Kate hair, do not care.
I have been following the royal household since I was a small female, but it wasn’t till Kate Middleton hit the scene that palace-worthy hair grew to become a bit of an obsession.
I analyzed photographs and videos of her bouncy blow dry soon after her engagement to Prince William, wondering how I could get my thick, unruly locks to cooperate the exact same way.
Just about every time I went to a exclusive party, I tried out to give myself that signature “Kate Middleton blowout,” but finished up let down when it didn’t appear very duchess-y ample.
And on the instances when I had it completed professionally, it was best — until I tried out to recreate the look myself afterwards on.
In my quest for a Middleton-esque mane, I have tried curling wands, rollers, that unusual headband issue from “Euphoria” that you wrap your hair about (spoiler notify: it did not do the job) … you title it.
Enter Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa.
Not only does Kate get her hair done at the salon, but also her siblings Pippa and James, as well as their mother, Carole. Prince Edward’s wife, Sophie, also trusts her strands to the Richard Ward workforce, together with Greek royals like Princess Marie Chantal.
Alongside with royalty, the London salon has glammed up stars which include Kim Cattrall, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Simon Le Bon and Elizabeth Hurley (and half the solid of “Made in Chelsea,” normally).
Pointless to say, I realized my hair was in superior hands when I booked an appointment all through my modern vacation to London for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Tucked away in the posh, leafy Duke of York Square, the renowned salon is easy to skip — but which is probably a furthermore for its movie star clientele.
What astonished me was how really unstuffy it was inside of. Everyone was exceptionally warm and friendly, and the amenities are shiny and present day.
I was greeted by the fantastic Tommy Cracknell, 1 of the salon’s innovative directors, who was place in cost of my cut and blowout.
Of course, the royals depend on discretion, so there was not much I could talk to him about the duchess’ private lifestyle. But I was delighted to study that she doesn’t acquire unique remedy when she will come in for a trim.
“So do Kate and the other royals just sit out right here when they get their hair carried out, or do they go someplace in the again?” I questioned, questioning if there was some kind of private place in the back of the hectic developing for VIPs.
Cracknell appeared amazed at the issue. “Oh no, no. They just sit out here,” he replied. “I consider they favor it.”
Simply because my hair is so significant, Cracknell explained to me he preferred to create motion by not reducing it straight throughout the back.
Just after a approach was in place, it was off to the (massaging!) shampoo chairs, the place I obtained an extraordinary scalp and neck therapeutic massage whilst senior nail technician Vita Hohfelde started filing my nails right there in preparing for a gel manicure.
Did I mention they have a complete bar and meals menu, way too?
Again in Cracknell’s capable fingers, my hair was snipped a couple of inches and the stylist acquired to perform on the fantastic “old-faculty Kate Middleton blowout” I’d informed him I hoped to obtain — all although Hohfelde did my nails and I sipped on peppermint tea.
It turns out the magic formula I’ve been missing all this time lies in the humble Velcro roller.
“You have just the best hair for this,” Cracknell claimed, rolling my locks all around ample Velcro rollers to fill the Queen’s carriage.
“At home, it’s tough to do this oneself, but just utilize the heat immediately to the rollers though they are still in,” he described, directing the blow dryer in their direction. “And make certain to go away them in for a though. Get ready, do your make-up, hold them in when you get dressed.”
Soon ample, my sparkly blue mani and bouncy blowout had been finish, and I could not quit staring at my new, swishy “repliKate” hair.
The ideal aspect? It lasted the full 7 days I was in London, from getting squished by Trooping to Colour crowds to cheering on the horses at the Epsom Derby — and with absolutely no hairspray or any other products involved.
The only drawback? Now I’m going to want to cross an ocean every single time I get my hair minimize.
