It’s been more than 60 years since Marilyn Monroe left the earth, but she remains the eternal icon. The Hollywood legend’s image continues to be plastered over T-shirts, beauty products, fake quotes she never said and now, TikTok. Marilyn has always been a popular cultural touchstone, with everyone from Madonna to Nicki Minaj paying homage to the actress, but Kim Kardashian wearing her “Happy Birthday” dress to the Met Gala and the controversial, fictionalized Netflix movie Blonde brought Marilyn and her life to a whole new generation of fans—and they’re paying tribute to the icon via beauty tutorials and “Monroecore.” 

Influencer Jasmine Chiswell first gained popularity via her 2020 TikTok tours of Marilyn’s short-term home and her retro pinup look, and the #marilynmonroe hashtag on the platform has over 4 billion views. Over on Pinterest, searches for “Marilyn Monroe aesthetic” rose 117% following the release of Blonde according to We Thrift, and Google searches for “Marilyn Monroe Hair” are up 270%.

Marilyn Monroe-core isn’t a new thing; this very writer has been setting her bleached platinum hair with foam and hot rollers and slicking on red lipstick for literal decades in pursuit of a Marilyn look. Her signature look is instantly recognizable: pale blonde hair, a curled bob with lots of volume, often worn parted to one side; red lipstick; a subtly defined crease, dramatic black liner and the final finishing touch, a beauty mark.

But for true #monroecore, it’s all in the hair. You can modernize Marilyn’s timeless beauty look all you want, but that classic tousled throwback bob, not too smooth and not too tightly curled, is key to channeling her spirit. Think Gentlemen Prefer Blondes-era Marilyn with a shining blonde pageboy, The Seven Year Itch Marilyn in her summer curls, or Marilyn cooing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” into the mic in the iconic glittering nude-and-rhinestone dress with a cloud of platinum hair.

Yearning to channel the ultimate Old Hollywood icon for the holidays, a special occasion or just whenever the Marilyn mood strikes? Here’s what to know about getting a Monroe-worthy hairstyle of your own.

The Cut

The Monroe bob is never too polished, and that’s the magic that keeps it feeling modern. “To me, Marilyn Monroe’s hairstyle has always resembled a more effortless, undone version of the Hollywood wave,” says Redken celebrity stylist Kiley Fitzgerald.…