What hairstyle did the first Barbie doll, released in 1959, wear?

The first Barbie doll, released in 1959, wore a high ponytail hairstyle.

The ponytail was tied high at the back of the head and finished with curled ends. It was paired with short, curled bangs and helped establish the doll’s carefully styled, adult fashion-model appearance. The original doll was sold as either a blonde or brunette version.

Barbie’s hairstyle reflected late-1950s beauty fashions while also making the doll visually distinctive. Her face was designed by Charlotte Austin, and her overall appearance drew on the polished presentation of contemporary fashion models and celebrities.

Later Barbie dolls introduced many different hair lengths, colors, and styles, including shorter cuts and longer flowing hair. Those variations can make it easy to overlook the original ponytail, but the high ponytail is the defining hairstyle of the 1959 first edition.