The Duchess of Cambridge’s hair stylist reveals the secret to her luscious locks
Want hair like the Duchess of Cambridge? It’s easier than you think.
As Kate’s hairstylist Richard Ward explains, it’s not about expensive shampoos and big-budget haircuts – it all comes down to one thing: the blow dry.
“You’re never going to get ‘rich girl hair’ without a good blow dry,” he tells the Daily Mail. “The products are important, but having hair that is in good nick, thanks to regular trims, treatment, and a decent hairdryer is the secret to making it look fabulous.”
“That shiny, frizz-free, expensive-looking process requires time,” he continues. “Products are part of it, but if you don’t know the basics and invest the time, you’ll never have the right look.”
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So you mean absentmindedly blow drying my hair for five minutes isn’t doing the trick? Luckily for us mere plebeians, Ward breaks down a step-by-step guide to the perfect blow out in the Daily Mail.
1. The wash
“First things first, it needs a wash,” Ward explains. “If you’re lucky and you have that thick, long hair you don’t need to wash much, then that’s great, but if your hair is fine and greasy, definitely sort it out.”
2. De-frizz
“Next, you need to get the frizz out of your hair after you wash it,” he says. “The biggest mistake people make is that they rough dry their hair too much and then attack it with a straightening iron. Instead of this, you need to invest more time in the blow dry. Dry it from 75 per cent wet – the wetter, the better – and make sure you use a nozzle. No hairstyle I do uses a hairdryer without a nozzle.”
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3. Lift
“Lift the hair from the roots as you dry it to really get to the cuticle of the hair,” Ward says. “You need a decent hairdryer; one that usually only a salon will sell. Go to the top of your budget and invest – you’ll really see the difference.”
4. Easy on the products
“Another mistake women often make is that they use too much product,” he tells the Daily Mail. . “It’s all about cocktailing small amounts. I favour an Argan oil elixir – which is a cross between a serum and an Argan oil – this works very well for giving the hair shine. Rub the product into your hands first and throw your hair upside down to apply the product in the right way.”
“I also use a couple of drops of root-lifting spray with a blow dry.”
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5. Use the right brush
“Finally, it is also crucial during the process that you use a real bristle brush,” he says. “Limit the use of heated irons and try to get the blow dry perfect and avoid the straighteners if possible.”
Ward also tells the Daily Mail that while it’s not necessary to get a trim every six weeks like some stylists advocate, you should visit the salon four times a year to guarantee your locks are fresh and free from split ends, for that Kate-approved sheen.
Princess hair, here we come!
