Ariana Greenblatt got a fairy cut, and it’s the perfect mid-length style for winter

Looking for fall-into-winter-haircut inspiration? Ariana Greenblatt and her ultra-layered, mid-length fairy haircut have got you more than covered. I’ve personally already scheduled my next salon appointment.

The Barbie star’s chic new chop is courtesy of celebrity hairstylist Marc Mena — also known as the man behind Madelyn Cline’s iconic beach bob — who shared a behind-the-scenes reel of Greenblatt’s transformation to Instagram. According to Mena, the inspiration behind Greenblatt’s wintertime metamorphosis came from the actor’s recent experiences on set as well as a best-selling book.

“[Ariana Greenblatt] was filming Now You See Me 3 and wanted a new cut and darker-hair era,” Mena said to Glamour US. The fairy-tale element, however, was inspired by A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Why? “Because it’s perfect for a princess updo,” Mena explains. (The novel begins as a riff on Beauty and the Beast.)

Regardless of whether you’ve read the book, Mena says that everyone’s going to be getting this type of chop come winter. “It’s mid-length and has loads of layers, which is trending,” he says, adding that he and Greenblatt see it as a “glow-up haircut.”

A major part of that is the ideal, in-between length of the style. “It’s for the girls who are tired of long hair,” he says — and apparently, that’s a lot of us. “It starts to feel heavy.”

But unlike a super-short chop like a pixie, bob, or lob, you can still wear the fairy cut up and style it into an updo. “What we’re calling the ‘fairy’ tail is basically a shorter ponytail,” he says. “It’s a ‘fairy’ tail for shorter hair, and a pony for longer hair.”

Mena and Greenblatt went with “fairy” as a name for the style not only because of the book but also because it’s so “cute and little.” However, it was important to them to keep it medium-length with layers. “That way, you still have all the fringe to frame the face,” Mena says. “It’s just so versatile.”

The result? It looks sweet, pretty, and romantic, but Mena says you have the added benefit of having “shed” a fair share of weight from your shoulders.

What’s more, it seems like everyone’s leaning into what Mena calls the “princess” updo these days. “It’s such a thing,” Mena says of what’s essentially a daintier, modern take on the Pam Anderson updo.