From Barbiecore to Barbiemania — thanks to Greta Gerwig, everything Barbie is dominating social media and is turning out to be one of the biggest trends of the season. While the Barbie aesthetic is nothing new — the look is having a major moment in regard to fashion, beauty, and pop culture. With this, we’ve seen a widespread return to blonde hair trends with “Barbie Blonde” becoming the hottest shade of the summer. The look is inspired by the original Barbie doll with bright, near-platinum tones that come across as playful yet glamorous. To break down the trend and achieve the iconic Barbie Blonde, Wella Professionals tapped their Ambassador Stylist & Blonding Expert, Zach Mesquit, to share his unparalleled blonde knowledge about the shade.
Chatting All Things Barbie Blonde with The Platinum King, Zach Mesquit
(IG: @thezachmesquit, TT: @zachmesquit)
In your own words what does the “Barbie” Blonde color look like and do your clients reference Barbie when requesting that specific blonde shade?
- My clients absolutely reference Barbie when requesting a specific shade of blonde. Barbie Blonde is a clean level 10 platinum without any cool tones. Ideally, I achieve the color by lifting to an almost clear level 10 and don’t use any toner. Barbie is known for that super bright platinum.
Have you seen an uptick in blonde requests since the Barbie trend took off?
- I have definitely noticed a lot of my already platinum clients wanting to switch to a more “Barbie blonde” vs their usual “icy” more cool toned platinum
What do clients need to know about this color before making the transformation?
- That it is a very VERY high-maintenance color. You’ll need to get it touched up every 3-4 weeks. The hair will also be heavily processed so they will need to take very good care of it, use good products at home, and be very gentle with their styling. It’s more than just a color it’s really a lifestyle.
What will maintenance look like at-home and in the salon?
- In salon maintenance will be color retouches every 3-4 weeks. At home I always recommend using Wella Ultimate Repair line to keep the integrity of the hair strong and prevent breakage. They need to use heat protection like Wella Professionals EIMI Thermal Image Heat Protection Hairspray any time they use heat to style.
Wella Professionals ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue ($95.00).
What are your favorite Wella products to use both in the salon and at-home with this color?
- In salon I would use Blondorplex lightener for the bleaching process as it has built in technology that reduces risk of damage. I would also utilize Wella Ultimate Repair and recommend they use it at home
What are your favorite “Barbiecore” inspired hairstyles?
- High ponytails are my favorite barbiecore inspired hairstyle
Anything else you think one should know when it comes to Barbie hair color/care?
- Main thing to keep in mind as mentioned before is that this is a lifestyle. It’s much more delicate and fussier than any other color option out there. The client needs to be prepared for the ongoing expense and maintenance; this isn’t a color for anyone. You really must be committed.
Cover Image Credits:
Photography: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty, Han Myung-Gu/WireImage
