Steve Harrington’s Signature Hair: The Product That Makes It Happen

Binging a buzz-worthy series isn’t just about entertainment anymore. From shoes to hairstyles, our curiosity goes beyond the storyline—we want every detail. And thanks to the internet, it’s easier than ever to track down the exact eyeliner, or in this case, the hair product used to create Steve Harrington’s signature look in the latest (and final) season of Netflix’s Stranger Things.

There’s no doubt about it—season after season Steve’s hair steals the spotlight. In an interview with Refinery29, Sarah Hindsgaul, Hair Designer on Stranger Things reveals they tested out 15 different products before landing on the secret—KEVIN.MURPHY FREE.HOLD + NIGHT.RIDER. Two styling pomades praised for the ability to create a smooth, yet texture finish, word from Sarah is Joe Keery (Steve) relies on these products IRL too.

Steve’s hair is voluminous but highly textured, it has a distinct rocker vibe that’s effortless and extremely fitting for Keery’s character. Keery’s hair is thick so building in the volume and then getting it to stay in place is the biggest challenge. Luckily for you, Sarah breaks down the three must-follow steps to achieving the look.

Start with damp hair and apply a mousse like BODY.BUILDER evenly from roots to ends, working it through the hair thoroughly. Blow-dry using a diffuser attachment to gently dry the hair and enhance its natural texture. This technique creates a soft, natural finish with plenty of movement.

Pro tip: Scrunch the hair as you diffuse to encourage natural curl and amplify texture and definition. 

Once dry, apply a small amount of FREE.HOLD to the ends to refine the shape. Follow with NIGHT.RIDER, working from the scalp through the lengths where extra lift and hold are needed. At each stage, take the time to properly distribute the product—which allows it to fully activate and perform.

• Volumising Mousse: BODY.BUILDER
• Defining Paste: FREE.HOLD
• Texture Paste: NIGHT.RIDER

With a weightless finish and the ability to layer as needed, a mousse like BODY.BUILDER provides flexible fullness and hold without ever feeling crunchy. Standing out for its ability to be used on hair of all lengths, it makes it an ideal product to keep on set or counter.  

When layering products, you need formulas that work together, which is where FREE.HOLD comes in. The power of this paste lies in flexibility and shine—making it the ideal styler to enhance the ends of the hair when sheen and definition is needed. 

Then to bring the style together, NIGHT.RIDER delivers a rough, matte finish with a high hold factor.  Enhanced with Natural Beeswax to seal in moisture, NIGHT.RIDER makes the hair look and feel good, by preventing breakage and further enhancing the hair’s health. Ideal for short and choppy layers, with Steve’s hair as the perfect example—it proves you can work it into longer layers for control and definition as well.

While Steve’s character was an obvious choice, Joe Keery IRL is another great example. Ideal for medium-to-thick hair or anyone looking for high hold and a matte finish near the scalp and flexibility and shine throughout the ends, FREE.HOLD + NIGHT.RIDER enhance movement, keep your hair in place and prevent moisture loss to your strands. From adding a quick polish to a long-lasting finish, this duo is ideal to set styles quickly and enhance your iconic style.