From the Toysit archive
Fashion Fever Barbie Styling Head
Picture Fashion Fever Barbie’s blonde hair, flower wrap and glittery scarf, then create a paper motif that travels through three salon designs.
The play at a glance
A flower can change the whole look
A pink flower sits against blonde hair, a glittery scarf circles the neck, and hoop earrings frame the face. Fashion Fever’s styling head looks ready for a salon display, with a brush, bands and decorative pieces arranged nearby. The photograph suggests a pleasing design game: move one flower from place to place and imagine how each arrangement changes the character’s plans.
A wrap, a scarf and several possibilities
The flower is more than a fixed decoration. Mattel’s illustrated sheet shows the wrap gathered into a flower shape, and later diagrams arrange the hair in ponytails, braids and updos. The accessories give those arrangements a focal point: something to notice at the crown, beside the face or around the neckline.
The bronze-colored base gives the head a little display stand. A player can imagine it as a salon window, with a card beside it naming the day’s style. The pink top and bright decorations supply a starting palette; the imagined occasion supplies a reason for choosing one arrangement over another.
The original set also included glitter play. Its matched sheet covers protecting surfaces and cleaning the head and accessories. The activity below explores the pictured colors and shapes entirely on paper, so the design can change as often as the story does.
Try this: the scarf motif studio
Draw three simple portraits with plenty of room around the hair and neckline. Choose one flower shape to repeat across all three. This original Toysit activity turns the same motif into three distinct designs.
- Put the flower at the crown on the first portrait. Give the look a name and an occasion: “Garden Welcome” for someone greeting guests at a picnic.
- Move the flower to a drawn ponytail on the second. Keep its shape but change the surrounding lines or colors. Where is this character going?
- Place the flower at the neckline on the third, as part of a scarf. Add one detail from the occasion to the background.
- Arrange the cards like a salon display. A visitor chooses a design and asks the stylist to explain how the flower connects with the scene.
Try a quiet library reading, a cheerful street parade and a lantern-lit garden as three possible settings. There is no winning look: each card tells a different story. A second player can invent the occasions while the first draws, then the players can swap jobs.
Finish by drawing one small appointment card for the chosen design. Include the flower symbol and a sentence the client might say on arriving: “I brought the invitation so you could see its colors.”
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The complete earlier product account and commentary are preserved below as historical coverage.
Barbie and Kayla hairstyle practice
Fashion Fever Styling Head Barbie and Kayla Fashion Fever styling heads for trendy hairstyles and accessories come with pretty, stylish hair with a cool fabric head wrap or neck scarf that turns into a pretty flower for hair or neck that girls can wear too. Create hip styles, sporty tie-ups, cute pullbacks, and exotic updos. The stylish face with real eyelashes comes with glitter gel for hair or face, a fancy sparkle scarf, and hot metal hoop earrings that double as a necklace.
A styling head is an excellent gift choice for a child who has a keen interest in style and fashion. This interactive and creative toy offers a range of benefits that cater to their passion while fostering imaginative play and skill development:
- Unleashes Creativity: A styling head provides a blank canvas for young fashion enthusiasts to experiment with different looks and styles. They can try out various hairstyles, makeup options, and accessories, allowing their creativity to flow freely.
- Hands-On Fashion Exploration: With a styling head, children can experiment with real hairstyling techniques, such as braiding, curling, and arranging hair. This hands-on experience allows them to explore the world of fashion and beauty in a playful and educational way.
- Personal Expression: Styling heads encourage children to express their unique tastes and preferences. They can mix and match accessories, colors, and hairstyles to create looks that resonate with their individual sense of style.
- Develops Motor Skills: Styling hair and applying makeup on the styling head requires fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. As children practice these actions, they enhance their dexterity and precision, which can be valuable in various aspects of their development.
- Role-Playing and Storytelling: Children often engage in imaginative role-playing while interacting with a styling head. They may imagine scenarios involving fashion shows, makeovers, or even pretend play as a stylist or makeup artist. This imaginative storytelling enriches their playtime experience.
- Encourages Confidence: Experimenting with different looks on a styling head can boost a child's self-confidence. As they gain a sense of accomplishment from creating stylish and unique designs, they develop a positive self-image and the belief that they can express themselves creatively.
- Social Play: Styling heads can also be enjoyed with friends or family members, encouraging cooperative play and creative collaboration. Children can take turns styling the hair and creating fun fashion ensembles, fostering social interaction and shared experiences.
- Introduction to Beauty and Self-Care: While it's important to emphasize that beauty comes from within, a styling head can introduce children to basic concepts of hair care and makeup application. This understanding of self-care and grooming can be beneficial as they grow older.
- Long-Lasting Entertainment: A styling head offers endless entertainment and play opportunities. As children's skills and interests evolve, they can continue to experiment and create new looks, ensuring that the toy remains engaging and enjoyable over time.
A styling head is a gateway to a world of creativity, self-expression, and imaginative play. For a child fascinated by style and fashion, this gift provides a platform to explore their passion, develop skills, and have hours of fun while expressing their unique sense of style.
Sources and editorial notes
Mattel’s G9040 product photograph matches the pictured Barbie head and accessories; H3713 shows Kayla, a separate variant mentioned in the older coverage. All six pages of the G9040 instructions were visually reviewed, including the wrap, accessory and hairstyle diagrams. The manufacturer’s original glitter directions do not establish the condition or suitability of surviving consumables. Earlier developmental claims remain historical; the paper activity is original and untested.
- Original Toysit image — Existing same-site image reviewed and retained unchanged.
- Mattel: Fashion Fever Barbie Styling Head, G9040 — Manufacturer record and blonde product photograph reviewed.
- Mattel: Fashion Fever styling-head instructions (PDF) — Complete six-page multilingual sheet visually reviewed, including accessory arrangements, wrap-to-flower diagrams, care and nine hairstyle sequences.
- 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.
Created for Toysit by Tabbloza — the artwork in our header.