Jessica Biel's mermaid waves at the Matchbox The Movie premiere looked as though she had spent all summer growing her hair out. The reality took considerably more effort. Her hairstylist, Adir Abergel, used clip-in extensions measuring 22 to 24 inches and spent almost four days colouring them to blend with her natural hair.
The actress debuted the look at the film's New York premiere at AMC Lincoln Square on 5 October, pairing the waves with a plunging black blazer and sheer skirt. The loose lengths fell across her shoulders and down her back, giving the hairstyle an effortless finish.
That was precisely the intention. Abergel said he wanted 'a dramatic change that still felt completely believable, like she'd been growing it out all summer'. Achieving that effect meant paying close attention to the extensions' length, colour and texture.
Extensions That Passed for Natural
The clip-ins did more than add volume. At 22 to 24 inches, they gave Biel's hair substantial extra length, changing the proportions of the overall look rather than simply making it appear fuller.
'I wanted to add length to make everything feel longer and give her this beautiful, statuesque feel,' Abergel said.
Length to Balance the Neckline
Biel's outfit also influenced the hairstyle. Her plunging blazer left the neckline open, and Abergel said the extra length helped balance the silhouette.
'The neckline was a big part of it,' he said. 'With that long V and the open chest, the length balanced the look.'
He added that a structured jacket 'can sometimes feel quite strict', while the movement of the hair introduced a softer element. 'Having all that hair and natural movement made her feel softer and sexier,' he said.
The contrast allowed the tailoring to remain sharp without making the overall look feel too severe. The flowing waves softened the outfit's structured lines.
Four Days of Colour Work
Matching the extensions to Biel's natural hair was a major part of the process. Abergel said he and his assistant, Selina Boon, spent almost four days colouring them before the premiere.
'The color was a real labor of love,' he said. 'We wanted that soft, faded effect where the extensions melt seamlessly into her own hair.'
The aim was to make the added length look like a natural continuation of Biel's hair, without an obvious difference in colour between the extensions and her own strands.
Flex Rods and Three Products
Once the colour was right, Abergel turned to the texture. He used what he called 'old-school flex rods' to create a 'soft, romantic wave that never looks too done'.
Before setting the hair, he layered three products from the Virtue range: Damage Reverse Serum, Healing Oil and Un-Frizz Cream.
'That combination adds shine and softness and keeps the texture smooth without weighing it down,' he said.
Together, the products helped keep the hair smooth and soft while allowing the waves to retain their movement.
Her First Film in Almost a Decade
The premiere also marked Biel's return to film. Matchbox The Movie is her first film since Shock and Awe in 2017. In the intervening years, she appeared in television series including BoJack Horseman, Limetown, Candy and The Better Sister.
Directed by Sam Hargrave and inspired by the Matchbox toy car brand, the film follows a group of childhood friends whose lives are upended when Sean, an undercover CIA agent played by John Cena, returns to their small town and draws them into an international pursuit. Arturo Castro, Sam Richardson, Danai Gurira and Teyonah Parris also star. The film premiered on Apple TV on 9 October.
John Cena and co-lead Jessica Biel join the rest of the cast at the premiere of their Apple TV action flick, 'Matchbox the Movie'.
— MTN Breaking News (@MTNbreaking) October 6, 2026
Starring John Cena as Sean Walker and Jessica Biel as Aimee, it premieres worldwide on Apple TV on October 9, 2026.
(📸: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) pic.twitter.com/m74uavAIEX
For a hairstyle designed to look as though it had grown naturally over the summer, the preparation was anything but spontaneous: almost four days of colour work, extensions reaching 24 inches and a carefully chosen combination of styling products.
