"Blonde" Has Inspired The Newest Beauty Trend, “Monroecore”—Here’s How To Get The Look

There was a big spike in internet searches for the 1950s Hollywood glam look very close to the release of Blonde. Certain celebrities also rocked their own versions of the look during appearances at the Met Gala and other fashion events. It's safe to say that people are looking for their own modern spin on Marilyn Monroe's iconic style. 

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What Is “Monroecore”?

The Marilyn Monroe-inspired look has a few key features that make up the beauty trend “Monroecore.” It can be portrayed in different ways, but her main staples are the curled blonde bob, red lips, her birthmark, and her long flirty lashes. 

If you want to put your own spin on the look, but need some help getting started, let's break down how to do it. 

Monroecore Makeup

You can pick and choose which aspects of the classic Marilyn Monroe makeup you like best, but if you’re trying to get as close as possible, you’ll want to focus on the main staples of her look. Use these makeup tips to create the Monroecore beauty trend.

• Dewy Primer. Before applying foundation, add a primer that gives you that dewy glow. Marilyn Monroe always had a glow in her photos. Try this Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer before using your foundation. 

• Bold Red Lip. Nobody can forget her bold red lip. It made her look fiery and fierce and worked well with her blonde hair. Rare Beauty carries a bold red lip color that is similar in shade.

• Cat Eyeliner. To go with the bold red lip, Monroe would often wear a cat eye with her eyeliner. Use a fine tip eyeliner like this one to achieve the look. 

• Flirty Lashes. Add a fake lash that is just enough to make it stand out without being over the top. Sephora has them for a good price. 

• Beauty Mark. On her lower left cheek, she had a beauty mark that we adore. You can draw on this beauty mark to be more accurate in achieving her look. 

Try using these TikToks to guide you through the makeup process:

Monroecore Hairstyling

There are a couple of ways you can achieve Marilyn Monroe's old Hollywood curls. You can put whatever spin on this you want, but the ultimate Monroecore-style hair is a short blonde bob with classic curls. Here’s a breakdown of how to style this look. 

For those a little hesitant to use a curling iron, you can achieve these curls with a roller set instead. First, slightly dampen your hair and section it off, then roll your hair onto the roller, pin it, and repeat for the rest of the hair. Make sure that the hair around your face is curled toward your face, which is more of the classic Hollywood look. 

Let it sit for a few hours and release it. Or, you can use heat to speed up the process. Spray a texturizing spray and hairspray, and pull the curls out to make them more voluminous. When you’re done, spray the hair well with hairspray. 

Styling your hair with a curling iron is also doable. Use a curling iron that isn’t too small because you don’t want ringlets, you want full, voluminous curls. You can use a mousse or volume spray when the hair is damp before blow-drying. Once the hair is dry, use a texturizing spray to add grit to the hair for better hold, then section off the hair. Curl your hair and make sure you curl toward your face right around the front. Spread the curls so they have more width. You can use a brush or your fingers to do this. Then spray the curls. 

Closing Thoughts

As they say, imitation is the highest form of flattery, and we love Marilyn Monroe's iconic style. Her inspiration can be transformed into something more modern, but the red lips and curly bob feel timeless. Celebrities have put their own spin on the look for the red carpet, and TikTok went crazy with it, creating the newest beauty trend, Monroecore. 

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