Why Does Sue Storm Have Beach Waves?

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The unique, retro-futuristic visual style is what makes “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” stand out. Unlike many Marvel films that seem to be primarily shot against green screens, this production boasts a distinctive charm reminiscent of a child’s drawing of the future – think flying cars, adorable robots, and vibrant space travel. Even the costumes are stylish throwbacks; men sport jackets and ties, while women wear blocky skirts with headbands galore. However, one anomaly stands out in this 1960s-inspired look: Sue Storm has beach waves instead of a more fitting hairstyle for the era.

You might not be acquainted with the term “beach waves”, but you’ve definitely encountered it: in films, television shows, on stage, and in everyday life. Beach waves refer to a contemporary hairstyle that is commonly associated with a Dyson Airwrap or similar curling irons. The style focuses on curling only the lower half of one’s hair (as opposed to traditional curlers that go up to the scalp), giving the impression that the hair has possibly come from saltwater and dried under a light breeze, adding more volume than it might otherwise have. While no one’s hair truly looks like this at the beach, beach waves are ubiquitous on both big and small screens: Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane sports beach waves in Superman, Cate Blanchett has beach waves in Black Bag, and every character played by Blake Lively showcases beach waves – she even has a range of hair products designed to achieve the same look.

As a cinephile, I found myself puzzled by Sue Storm’s contemporary hairstyle in the film “First Steps,” which is set on Earth-828, an alternate universe. The ’60s-inspired styles worn by characters like Lynne (Sarah Niles) and Rachel (Natasha Lyonne) are spot on for the era, but Sue’s aggressively modern look creates a striking contrast that leaves me questioning the timeline of this world. Is it the past? The future? The mystery remains unsolved.

In the world of Fantastic Four, it’s not surprising that Sue has unique hairstyles, considering Kate Mara’s wig in the 2015 movie or Jessica Alba’s “ponytail-esque” look from a decade prior. As depicted by the legendary comic artist Jack Kirby, whose work is celebrated in the film, Sue’s hair resembles Farrah Fawcett’s feathery shoulder-length waves. While it might seem odd for Vanessa Kirby to wear such a hairstyle in the movie, given its comedic tone, it’s reasonable to assume that the cosmic particles that granted the Fantastic Four their superpowers also endowed Sue with beachy waves. After all, Reed Richards can stretch, Johnny Storm can fly and produce fire, Ben Grimm is a sturdy rock-like creature, and Sue Storm’s powers involve an invisibility shield and effortlessly stylish beach waves. This seems like the most logical explanation for her distinctive look.

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2025-07-25 19:54