Harley Quinn is one of the most iconic characters in comic book history. With her colorful hair and eccentric personality, she has captured the hearts of fans worldwide. But where did Harley’s signature look come from? In this deep dive, we’ll explore the origins of Harley’s hair color and why it’s so integral to her character.
Harley Quinn’s Origins
Harley Quinn first appeared in the 1990s Batman animated series as the sidekick and love interest of the Joker. She was originally Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum who fell in love with the Joker and helped him escape. Her name is a play on “Harlequin” the costumed comic servant character.
The show’s creators, Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, designed Harley to add a new dimension to the Joker and provide a fun female foil. Her visual design took inspiration from classic harlequins with a black and red jester costume and white makeup. The now-iconic black and red harlequin color scheme has become core to Harley’s look.
The Origin of Harley’s Hair Color
In her early comic book appearances, Harley had natural blonde hair that she often styled in girlish pigtails. But when she made the leap to live-action in 2016’s Suicide Squad movie, Harley underwent a bold transformation.
Actress Margot Robbie worked with the hair and makeup team to create Harley’s signature dual-toned hair. They ultimately chose striking blonde pigtails dip-dyed in light blue and pink pastel colors. This reflected Harley’s eccentric, child-like personality.
According to hair department head Deborah Lamia Denaver, the team tested out various color combinations before deciding on the final look. The blue and pink perfectly embodied Harley’s madness and femininity.
Makeup department head Alessandro Bertolazzi noted the hair colors were chosen to deliberately clash with the red and blue of her jester costume. This highlighted Harley’s chaotic and rebellious personality.
The Meaning Behind the Colors
Harley’s hair color is more than just a style choice – the shades of blue and pink hold symbolic meaning.
Light or “baby” blue often represents innocence, sensitivity and tranquility. This reflects Harley’s childlike, playful nature and her desire to be cared for.
Pink is associated with feminine energy, sweetness, and a romantic outlook. This embodies Harley’s traditionally feminine presentation and her devoted (if twisted) love for the Joker.
Together, the soft pastel blue and pink represent Harley’s dual nature – the innocent, dreamy romantic side coupled with the violent, insane killer. The contrasting colors externalize Harley’s internal contradictions.
Hair Analysis Table
| Version of Harley Quinn | Hair Colors | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Comic Books | Natural Blonde | Youth, innocence |
| Batman Animated Series | Blonde Pigtails | Girlish, playful |
| Suicide Squad Movie | Blue and Pink Dip Dye | Innocence and madness |
The Evolution of Harley’s Hair in Media
Let’s take a deeper look at how Harley’s hair has been portrayed across various forms of media over the years:
Animation
In her early animated appearances like Batman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond, Harley retained her natural blonde hair in her signature pigtails. This youthful, girlish look matched her animated character design.
Comics
Harley’s hair remained blonde in most modern comic runs, though some alternate versions have experimented with her color.
In the New 52 Suicide Squad comics, Harley first began occasionally dying the ends of her pigtails in blue and pink and wearing her colors more boldly.
Movies
Margot Robbie’s breakout big screen version of Harley in Suicide Squad established her two-toned hair look. The colors also appeared muted in the darker setting of the film.
In the brighter Birds of Prey movie, Harley’s hair was updated with more vivid blue and pink pops throughout her ponytails. This reflected the film’s upbeat tone.
In The Suicide Squad, Harley’s colors appear faded, showing her character’s transition to independence from the Joker.
Video Games
The Batman: Arkham game series generally portrays Harley with blonde hair, but some alternate skins allow players to customize her colors.
Injustice 2 features a “Suicide Squad” version of Harley with blue and pink ombre ponytails along with bleached white skin.
Harley Quinn’s Hair in Cosplay & Fashion
Beyond the screens, Harley Quinn cosplayers and fashionistas have embraced her bold hair color aesthetic. Here are some of the ways fans have incorporated Harley’s colors into real world looks:
- Full cosplay wigs with blue and pink ponytails
- Hair chalk or temporary colored hair spray
- Dyed ombre styles with pink and/or blue blended ends
- Accessories like hats, scrunchies, and barrettes in her color scheme
- Themed makeup looks with pink, blue, black and white
- Nail art featuring harlequins, diamonds, and alternating colors
- T-shirts, dresses, jackets, etc. printed with Harley iconography
Harley Quinn’s bold hair has inspired real world self-expression and creativity for her fans. Cosplayers use her signature styles to embody Harley’s spunky, mashup spirit in their own unique way.
The Lasting Power of Harley’s Hair
Harley Quinn’s half-pink, half-blue hairstyle may have started as a creative decision for Suicide Squad, but it’s become her defining visual trademark. The distinctive colors perfectly capture Harley’s contrasting madcap personality.
Celebrity hair stylists predict Harley’s two-toned look will continue influencing real world hair trends. Vivid, unnatural colors like blues, purples, and pinks are rising in popularity – especially among Gen Z.
But Harley’s style is about more than a trend – it reflects the power of using color to express your true self. Harley wears her heart and mind on her head for all to see.
Over three decades, Harley Quinn has emerged as an iconic DC antiheroine with a look all her own. Her origin story of how she obtained her signature hair is as captivating as the character herself. Harley’s colors perfectly complement her anarchic spirit and resonate with fans who aren’t afraid to reveal their weirdness. We can’t wait to see how Harley’s hair evolves in the future.
Conclusion
Harley Quinn’s distinctive two-toned hair color is integral to her identity. The symbolic blue and pink shades reflect the dual aspects of her personality – the childlike innocence coupled with chaotic madness. While Harley’s look has gone through variations over her history, Margot Robbie’s bold hair in Suicide Squad cemented the colors as Harley’s trademark style. Fans worldwide have embraced the hair color aesthetic in cosplay, fashion, makeup and more. Over three decades, Harley’s iconic self-expression through her hair has left a striking impact on pop culture.
