The High Stakes of Harper Stern’s Hairstyles

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The fourth season of Industry kicked off with a memorable entrance by Harper Stern (Myha’la). She confidently walked down a London street wearing a striking gray suit, set to the show’s signature electronic music. Her powerful presence signaled a transformation, reflecting her journey from a deceptive junior analyst to a notorious figure in the high-stakes world of hedge funds – and hinting at more rebellious behavior to come.

Beyond her sudden financial success, Harper’s clothing choices this season highlight what makes her such a compelling character – she’s playfully rebellious and fiercely determined. This isn’t just about strong fashion statements like bold shoulders and vintage Alaïa; her style reflects the show Industry‘s own rise from a hidden gem to a prominent HBO series, and her evolving look subtly hints at storylines the writers have been developing all along.

In a banking world that’s overwhelmingly white, it would be easy to expect a young Black woman to either blend in or focus on her identity to get ahead. But Harper isn’t like that. She believes being defined by her race or gender is limiting. She doesn’t want to prove she’s ‘one of the guys,’ and she refuses to let her identity be the foundation of what sets her apart. Like her complex colleague Eric Tao, Harper is driven by a desire for power and will do whatever it takes to achieve her goals. This ambition defines her far more than any demographic box she might check. What makes Harper stand out from other Black characters on TV is that she doesn’t feel the need to constantly discuss her experiences as a minority, but she also isn’t simply a story about a Black woman overcoming obstacles to become exceptional.

Harper isn’t at all embarrassed about being Black, even though it’s not the main focus of her career goals. Her personal style, particularly her hair, is very noticeable and has become a running theme in the show Industry. Myha’la, the actress who plays Harper, hinted at the Met Gala that fan theories about the significance of her hair are correct, playfully saying, “You’re all right for noticing!” Let’s explore those clues together, season by season.

Season One: The Basic Braids

Throughout the series, from her initial interview to the finale, the show consistently reveals Harper’s complex relationship with culture and identity. Her braids, a traditionally Black hairstyle, demonstrate that while she doesn’t want to be solely defined by her race, she’s also proud of who she is. However, the style itself—synthetic hair contrasting with her natural texture—hints at her background as a biracial American entering the exclusive world of British banking. It reflects her initial naiveté and relatively modest financial situation, despite her confidence and potential in a challenging workplace. Her overall look is somewhat tough—she even removes her nose ring after a pointed comment—highlighting the cultural differences between her and her predominantly white colleagues, a world she’s eager to be accepted into. Ultimately, by aligning with Eric and letting Daria go, Harper proves she’s fully embraced the values of Pierpoint and earned her place there on her own terms.

Season Two: The Natural-Hair Girlie

Following a strong first season where Harper proved she’d do whatever it takes to get ahead, she returns with a new look – ditching her braids for her natural hair, often styled in a neat bun. This change reflects her desire to be seen as a serious professional at Pierpoint. Season two delves deeper into the complex character we met before, exploring her relentless drive to succeed – even if it means bending the rules – alongside her personal struggles with depression and self-care. It’s fitting that her hair is now worn in its most natural form, mirroring this vulnerability and authenticity.

The show increasingly reveals Harper’s past, especially through intense scenes with her twin brother, showing us how she sees herself – often as a victim, despite her tough exterior. As she grows frustrated with Pierpoint and Eric, she starts taking bigger risks and becoming a more confident salesperson. Jesse Bloom encourages this self-centeredness, and it’s fueled when Pierpoint mistakenly identifies her in a brochure, a common misstep that highlights racial bias. By the season’s end, Harper is at her most manipulative, even costing a colleague their job. At Rishi’s wedding, she confidently embraces her identity with a striking hairstyle. However, this newfound freedom is short-lived, as Eric uncovers her falsified academic records, giving the company grounds to fire her.

Season 3: The Big Chop

Throughout the third season, Harper struggles with the deep hurt caused by Eric’s betrayal, and her dramatically shorter haircut reflects her emotional state. This ‘big chop’ symbolizes a fresh start after the fallout with Pierpoint. While determined to rebuild her life and avoid returning to America, Harper is driven by a fierce desire for revenge. The haircut represents a complete transformation, allowing her to reconnect with who she truly is. She’s determined to forge her own path, free from Eric and Pierpoint’s influence, and she joins forces with Petra to form Leviathan Alpha, though her anger sometimes affects her decisions.

In the third season, Harper faces difficult challenges that push her beliefs and relationships to the limit. Her closest friendship, with Yasmin (Marisa Abela), suffers as a result of Harper’s risky financial dealings, and Yasmin ends up caught in the crossfire. There’s a particularly satisfying scene early on where Harper unexpectedly gains the upper hand and powerfully confronts Eric. Myha’la’s shorter hairstyle adds to the intensity of her performance, allowing viewers to see Harper’s flawed and complex character more clearly – she’s not a traditional hero.

Season 4: New Look, Old Style

Season four feels like a turning point for Harper. Having recently been recognized on the Forbes “30 Under 30” list, she’s returned with renewed strength. As Nina Li Coomes observed, Harper’s growth isn’t about becoming someone new, but about a deeper understanding of herself. Her decision to wear braids again perfectly illustrates this – she’s not a changed person, but a more confident and accomplished version of the woman we first met. We now fully understand her potential – she’s no longer defined by whether she’s a product of circumstance or a force of nature. The return of her braids, now impeccably done, also reflects her success and improved financial standing.

Harper still avoids genuine connection with people (it’s always been tough for Kwabena), and this tendency comes back to haunt her when her mother suddenly dies in episode five, “Eyes Without a Face.” The news deeply affects Harper, whose difficult relationship with her mother has been a recurring theme throughout her career. In a particularly vulnerable moment – the first time we see her with her hair down all season – she confides in Eric that she used to imagine a reunion with her mother where her mother would desperately apologize, acknowledging Harper’s success and power.

Harper’s transformation, particularly her striking new look, signaled her complete ascent to power. This was most evident during her speech at the ALPHA Conference, culminating in a decisive move that caused Tender’s stock to plummet. Everyone thought Tender was invincible, backed by powerful entities like the British government, the media, and even Harper’s colleagues at Pierpoint. However, they underestimated the determination of SternTao; Harper had essentially sealed Tender’s fate the moment she targeted them. In retrospect, her confident appearance at the start of the season should have been a warning sign – her elaborate braids were a symbol of her inevitable victory.

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2026-02-21 01:55