NATCHITOCHES – Two-time Emmy Award winner Daina Daigle gave a master class for Northwestern State University Theatre and Dance students March 7.  Daigle, a Gueydan native, is a hair stylist who works extensively in Louisiana’s film industry and has won two Emmys along with the hair team of “American Horror Story: Coven” and “Freak Show.” She has also been honored with a Hair and Makeup Guild Award along with the hair team of “Pitch Perfect 2.”  During her master class, Daigle taught lace front wig techniques used in film to students concentrating in hair and makeup.  She discussed the film industry in Louisiana and what life is like on set for hair and makeup artists.

 

Daigle’s passion for hair came from an early age.

 

“My calling had always been styling hair,” she said. “My mother owned a salon in the small town of Gueydan, which was not unlike the salon seen in the famous movie set in Natchitoches, “Steel Magnolias.” When growing up, I didn’t go to day care.  Instead, I went to work with my mom in the salon, and I would play with her mannequin heads to pass my time. In high school, I did all of my friend’s hair for all of the dances, doing my own last.”

 

Though her original degree is in nursing, Daigle credits her husband for encouraging her to follow her heart and attend cosmetology school.

 

Daigle found her way into the film industry through fellow cosmetologist and makeup artist Krystal Kershaw, who invited her to work on a SYFY network show called “Scream of the Banshee.” From that show, Daigle had the opportunity to join I.A.T.S.E, the union that represents the behind-the-scenes artisans for film and theatre.  Since then, she’s worked on films such as “Deepwater Horizon,” “Pitch Perfect 2 and 3,” “Fast and Furious 8,” “The Highwaymen,” “Troupe Zero” and “Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot.” Her work in television includes shows such as “American Horror Story,” “The Outsider,” “Cloak and Dagger” and currently a Showtime series starring Bryan Cranston called “Your Honor.”

 

Daigle resides in Iowa, Louisiana, with her husband, JoBob Daigle.  They have two children, Hayden and Brynlee Daigle. Hayden is a United States Marine and Brynlee attends NSU studying musical theatre.