Side-By-Side Pics Of Janelle James Prove She Can Rock Any Hair Length

There's no denying Janelle James' elevated sense of style. Throughout her many comedy acts and television appearances, the comedian has consistently flaunted the latest threads with enhanced glam, not to mention her always perfectly laid hair.

James, who plays the unhinged, eccentric yet stylish principal, Ava Coleman, on ABC's "Abbott Elementary," can be seen rocking classy, on-point fits and equally stylish hair that changes with each episode. While her signature look on the show is long – 18 to 20 inches – flowing tresses, she often switches between curly and wavy textures, along with varying shades of brown and black, and even blond and burgundy hues styled in ombre tones. So far, the show has had three Halloween episodes, one of which saw Principal Coleman dress up as Blade, wearing a high-fade wig for the part.

Over on social media, James continues to prove she can rock super flattering haircuts and just about any hair length – from a short pixie cut and cropped lob to long waist-length locks. While she clearly fancies a longer 'do, her pixie cut at the 2026 Critics' Choice Award (below) — where she won best supporting actress in a comedy series for her role as Principal Ava Coleman — was a stunning and sophisticated yet bold switch-up for the comedian. With ultra-short, textured layers and a micro-bang, the style highlighted James' facial features, drawing attention to her eyes and cheekbones. On Instagram, she thanked her glam squad for her award-night ensemble, including LA-based hairstylist Joy Johnson for her hair. "Pixie perfect!" one fan commented on James' page, while another remarked, "Yayyy! Come on pixie cut!"

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How does Janelle James pull off all these looks? The answer is just as surprising as it is exciting. Though she occasionally works with independent hairstylists, for her ever-changing looks on "Abbott Elementary," James does have access to a secret weapon. The show's makeup department head is none other than two-time Emmy Award-winning hairstylist, Moira Frazier.

With intentional styling and close attention to detail, Frazier curates Principal Coleman's looks to match her vibrant personality and whatever she has going on throughout each of the show's episodes. Being the diva that she is, sometimes the school head has to be taken seriously, and for those moments, Frazier may opt for a dark, monochrome lob wig, as she explained to the New York Post. "You have to be able to show your leadership role. You got to be able to show that 'I'm not messing around' role. So, in all of these different leadership roles, I feel like each wig complements that role," Frazier said.

From her collection of more than 100 wigs — made up of everything from pixie cut styles, spiral curls, and bouncy ponytails to natural wave patterns — Frazier helps bring all the show's characters to life, including those played by actors Sheryl Lee Ralph, Quinta Brunson, and Lisa Ann Walter, along with the students. "One hundred (wigs) is just the base. I have been building that 100 since COVID," Frazier told Today.com. "I kept buying wigs because I always felt like there was going to be a time where I needed them."