As a former English major, which means I'm a romantic by default, I'm a sucker for period dramas (opens in new tab). Starry-eyed love! Dancing! And sometimes even poisoning! I'm interested in all of them. The extravagant hairstyles, the lipsticks made from exotic fruits, the glamorous vanities that foreshadow our grooming today. Hollywood hair and makeup gives us a glimpse of fashions from decades and centuries ago. As summer approaches, my attention has turned to the latest missed show: Hulu's "The Greatest" (opens in new tab).

The show chronicles the rise of Yekaterina the Great and the coup that led to her overthrowing her husband, the tsar, and seizing the Russian throne (spoiler alert!) It is a wild interpretation of the F-bombs explode in the rococo corridors of the palace, sex takes place in all kinds of places, and pet bears run around. But if anything is shockingly down-to-earth, it's the makeup and hairstyles of the future empress. Princess Catherine, played by Elle Fanning (open in new tab), is styled as a natural beauty amidst the makeup-clad Russians that surround her. According to the show's hair and makeup designer, Louise Coles (opens in new tab), this is no coincidence.

"It was important that her style be softer and more natural than the opulent looks that the ladies of the court would wear," says Coles. It's not that it wasn't historically accurate."

"There is a respect for the historical forms and methods of the time, as well as a playful artistic license to enhance the satire and rich characters in the script," she says. This contemporary twist is sufficient rationale to make these looks actually wearable in 2020.

Catherine's off-duty braids and youthful flush (by Fanning's makeup artist Erin Ayanian Monroe (opens in new tab) and hairstylist Lorraine Glynn (opens in new tab), respectively) are the character's most intense moments - the moments when they are making lovers here and there in the royal apartments or plotting the downfall of their enemies.

"I wanted to make [Fanning] look like the woman she was in that era. After blending a thin layer of foundation with a damp blending sponge, Monroe used a pencil to give Fanning's eyebrows light definition, omitting concealer and mascara: "I wanted a delicate watercolor look to her eyes," she says, "from the natural tone of her eyelids and under eyes. And that beautiful blush" This is not a blush. Monroe used a stipple brush to fluff the berry-colored lipstick onto Fanning's cheeks.

If you want to recreate Catherine's hair, this braid is everything. After showering, curl cream is applied to give the curled strands a natural shape and bounce. Leave loose strands to frame the face and secure frayed imperfections with French pins. Spray a few sprays of flexible hairspray to prevent the braid from becoming too perfect. ...... No Haziness (opens in new tab).

You're going to look like royalty all season long, even if you're covered in sweat.

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