Kim Fields Explains How Not Wanting To Get Her Hair Done Weekly Led To Her ‘Living Single’ Character’s Signature Wig Style: ‘I Was Almost Wearing Them Like Hats’
Kim Fields Explains How Not Wanting To Get Her Hair Done Weekly Led To Her ‘Living Single’ Character’s Signature Wig Style: ‘I Was Almost Wearing Them Like Hats’
Actress Kim Fields is breaking down some of her hairstyles throughout her TV career.
While discussing her iconic role as Regine on the sitcom “Living Single,” Kim Fields shared that her aversion to getting her hair done led to the character only wearing wigs.
Kim Fields, 53, has appeared in numerous successful TV projects since her career launch in the late ’70s. In 1979, the actress got her first big break starring in the hit sitcom “Facts Of Life” as Dorothy “Tootie” Ramsey. The actress said before starting a new role she first decides what kind of hair the character will have. After nearly a decade on air as Tootie, however, Fields was completely over the hair-doing process.
She stated during her recent interview:
“Here’s the big backstory about the Genesis of the whole idea of Regine wearing wigs; Kim Fields didn’t want to get her hair done every week,”
Laughing, she continued:
“I had learned after 9 years in doing my hair every week in, week out on ‘Facts Of Life,’ I ain’t feel like doin all that. So I wore this wig to the producers’ session – we just thought ‘well this could be kind of fun actually.'”
She added:
“Sometimes I wouldn’t even pin the [wig] on…I was almost wearing them like hats!”
The thought certainly seems to have translated well on camera! Regine’s big and versatile hair-dos became a staple part of her character, often highlighted in the writing. Additionally, “Living Single” as a series not only went on to become wildly popular but also helped trail-blaze Black fashion and style for an entire generation. Fields co-starred alongside Queen Latifah, Kim Coles, Erika Alexander, John Henton, and Terrance C. Carson.
Following her success, Fields went on to appear in other acclaimed TV projects like Nickelodeon’s “Keenan & Kel,” in which the entertainer appeared as a guest star and director. More recently, the actress has taken on the role as wife and mother Regina Upshaw alongside Mike Epps and Wanda Sykes in the Netflix sitcom “The Upshaws.”
Can you relate to Kim Fields’ hair dilemma? Tell us in the comments!