Joy Zapata Joy Zapata ( born ) is an Emmy Award - winning hairstylist who worked on , first as a key hairstylist during the first season and later as hair designer for seasons five , six , and seven . She was also a key hair stylist on the films and . Zapata ' s hairstyling helped " The Next Generation " win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series for the episode which she shared with Candace Neal , Patricia Miller , Laura Connolly , Richard Sabre , Julia L . Walker , and Josée Normand . Her work also helped earn the show two additional Emmy nominations in the same category for the episodes , shared with Patricia Miller , and , shared with Patricia Miller , Laura Connolly , Carolyn Elias , Don Sheldon , and Susan Zietlow - Maust . Zapata began her career in hairstyling on ' s classic science fiction series " Battlestar Galactica " . Her early film work includes " When You Comin ' Back , Red Ryder ? " ( 1979 ) and " Under the Rainbow " , working with " Star Trek " make - up artist Fred Phillips . Since then , she has headed the make - up department for such films as " Innerspace " ( 1987 , starring Robert Picardo and featuring Wendy Schaal , William Schallert , Henry Gibson , Mark L . Taylor , Dick Miller , Kenneth Tobey , Andrea Martin , and Richard McGonagle ) , " Rain Man " ( 1988 ) , " Born on the Fourth of July " ( 1989 , featuring Reg E . Cathey , Bob Gunton , Ed Lauter , and Mark Moses ) , " Independence Day " ( 1996 , featuring Brent Spiner , Bill Smitrovich , Frank Novak , Leland Orser , Raphael Sbarge , Tim Kelleher , Randy Oglesby , Erick Avari , and Tracey Walter and working with Norma Lee and Candace Neal ) , " Blade " ( 1998 ) , " The General ' s Daughter " ( 1999 , featuring James Cromwell ) , and " Galaxy Quest " ( 1999 ) . She was also a key hairstylist on films such as " Sunset " ( 1988 , starring Malcolm McDowell ) , " L . A . Story " ( 1991 , featuring Iman and Patrick Stewart ) , " Apollo 13 " ( 1995 , featuring David Andrews , Clint Howard , Max Grodénchik , Brett Cullen , Andy Milder , and Brian Markinson ) . In addition , Zapata was the head of the hair department on the series " Magnum , P . I . " . She later became a key hairstylist for " Mad About You " , winning a Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award for her work on that show ' s final episode ( " The Final Frontier " ) . She won a second award from the guild for her work on the 2001 film " Legally Blonde " . She also earned her fourth Emmy Award nomination for the 2002 TV movie " Path to War " ( which features Cliff DeYoung , Albert Hall , Bruce McGill , and Randy Oglesby ) . Other recent credits include Jonathan Frakes ' " Clockstoppers " ( 2002 ) , " Anchorman : The Legend of Ron Burgundy " ( 2004 ) , and " Good Night , and Good Luck " ( 2005 ) . Most recently , she was a key hairstylist on the 2007 sci - fi action film " Transformers " , written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci . Since 1996 , Zapata has been Academy Award - winning actor ' s personal hairstylist . She has worked with Nicholson on such films as " Mars Attacks ! " ( 1996 ) , " As Good As It Gets " ( 1997 ) , " About Schmidt " ( 2002 ) , " Something ' s Gotta Give " ( 2003 ) , and " The Departed " ( 2006 ) . More recently , Zapata worked as key hair stylist on the television series " Switched at Birth " ( 2011 - 2012 , with Gloria Ponce ) , as hair department head on the horror sequel " Scream 4 " ( 2011 , with hair stylist Norma Lee ) and on the action comedy " Journey 2 : The Mysterious Island " ( 2012 , with Dwayne Johnson and Branscombe Richmond ) , and as hair stylist on the Academy Award winning drama " The Artist " ( 2011 ) and on the comedy " The Incredible Burt Wonderstone " ( 2013 ) .