In case you haven't noticed, we're obsessed with every incredible look Margot Robbie wore for her Barbie press tour. Sure, this corseted gown and opera gloves were showstoppers, but we can't forget the small details that added an extra pop to every outfit—her nails. Recently, while promoting Barbie in Mexico, Margot was spotted wearing this gorgeous swirled purple and pink mani. Done by nail artist Betina Goldstein, it was inspired by Totally Hair Barbie, a '90s Barbie that doesn't get enough love and attention, in my opinion. It's a sight to behold, and I couldn't go another minute without knowing how to re-create such an epic manicure myself. Luckily, I tapped celebrity nail artist Brittney Boyce to help me. She was kind enough to pass along a few tips for anyone wanting to re-create this whimsical retro look on their own. For all her tips and polishes she would use, keep scrolling!
How to Re-Create Margot Robbie's Barbiecore Manicure
"This look can be pretty simple to achieve at home, but sometimes it is a little bit messy," says Boyce. "To get the look, you need a small bowl filled with lukewarm water, three to four nail polish colors, base and topcoat, a toothpick (or something similar), a clean up brush, and nail polish remover."
Before doing any DIY manicure, I always like to ensure my hands are prepped. I like to exfoliate with a scrub like Osea's new Undaria Cleansing Body Polish. It resurfaces with physical and light chemical exfoliants while nourishing and hydrating with a unique gel-to-milk formula.
Next, I'll use an extra hydrating hand cream like this shea butter formula from EOS (PSA: The EOS shaving cream is also amazing).
Next, Boyce recommends starting with a base coat.
Mixing Your Colors
After prepping your nails and applying a base coat, you can begin mixing your colors in a bowl of water. The sky's the limit on what colors you can mix here, but Boyce has some ideas."There are so many cool colors you can choose from to get this look, but regardless, I would suggest mixing medium, light, and brighter colors to get a more noticeable look. For a Barbiecore-themed manicure, think pinks, whites, baby blues, etc."
Once you've chosen your favorites, Boyce has a few tips for the tricky part. "Take your nail polish colors and drop one drop of each color into your bowl of water (into the center of each ring of color). Then take your toothpick and drag it around the polish to create an abstract design. Slowly dip one to two nails into the water/polish design (nail plate face down) and then immediately pull back out. When you dip your nails into the water polish design, take your toothpick and remove the rest of the polish away from the sides of your nail before pulling it up. Use your clean-up brush with nail polish remover to clean up any excess polish left on your skin." Boyce also recommends waiting 20 to 40 minutes for them to fully dry, or you can try an LED nail lamp to help speed up drying time.
Try this hot pink shade to be completely on-theme. Nothing screams Barbiecore more.
Hot pink pairs perfectly with a soft lavender for a more retro look.
Add this pale yellow to the mix for a pop of pastel.
To top off your color scheme, throw in a classic white shade to make the whole design really stand out.
As far as top coats go, this glossy, quick-dry formula is one of the best. It's extremely durable and leaves the nails with a high-shine finish.
I'm impatient. If you're like me and will be using gel polish for your look, opt for an LED nail lamp to cure them.
More Colors to Try for a Barbiecore Mani
Like Boyce mentioned above, using a baby blue shade with deeper pink hues is also a great way to create contrast when doing a barbiecore mani.
If you're feeling extra bold, opt for a neon shade with pink, blue, or lavender to create more of an '80s color palette.
This dreamy shade has a little sparkle and shimmer to it. It's perfect for adding some reflective flair for summer.
Up Next: Margot Robbie's Chicest Nail Colors Are From Chanel, and You Can Still Buy These