Ice Spice has officially entered Barbie World. The well-nominated rapper dominated the red carpet at Sunday’s BET Awards, her cropped cloud of curls exchanged for interminable tangerine lengths. The pin-straight style was a timely and referential change-up inspired by her own turn in the music video for “Barbie World,” a recently-released single in collaboration with Nicki Minaj, which is featured on the (highly anticipated, culturally defining, etc.) Barbie movie soundtrack.
The trompe l’oeil look was marked by neon edges and super slick texture, achieved with the help of the Dyson Airstrait™ straightener, a new gadget that aims to smooth hair sans heat damage. “I was able to achieve a very sleek, straight, and flowing look,” says hairstylist Kadijah Balde, who prepped Spice’s natural hair, wig, and edges with glues, sprays, and styling gels from got2b, blasting the final look with a coat of göt2b Blasting Freeze Spray for a hold that would last from carpet to performance. Paired with cat-eye liner, a diamond-encrusted cross, and a sheer corseted gown from Dolce & Gabbana, the moment gave off individualized siren vibes, aesthetics converging to make a statement that was entirely 2023.
One of the best things about our current Barbie-mania is its adaptability: the chance for everyone to embody their stylish, overtly camp inner doll. And though Spice’s take on the trend comes with a characteristic amount of attitude, according to her glam team, it’s surface-level only. “She’s really one of the sweetest people in the world!” says Balde.