I contacted the one and only Bill Malone who was Vice President at Don Post Studios in the 1970’s. I asked Bill specifically what type of hair did Don Post Studios use on the 1975/78 Capt. Kirk masks and in general on their masks from that time period?
Bill Malone’s response…
The hair was standard Wool Crepe Hair which is still available. The color was beige and it was spray painted black for the film. By the time the movie was done shooting much of the paint had come off the hair which is why it is the color that it is in the end.
There you all go, the official answer to the BURNING question. What, it only took 34 years to get an official answer!
Thanks for the post Billy. It seems that I’ve read this before… you sure you didn’t post it a couple years back? lol. Guess it is official now so we can throw out all the Yak arguments.
Personally I don’t like working w/ braided crepe wool. You don’t get much for your buck and then you have to unwravel and tease it. If anyone knows of a good place to buy crepe (unbraided), let us know.
its funny. I told people it was spray painted a year or two back and got laughed at. most people insisted it was blonde/brown throughout the movie. I tried explaining that the top layer would only be black and the rest would easily show through in different shots, but noooooo.
from what I was told, it was a spray version of streaks n tips.
I believe Chad (CBK) mentioned that that hair is not what it looks like or something a while back. Pardon me if I’m wrong here. What really sucks is the fake advertising on most sites. Just like mass produced masks, they post a picture that looks good and when you get the product it’s more like cow dung.
yea, tlw is the one who told me…lol. from what he said at the time, I was the first person he had told in 30 years. he hadnt remembered altering the hair until I insisted something had to had been done to it. he thought about it for a moment, and ding! streaks n tips it was.
Thanks Billy! I told alot of people this a looong time ago and few believed me. My post’s are still on the board from at least a year ago…Its a pain as you have to iron it & let it dry overnight unless you get it un-braided but its a beautiful thing in the end. Thats why James always curses when he see’s my mask coming as he has haired 3 of mine with Crepe (Craip) wool
Thanks again Billy
Here’s an old one …Brown & grey Crepe mix…One bag, two colos…Pics are ehh butyou get the idea
Yep, Paul mentioned to me that he had talked to DP jr. last year and was told by him that it was a type of crepe wool. And the 3 or 4 masks that I did for him looked lovely for sure! But don’t you ever ask me to use that stuff again Paul! J/K man
Eric Austin did an Interview with Bill Malone over on the HMA a few years back where Bill explained it was a “Brown” Crepe wool" I still question That answer. Thanks for a refresh though Billy. It’s somthing too look into…
I was told so many different things: Synthetic Silk, Yack, Camel Top, Camel Bottom and so on. I’m just glad we finally have the answer so at least this closes a topic and many, many questions about the hair type.
im glad u told me man, thank ya 
J/K man 