1997 – Barbie – Bead Blast – Auburn Hair – NRFB

Sale price: $134.00
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Regular price: $134.00
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Product Description

1997 Was the Year You Could Put Beads in Your Barbie's Hair and Also in Your Own — Mattel Noticed

Bead Blast Barbie arrived in 1997 with a very specific cultural assignment: lean into the bead obsession. The mid-nineties had produced a generation of kids who were stringing letter beads onto everything — friendship bracelets, backpack zips, keyrings — and Mattel's response was a doll with super-long brunette hair, a spring-loaded beading tool, and 101 beads in letters, flowers, stars and hearts, the whole kit designed so you could write messages directly in Barbie's ponytail and then in your own. The year also gave us the Spice Girls, Tamagotchis hitting Western shores, and the first Harry Potter novel landing in UK bookshops — 1997 was not short on ways to occupy a child's hands, but the beading tool had a particular tactile satisfaction that kept this one on the floor and not the shelf.

The auburn version is the one collectors tend to seek out, partly because Mattel produced it in smaller numbers than the blonde, and partly because the dark hair makes the bead colours read more vividly against it. There were multiple Bead Blast variants including Christie (18893), but the auburn has a specific quality the others don't quite match. The dress, incidentally, is a rainbow-stripe shimmer mini that is entirely correct for 1997 and has not aged even slightly badly.

Manufacturer: Mattel
Country of manufacture: Malaysia
Model #: 18891

Melody Likes box condition grade: Pristine — View our box condition guide.

Delivery & Returns

🚚 Delivery Information

Orders are dispatched within 2-3 business days. Please allow additional time during: Sale events, holiday periods and large restock weeks.

We ship Monday–Thursday only.

📦 Shipping Rates

Parcels under 500g
$10 flat rate nationwide

📏 Please note: shipping cost is based on weight and parcel dimensions. Some smaller items may exceed the flat rate due to their size.

Parcels over 500g
Auckland Flat Rate: $19 | 2–3 business days
Bay of Plenty & Waikato Flat Rate: $13 | 1–3 business days

Rest of North Island from $17 | 2–3 business days
South Island from $22 | 3–5 business days

Rural Customers
An additional $5 charge is applied to all rural orders.

🔁 Returns

All items are vintage, pre-loved, or collectible unless stated otherwise. Please review all photos and descriptions carefully before purchasing.

We do not accept returns for:
• Change of mind
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• Minor wear consistent with age
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Read more about our Return and Refund Policy

Buying Vintage

Buying Vintage at Melody Likes

Every vintage piece in our shop is photographed exactly as it is — what you see in the images is what you will receive.

Our photos are part of the product description, so please take the time to review them carefully before purchasing.

All items are sold in the condition described and shown. These are real pieces with real history, and we think that's part of what makes them special.

📦 Carded & Boxed Items
Vintage packaging can show its age — you may see card yellowing, corner wear, bubble discolouration or light crushing, and sticker residue. The item inside is typically untouched. What you see is what you get.

🤖 Loose Figures & Playsets
Loose vintage figures and playsets may show paint wear, light scuffing, or minor marks from years of storage or play. Accessories are noted in the listing — if it isn't mentioned, it's not included.

🧸 Plush & Soft Toys
Vintage plush can show pile flattening, light colour fade, or gentle wear at seams and features. We note any significant issues in the listing, and our photos show the piece as it truly is.

📚 Books & Paper Goods
Paper ages beautifully — but it does age. Vintage books may show spine wear, light browning, or minor cover scuffs. Any notable marks or damage are called out in the listing description.

✨ Modern Collectibles
Modern collectibles are described with the same care and accuracy as our vintage items. As a recent release, stock or manufacturer imagery may be used in place of personal photography — this will always be noted in the listing.