Image Source: Getty / Don Arnold / Kirstin Sinclair / Rosdiana Ciaravolo / ToscaWhi [1]
When we first got a look at Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling [2] in the upcoming "Barbie" movie, we quickly saw the pink "Barbiecore" aesthetic [3] take over. Now, months later, with the recent release of Disney's live-action "The Little Mermaid" starring Halle Bailey [4], we're primed and ready for a new wave of "mermaidcore."
As we head into the summer season, it feels particularly appropriate to embrace all things mermaid-inspired, from our nails and makeup to even our hairstyles. You can expect to see a lot of pearly, iridescent finishes — especially in manicures. (Just look at how mesmerising these "seashell" nails [5] are, which have already made it onto the fingertips of a few celebrities.) For something a little more subtle, see pearl french manicures [6] and "sea glass" nails.
In the hair department, the ever-trendy "wet" hairstyles we've been seeing all over red carpets will likely stick around a little longer, but that's only the beginning.
View this post on Instagram[7]
"We are going to not only see longer hair, but longer hair in more of its natural state," Shannon Gainey [9], educator coach at the Aveda Arts and Sciences Institutes in New Orleans, tells POPSUGAR. Summer's "mermaid haircut" [10] is a great example of this. "The cut focuses on minimal loss of length to give a soft, flowy finish to the hair," hairstylist and Verb ambassador Juli Akaneya [11] previously told POPSUGAR.
Bailey's version of Ariel wears gorgeous goddess locs for a boho, laid-back, and effortless feel. For even more variety, microbraids [12] and half-up, half-down styles fall into that same category of breezy looks.
"Embrace loose waves, enhancing your own texture, adding random small braids, even bubble braids," says Brandie Devillier [13], platform educator at the Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute and certified colour educator at Elevate Hair [14]. Accessories will be another easy way to mermaid-ify any look.
View this post on Instagram[15]
For makeup, you can take it literally by adding pearl accents to your eyes à la Joey King for the "Bullet Train" premiere [17] or Storm Reid at the 2021 Met Gala. For a more wearable approach, glossy or shimmery lips and coral hues will do the trick.
This summer is all about embracing that beachy, uncomplicated aesthetic — a look that is, as you might call it, out of this world.
View this post on Instagram[18]