In his second column for GLAMOUR, celebrity hairstylist Adir Abergel shares his ultimate tips for creating a voluminous Barbie blowout as seen on Nicola Peltz.
Adir is best known for his show-stopping red carpet looks and A-list clients including Kristen Stewart and Anne Hathaway, as well as being the pro behind Nicola Peltz's supermodel-inspired wedding hair, so we're pretty sure we're in safe hands…
There was a saying in the Sixties, “The higher the hair, the closer to God”. To this day, the benefits of a good voluminous blowout are undeniable. Take the ‘Barbie blowout’, for example. It looks touchable, airy and effortless. With the rise of Barbiecore and the Barbie movie coming out next summer, it's the perfect opportunity to celebrate diversity and the variety of beautiful hair textures out there.
No matter your natural texture – curly, wavy or straight – I’m going to break down the products and tools to give you the creative freedom to craft a Barbie blowout that reflects your own individuality. Plus, I’ve got a few DIY tricks for recreating these iconic looks at home.
Lay the foundation in the shower
The foundation for creating any long-lasting style begins in the shower. When working with curly and coily hair, I like to focus on infusing hydration into the strands and taming frizz with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner. On wavy and straight textured hair that tends to be limp, use a volumising shampoo and conditioner; if it's prone to frizz, switch to a smoothing conditioner instead.
Always remove excess water before applying styling products
After washing your hair, use a paper towel to squeeze the excess water out; it’s a gentle method that doesn’t disturb the cuticle or create friction. Those with curly hair will want to distribute Virtue Un-Frizz Cream evenly throughout wet hair using a detangling brush or a wide-tooth comb. I also like to spritz Virtue Volumizing Primer on the roots and mid-lengths of wavy hair. Straight textures need lift and hold so reach for the Virtue Volumizing Mousse, which infuses long-lasting bounce into hair that easily falls flat.
Section the hair
Start by dividing the hair into two sections. Make a horizontal part from the top of the right ear to top of the left ear. Grab a clip and tie the top away for later.
Then divide the hair that’s left out below the nape of the neck into two sections with a vertical parting down the middle. Clip those away.
Release the top section of hair and divide it into the mohawk (a vertical section that includes hair from both sides of your desired parting and the hair on the crown), the hair on top of the right ear, and the section on top of the left ear. Again, clip away each section.
Create bounce and body
When it comes to creating curls and how to blow-dry your hair, the same rule applies to all hair textures: roll the hair away from your face in the direction of your back, starting with the mohawk section of hair on your crown.
For curly hair: The wet set is a perfect technique to protect hair from heat damage. The smaller the roller, the more waves your look will have in the end. Apply some Virtue Curl-Defining Gel to your fingertips and distribute it throughout your sections. Comb it through and roll the hair from ends to roots using your roller. Secure it with a creaseless clip and repeat this process until all your hair is rolled.
For wavy and straight textures: Blow-dry the roots with the nozzle pointed against the direction the hair naturally lays to create lift. Once the roots are dry, move on to the mid lengths and ends, directing the nozzle from root to tip.
For wavy hair: Start by taking a section and blow dry it using a boar bristle round brush and medium heat. The key is to not over-stretch the hair so that it has major bounce and body. Next, take a Velcro roller and roll it from ends to root. If needed, secure it with a creaseless clip and mist with hairspray.
For poker straight hair: Blow-dry using a round ceramic brush to shape and completely dry the hair. Any moisture left behind might cause the style to fall. Go over the entire head with a large-barrel two-inch curling iron. When releasing the hair from the curling iron, make sure to keep it in the coil shape and secure it with a creaseless clip. Fix in place with hairspray.
Cool down
Cooling down any hair texture is one of the most important steps in the Barbie blowout. You want to give your cuticles the chance to close so that the hair completely changes shape and the curl lasts for longer.
Lock in the style
Hair should look and feel like you could run your hands through it. I love to warm a few drops of Virtue Healing Oil between my hands to add more shine and manageability to the hair. Remove the clips and rollers, then gently tease a bit at the root of each section.
Curly hair types should use a wide-tooth comb to fluff the hair. A boar and nylon bristle paddle brush will shape and brush out the curls in wavy hair types. While those with straight hair should use their fingers or a wide-tooth comb to lightly push volume into the hair where they want to see it.
And just like that, a little patience, perseverance and some DIY skills can help you achieve a modern Barbie blowout that will last for days.
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