Barbie Xu and her ‘hairy’ secret

Barbie Xu, the new defining beauty of Pantene Smooth and Silky, arrived in Manila last Jan. 17 to attend the press launch that officially introduced her as the shampoo brand’s newest endorser at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati.

Barbie, who captured the hearts of Filipino televiewers via the wildly successful chinovela Meteor Garden where she played Shan Cai, met the local media and revealed her beauty secrets.

The Taiwanese actress, singer and TV host told the press that one of her biggest assets is her waist-length, super straight hair.

Answering questions through an interpreter, Barbie said she uses three to four kinds of combs to keep her hair thick and her scalp healthy. She also stressed that to get long hair like hers, "don’t cut it" – to the amusement of her interviewers.

Barbie, 27, also said she has been using Pantene Smooth and Silky for four or five years now, long before she was tapped to be the model of the shampoo brand in Taiwan. Yoga and lots of fruit juices also help in keeping her hair healthy and stunning, Barbie added.

Surprisingly, Barbie only carries a lipstick in her purse. She said her stylist, who is always beside her, takes care of how she looks. She describes her sense of style as "more feminine now, since I’m older." A pair of high-heeled blue and white shoes is her favorite fashion item, she revealed.

Asked about her future projects, Barbie says she will start shooting a TV drama with Vic Zhou. But to the possibility of a Meteor Garden 3, Barbie said there are no plans yet for a third installment of the series, in which she starred with F4’s Dao Ming Si.

After Meteor Garden, Barbie had gone on to do Eternity, a ghost story set in ancient China. She plays Xiao Qian, an ethereal being who bewitches humans in the series. The chinovela is now fast climbing the ratings chart, making Barbie one of the most popular actresses of her generation.

Her frail beauty, flawless complexion, soft, smooth hair, and gentle manners have made Barbie a role model for Asia’s teenagers. With her Pantene Smooth and Silky commercial, the actress explores yet another facet of pop culture, endearing her all the more to countless fans.

In the Philippines, Barbie as Pantene model, joins the ranks of Gretchen Barretto, Angel Aquino, Lucy Torres-Gomez, Iza Calzado and Maxene Magalona.

Co says Barbie’s straight, silky hair is exactly the benefits which Pantene Smooth and Silky shampoo and conditioner offers. "She is a great image model for Pantene," she said. "Her smooth, straight hair is a testament to the benefits of using Pantene with its Pro-Vitamin formula. It can help make hair look straighter and shinier in just 10 days."

The Pantene Smooth and Silky collection contains a smoothening Pro-Vitamin formula that helps smooth roughness and fly-aways, reduce frizz, straighten hair, and keep it vibrant, healthy and under control throughout the day.