When you think of a celebrity who always nails a blow-dry, chances are the first person that comes to mind is Kate Middleton.
The 34-year-old Duchess of Cambridge embodies everything we mere mortals want to achieve with just a blowdryer and a round brush: a curly, voluminous, bouncy and shiny mane.
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So how can you recreate her royal look at home? Yahoo7 Lifestyle spoke to Richard Ward, the talented hairdresser responsible for Middleton’s coveted luscious brown locks, who has been styling the family’s famous mane for years and even worked on her now-iconic “Chelsea blow-dry” for her wedding to Prince William in 2011.
If you covet Kate Middleton’s mane, Ward says her secret lies in the Chelsea blowdry.
“For me, the Chelsea blow-dry means beautifully groomed, bouncy, rich-girl-looking hair,” Ward said.
“It’s all about getting your hair into good enough condition and you can’t do that without the Chelsea blow-dry.
“But this cannot be achieved with products alone – you also need to have the basic knowledge of how to do it at home.
“The products take you 50-60% of the way.”
First, Ward washes the hair and makes sure it is in top condition before working his magic.
Then he divides the hair into sections and rubs in a dab of argan oil.
“I use my anti-aging argon oil Alexia every time I blow-dry my hair. Pure argon oil is like ‘a fur coat and no underwear’ – people can get really dirty with it,” he said.
“All you need is a few drops in your hand.
“Rub these products in like a hand cream before applying them to your hair.”
Then apply a root spray to the hair. Don’t spray it in a mist, but rather spray it directly onto the roots and comb or brush through.
According to Ward, the biggest mistake people make when blow-drying their hair is over-drying it.
“You need to blow dry your hair when it’s 75% wet,” he said.
“This has to be done in a controlled manner. Run your fingers through the hair – do not spray the hair with the hairdryer.”
And Ward’s golden rule: always use a nozzle.
“The most important thing is to buy as good a hairdryer as you can afford. The best ones are sold in salons,” he said.
“Always use a nozzle. It concentrates the heat and makes the cuticles shine, which creates the glossy finish.”
The star hairdresser also recommends using a brush with real bristles when blow-drying your hair, as this creates the air tension needed for the perfect blow-dry à la Kate Middleton.
When it comes to hair trends for 2016, Ward counts lobs, short bobs, grinches and braids as some of the big players in the hair business.
“The gringe is very versatile, it can add some softness to the face,” said Ward.
“I very, very rarely do it to someone who doesn’t like it. Someone like her (Kate) just makes people aware of it.”
Taylor Swift, Anne Hathaway and Helen Mirren are also shaping the hair landscape in 2016 with their chic, short bobs.
“They can be dressed up or down. It’s such an iconic, classic hairstyle,” he said.
