I’m a royal hairstylist – 7 tricks Kate Middleton uses to have flawless locks & why you’ll never see a hint of frizz
SHE’S the envy of beauty fans up and down the country – and it’s no wonder as Kate Middleton never has a hair out of place.
Whether she’s riding the London underground, hanging out in a local pub, or stepping out for her latest public engagement alongside husband Prince William, the Princess of Wales’ locks are always the picture of perfection.
So it makes perfect sense that Kate has the most sought-after hair style out of the Royal family, reigning supreme over the likes of Meghan Markle and even her iconic late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
According to new figures from hair brand Milk + Blush that have been released ahead of her next appearance at the Coronation, Kate’s do has received the most attention over the past four years, with an average of 2900 monthly Google searches.
But how does the 41-year-old achieve her glam, frizz-free look from morning until night?
Here, we delve into details dished out by the mum-of-three’s hair A-team over the year, including her trusted hairdresser of over a decade, Richard Ward, who created the look for her 2011 wedding day.
GO-TO SHAMPOO
When it comes to ensuring Kate’s locks always look their best, preparation is key and that starts at the basin.
Rumour has it the former Duchess of Cambridge is a huge fan of a particular shampoo and conditioner brand – said to be from high-end brand Kérastase.
According to outlets including Woman and Home, Kate’s go-to is their Nutritive Bain Oleo Relax Smoothing Shampoo.
The shampoo, which costs £27 from their website, is described as a “shine-enhancing formula ideal for dull or lacklustre hair.”
They continue: “The rich but airy shampoo purifies the hair to remove dulling elements and enhance the shine of the hair.
“Hair is visibly shinier and feels nourished to the tip.”
DETANGLING METHOD
Richard Ward says the next step is key – and it’s all about detangling the hair with the right brush.
The talented stylist – who owns a salon just off London’s King’s Road – opts to use his antibacterial and anti-static detangling brush, which gets out any fine knots and preps the hair ready for the next step.
While later he stressed the importance of investing in a real bristle brush to complete the actual styling.
THE ‘CHELSEA’ BLOW DRY’S SECRET SPRAY
Richard has now become synonymous with Kate’s signature hairdo – the ‘Chelsea blow dry’.
And he said perfecting the look starts from the very beginning and is as simple as using the right styling products, one of which being his own brand’s bulking spritz.
As part of an exclusive tutorial with People Magazine, he revealed: “It’s very important to apply the products in the right way – don’t do it all at once, do it in small little sections.
“This is where we need to get the root lift and have a little bit of hold on the curl. That is your foundation for your beautiful blow dry.”
That is your foundation for your beautiful blow dry
Richard Ward
DRYING TECHNIQUE
It might seem like a quick job to rough dry your hair, but Richard has previously explained the importance of getting it right.
If you do it too roughly, it can lead to frizz and flyaways, so instead Richard encourages another method.
The top stylist went on to reveal: “A mistake that a lot of you make is you shake the hair dryer at it too much and then it gets frizzy.”
He said people needed to be “blow drying this from 75-85% wet, which means that we have to take 20% of the wet out.”
But how is that achieved? Ward said you need to put your hair dryer on to a low speed and gently “lift and heat the roots” and “rough drying it in a controlled way.”
And he had a further insider trick up his sleeve, as he revealed: “The nozzle is the very thing that concentrates the heat and takes the frizz away – always use a nozzle.”
USING ROLLERS
While many people rely on curling tongs or expensive hair gadgets to achieve the perfect curl, Ward favours a good old-fashioned roller.
He said each section of hair needs to be “tightly rolled” and, as you take it out, you need to lightly twist it around your fingers.
That’s something that former Vogue Editor-In-Chief Alex Schulman confirmed that about Kate when she recalled the Royal arriving at the magazine’s photoshoot for their centenary issue with rollers in her hair.
And, according to the experts, this is a nifty hair trick, as hair that has been curled by heat only sets when it’s cooled completely – so leaving it in the roller helps perfect the process.
The nozzle is the very thing that concentrates the heat and takes the frizz away
Richard Ward
RELYING ON HAIR NETS
Eagle-eyed Royal fans have noticed that Kate has a secret hack when it comes to keeping her up-dos in place for hours on end – a hair net.
The barely visible accessory was spotted by The Revelist on one occasion when Kate was sporting an updo.
Hairnets help keep stray hairs in place, but to avoid drawing attention to them, you need to follow Kate’s lead and opt for a very thin, delicate net that is colour matched to the shade of your hair.
GETTING THE RIGHT COLOUR
While Kate’s hair colour has changed slightly over the years, her tresses have always been a different shade of warm brunette.
So if you’re looking for a similarly natural shade and look, Richard Ward said it’s important to go to the hairdressers with a mission in mind.
Richard Ward previously told The Daily Mail: “Ask your stylist for three different shades of lowlights, one lighter than your natural base colour, one about the same and one slightly darker to create a multi-tonal effect in the same hues.
“Dyeing just a few strands of hair in each shade, as opposed to large sections, achieves a more natural look.”
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