowlicks and partings.
The best part of my job… is all the amazing people that I get to work with. From the wig makers to the actors to the hairstylists—it’s really exciting and fun to work with people that I admire, and I love putting together this art that other people get to enjoy.
The worst part of my job… is watching other movies with really bad wigs—it’s torturous. Because once you notice it, it’s the only thing you’ll see.
My most memorable moment… was when I was flown to Minnesota to do a fitting on Jessica Lange—that was amazing and I just adore her. But the ultimate career high would be to make wigs for Bette Midler. To be her personal wig maker would be a dream come true.
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