Explaining Belly’s Hair Transformation in The Summer I Turned Pretty
For Lola Tung and Jenny Han, Belly’s haircut in The Summer I Turned Pretty signified more than just trimming dead ends.
In a discussion following the season 3 finale, which premiered on Wednesday, September 17, on Amazon Prime Video, Tung, 22, and Han, 45, shared their insights on Belly’s new bob.
“I was thrilled to find out that Belly was getting a bob,” Tung, who portrays Belly, revealed to Vogue. “It’s wonderful to see her choose this for herself, acting as a physical symbol of the growth and transformation she has undergone.”
According to Tung, the haircut was significant for Belly, especially since her ex-fiancé Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno) discouraged her from cutting her hair earlier in the season. “Making this choice feels liberating, like a fresh start,” Tung remarked.
Belly received her haircut while in Paris after ending her engagement with Jeremiah. Shortly after her salon visit, she bumped into Conrad Fisher (Chris Brinley), Jeremiah’s brother and her first love.
Han, who is both the author and producer of TSITP, elaborated, “Her decision to cut her hair coincides with the return of an old love. It feels poetic that she is looking for something new this summer while something from her past reemerges.”
She continued, “Women often cut their hair after a breakup or when they wish to shed old baggage, signaling they are ready for change. The idea is that changing your appearance can alter how you feel.”
To perfect Belly’s bob, Han tested out the style on herself to ensure it would suit Tung flawlessly.
“I secretly went for a haircut, [in Paris],” Han recalled. “I have really thick hair, so if the stylist could handle mine, then I knew he could do [Lola’s] hair well.”
Tung chose not to cut her real hair for the show; instead, she styled a front piece and wore a U-line wig in the back, tucking her long hair underneath.
Han admitted she felt “super nervous” about the final result. “Of course, you never truly know how it will look until it is done,” she acknowledged.
Following the season 3 finale, where — spoiler alert — Belly and Conrad reconciled, Prime Video announced plans for a film to follow the characters into the next chapter of their lives.
“There is one major milestone left in Belly’s journey, and I felt only a film could do it justice,” Han stated.
