Nicola Coughlan's new take on red hair is perfect for summer
The London premiere of the Barbie film last night delivered stellar fashion and beauty moments, as we've come to expect given the breadth of looks the cast has delivered throughout the press tour. There was Margot Robbie's done-undone up-do which perfectly juxtaposes her glamourous 'Enchanted Evening' Barbie outfit, America Ferrera's old-Hollywood waterfall waves and Dua Lipa's ultra sleek ponytail.
But it was actor Nicola Coughlan's icy grey, impeccably tailored Wiederhoft gown (styled by Aimée Croysdill) and her elegant hair and make-up that was the unexpected showstopper of the night. Coughlan may be playing Diplomat Barbie in the film, but last night, she went full-on ice goddess.
The Bridgerton star has made fiery red hair a signature look as her character Penelope Featherington in the Netflix series, but is often seen sporting blonder tones off camera. Last night was a happy medium between the two, with a warm, peachy hue dubbed "Titian blonde" by colourist Jason Hogan at Josh Wood Atelier.
"Our inspiration was a light Titian blonde which has that copper and auburn element to it but we wanted to make it a little more Barbie so we added a slight, soft rose glow to it," Hogan tells Harper's Bazaar.
"Because she is a dark blonde, I highlighted (the hair) first, then I layer over a non-permanent to add tone and we also glossed the hair. We’re really layering up colour to make couture colour at its finest."
The apricot shade is a much softer, more romantic take on the red hair trend seen across autumn/winter 2023 runways and lends a refreshing touch of colour to the complexion without dominating the entire look. Asking for a red-toned gloss or glaze are a great way for colourists to work with your existing colour and allows you to trial a trend before committing.
There's a Moulin Rouge vibe to it too, thanks to the cascading side-parted waves created by hairstylist Halley Brisker. Brisker detailed the styling process step-by-step on his Instagram, noting that he prepped the hair "from damp with the blow dry balm and create[d] a sharp side parting just above the arch of the brow".
He then used the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer and a small round bristle brush in sections from back to front, ensuring to give the roots enough lift for volume. "The cool shot was used on rolled up sections around the brush to lock in the shine and shape," explained Brisker. He then moved on to smooth the hair with Dyson Corrale straightener before putting it up in rollers to create soft curls. Once cooled, "gently brush the hair out and begin to work into a classic face framing retro shape," said Brisker.
Make-up artist Neil Young upped the ante with a mesmerising smoky eye in a feline shape using the plummy hue and a hint of cool gold sparkle found in the Pat McGrath Labs Luxe Eyeshadow Quad in Passion Fleur, while a gentle wash of peach on her complexion mirrors her hair colour beautifully (it's Pat McGrath Labs Legendary Glow Colour Balm in Paradise Peony, in case you're wondering). With a slick of Pat McGrath's Stain Allure Lipstick in Venusian Peach, this Barbie was ready to take centre stage.
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