From the Toysit archive
Barbie So In Style Stylin’ Hair Grace
Explore Grace’s pink outfit, miniature styling chair and water-based hair tools, then make a salon lookbook for an imaginary occasion.
The play at a glance
A salon visit with a look of its own
Grace’s pink jacket, plaid skirt and matching boots give her a ready-made color theme. Long dark hair frames her face, while a small pink-and-yellow chair and a spread of styling tools turn the portrait into a miniature salon. Imagine the chair waiting for a customer with an invitation in hand and an idea for the evening.
From a straight strand to a new shape
Mattel’s instructions show water-based styling with the supplied spray bottle, brush and toy curling tool. The separate hand-operated twister works with a hair strand and an extension, using its lever and handle to change how they twist together. The sheet cautions against over-twisting, asks players to protect surfaces from water, and calls for thorough drying before storage.
For an owned matching set, follow the illustrated guide with adult help. Use the supplied toy tools and clean tap water as directed; keep heated hair appliances and human styling products out of this activity. The chair, mirror and brush can also be props in a spoken appointment while a paper sketch supplies the hairstyle.
Try a salon lookbook appointment
This original Toysit activity begins with drawings, so every new look can be tried on paper first.
- Choose the occasion. Imagine Grace is hosting a poetry reading, visiting a garden exhibition or introducing a tiny concert. Give her one thing she hopes to do there.
- Draw three silhouettes. Sketch a smooth outline, a curl-filled outline and a style with a small clip. Add a detail that echoes the invitation, such as a flower shape drawn beside the garden look.
- Welcome the customer. One player is the stylist; another voices Grace’s invented choice. Ask what she likes about that drawing.
- Make the finished page. Draw the selected look beside the event invitation and write an original caption. A matching set may be styled according to its instructions, or the whole appointment can remain a paper design.
At the next visit, change the occasion while keeping one favorite detail. The same drawn flower might become a concert emblem, giving the lookbook a small connection between its pages.
Keep a place for the next idea
Give the salon a name and leave a blank page for another customer’s suggestion. Store paper designs separately from the toy accessories, following the set’s cleanup directions after water play. The collection can grow through new invitations and conversations as well as new hairstyles.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The original styling paragraph and complete diversity essay are preserved below. Sources corrects the Christie, Black Barbie and Teresa chronology; the wider essay remains historical commentary. Grace’s 2009 instruction sheet is the operating reference for the matched styling set.
African American Barbie fashion dolls Grace, Trichelle, and Kara
Barbie So In Style Styling Hair dolls feature aqua curl fiber that makes the dolls hair go from straight and sleek to fabulous curls, and from curly to straight again. Each S.I.S. doll comes with a stylist chair, hair braiding tool, hair extensions, clips, brush and more styling items to make them glamorous for a night out on the town.
The Evolution of Diversity in Barbie Dolls
The Barbie doll, introduced by Mattel in 1959, has undergone significant transformations over the decades, especially in terms of diversity. Here's a brief overview of the journey of diversity in Barbie dolls:
- 1960s and 1970s: The initial versions of Barbie were predominantly Caucasian with blonde hair. However, by the late 1960s, Mattel introduced Christie, the first African-American Barbie doll. Around the same time, Barbie's friend Teresa, a Hispanic doll, was also introduced.
- 1980s: The 80s saw more inclusivity in terms of facial structures, with Barbie dolls reflecting a wider variety of ethnicities, including Hispanic and Asian features.
- 1990s: Mattel continued expanding its range of dolls to represent more diverse backgrounds and ethnicities. Special edition dolls representing various countries and cultures were also launched, celebrating traditional dresses and customs.
- 2000s: Mattel made further strides in offering a broader range of skin tones, hairstyles, and features. Barbie's body shape, however, remained a point of contention, as many believed it portrayed an unrealistic body image for young girls.
- 2010s: In 2016, Mattel unveiled the most significant change in Barbie's history with the introduction of the "Fashionistas" line. This line included dolls with four different body types (original, tall, curvy, and petite), seven skin tones, 22 eye colors, and 24 hairstyles. The intention was to reflect the diversity and inclusivity of the modern world more accurately. This decade also saw Barbie dolls representing people with disabilities, like dolls with prosthetic limbs or in wheelchairs.
- 2020s: The commitment to diversity continued into this decade, with an increasing number of Barbies representing various professions, cultures, backgrounds, and even highlighting real-life role models from different fields.
While Barbie has faced criticism over the years for various reasons, including issues related to body image and representation, Mattel's steps toward diversity reflect an effort to stay relevant and resonant in an ever-evolving society. The brand's journey mirrors the broader movement of recognizing and celebrating diversity in all forms in the toy industry and beyond.
Sources and editorial notes
Mattel identifies P8326 as Stylin’ Hair Grace. Her outfit and accessories match the P8326 illustration in the two-page P6917-0920 sheet, which was fully read and visually reviewed. The sheet covers three separately sold dolls and specifies clean tap water. The preserved diversity essay needs chronology corrections: Christie debuted in 1968; Mattel dates Black Barbie to 1980 and Teresa to 1988. Its broader historical claims remain commentary. No physical testing was performed.
- Original Toysit image — Existing same-site image reviewed and retained unchanged.
- Mattel: Stylin’ Hair Grace P8326 — Official support record identifies the doll and links its instruction sheet.
- Mattel: So In Style styling instructions (PDF) — Both pages reviewed, including P8326 contents, water styling, twister diagrams and cleanup.
- Mattel: Christie anniversary history — Dates Christie’s debut to 1968.
- Mattel: 1980s Barbie history — Dates Black Barbie to 1980, distinct from the Christie character.
- Mattel: Teresa anniversary history — Dates Teresa’s introduction to 1988, correcting the preserved essay’s earlier placement.
- Original Toysit coverage — Complete historical account retained, including its original claims and wording.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
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