Sex And The City - The Carrie Edit

Miss Carrie Bradshaw—slightly neurotic, but always undeniably fashionable. Her love for fashion, friendships, and of course New York City has always been a huge inspiration for me.

Her hair is consistently iconic, and in many ways she’s written the rulebook for golden and sandy blondes—bringing balayage, lived-in roots, and soft root stretching firmly into the mainstream. Her natural, bouncy curls are just as influential, helping to bring softer, more blended blonde tones (including grey-blonde transitions) into the spotlight long before they became a trend.

Let’s take a look at some of her most iconic styles.

This is one of my favourite looks ever—the outfit, the hair, and the confidence are just perfection.

The colour here is all about soft, scattered babylights. Babylights are ultra-fine highlights that add delicate pops of brightness rather than full coverage, which is what creates that soft, lived-in dimension. Over time, with each appointment, these gradually build up through the ends, giving that natural, sun-kissed finish that feels effortless but elevated.

Carrie is wearing a slightly deeper root here, which could either be from her babylights growing out or from a soft root tap applied at the basin to diffuse the regrowth after lightening. It keeps everything feeling modern and expensive rather than overly “done.”

To recreate this, I would use a bright lightener for the babylights, paired with soft sandy lowlights to build depth and dimension throughout. The final result is then refined with a warm sandy toner to keep everything luminous, bright, and seamlessly blended.

This look was very popular in the early 00s—bright, neutral blonde around the face with a deeper brunette underneath. It creates a really striking contrast and gives the illusion of fuller, thicker hair by building depth underneath and keeping the brightness where it matters most.

It’s also a great option if you find your hair looks thinner towards the ends, as the deeper sections add density while allowing you to use less lightener overall, helping to maintain the condition of the hair.

Fast forward to 2026, and this look is making a real comeback—but in a much softer, more wearable way. Instead of a strong block of brunette underneath, the depth is now created using strategically placed lowlights through the internal sections, while lighter tones are focused around the face and surface.

The result is far more blended and modern, with a soft pop of brightness that frames the face, rather than a harsh half-and-half contrast. It feels fresher, more expensive, and much more natural—exactly how we’re evolving these classic colour placements today.

Flash forward to now, and Sarah Jessica Parker is still rocking fantastic hair. I love that she leans into enhancement colour rather than full coverage—it always feels like an elevated version of her natural look rather than a total transformation.

Here she’s wearing classic balayage. At its core, this technique was designed to recreate a natural, sun-kissed effect, softly enhancing the hair rather than masking it. The addition of brighter blonde tones throughout creates real dimension, and she clearly knows that a warm blonde complements her skin tone beautifully.

What really makes this work is the contrast. When going lighter, it’s so important to retain deeper tones as well—this is what allows the blonde to pop. If blonde ever feels dull or not bright enough, it’s often because there isn’t enough lowlight or natural depth to frame it. Golden blondes, in particular, always appear brighter when they’re supported by that contrast.

Her curl here is also so fresh and slightly quirky in the best way—just a simple twist with a tong or wand through the mid-lengths, leaving the ends a little straighter for that relaxed finish. A dry texture powder spray then adds that undone, airy movement that keeps it feeling cool rather than over-styled.

It’s effortless, modern, and completely wearable—everything Carrie has always been.

And I couldn’t help but wonder… will Carrie ever go short again?

If Carrie were using Kérastase, I think she would be a classic devotee of the Nutritive range. With her hair often worn in its natural curl as well as styled smooth, this collection is perfect for balancing both—delivering essential moisture to curls while still feeling lightweight enough for finer hair types.

It’s the kind of range that enhances softness and shine without ever weighing the hair down, which feels very Carrie—effortless, but still considered.

I can also just picture her applying the Masque Intense while soaking in the bath, scribbling notes for her weekly column, turning self-care into part of her creative process.