That was before the world’s most famous doll adopted more inclusive looks, features, and outfits… But her iconic ponytail remains a hairstyling essential to this day.

Massively popular among fashionistas in the early 2000s, and brought up to date by singer Ariana Grande, who made it her signature hairstyle, the Barbie ponytail has been keeping a relatively low profile in recent years.

Indeed, its sophistication did not make it the best suited for lockdown periods during the pandemic. But the return to a normal life, accented by a desire for extravagance, now seems to be working in her favour.

The biggest stars on the planet, including Hailey Bieber and Jennifer Lopez, swear by the Barbie ponytail, which could even overshadow the star hairstyle of the season, the mullet.

And unlike some more eccentric hairstyles that are seen on red carpets but which rarely get traction outside these kinds of events and ceremonies, the Barbie ponytail is also getting a lot of play on social networks, particularly TikTok.

On the Chinese social network, videos spotlighting different versions or spin-offs of this retro hairstyle, personalised according to the wearer’s tastes, are cropping up in huge numbers.

Many feature details also inspired by the childhoods of millennials.

One well-known version from this generation crops up frequently, with one or two slightly wavy locks in the front … Another essential from the early 2000s.

While this iconic hairstyle is making a comeback in many spheres, it is surrounded by controversy in some areas of Japan, where it remains banned in some schools, according to Vice.

The publication recently revealed that several schools in country have a ban on wearing ponytails to school under the pretext that it could cause males to be “sexually excite”d by revealing the nape of the girls’ neck.

There are increasing calls for institutions to drop such outdated, sexist regulations.

Anyone who wants to get in on the trend of the moment can start practising coaxing their hair into a perfect ponytail today.

The style requires straightening the hair beforehand and smoothing it to a max.

Then, just leave one or two strands loose in the front before sweeping up the rest of the hair into a ponytail, positioned high on the top of your head. Then set it with hairspray.

The strands left loose can be given a slight wave with a curling iron. Voila!