How To Achieve Kate Middleton's Gorgeous Hairstyles + the $13 Product Her Hairstylist Uses on Her
If you're like us, you've long admired Kate Middleton’s luscious head of hair that always looks polished. The royal is known for her curls and bouncy blowout and achieving one of her signature styles isn't as tricky as you would think. To learn all you need to know about getting a Kate Middleton hair style and keeping hair looking healthy when over 40, we turned to hairstylist Owen Gould, who has worked with Julianne Moore and Drew Barrymore. Read on for all of his tips and tricks to getting a gorgeous head of hair that's suited for royalty.
How Kate Middleton maintains her thick, shiny hair
If you're wondering how Kate keeps her hair healthy, thick and shiny as a woman in her 40s — a time where it's common to experience hair thinning, dullness and brittleness — a large part of it likely has to do with her hair wash routine. "Maintaining or restoring shine to dull or mature hair requires a proper hair care routine and products," says Gould. Read on for his recommendations for the best hair care routine for women over 40.
1. Cleanse hair with this shampoo
A gentle shampoo is key for mature strands that are more prone to breakage and damage. "Opt for a mild or sulfate-free shampoo that doesn't strip away natural oils from your hair, says Gould. He recommends Garnier Fructis Hair Filler + Vitamin C Strength Repair Shampoo (Buy from Amazon, $9.99). Bonus: Rinse hair with cooler water since Gould says hot water "can make it appear dull."
2. Boost hydration with conditioner
After shampooing, use a nourishing conditioner "to restore moisture and shine to your hair," advises Gould. One of Kate's best assets when it comes to her hair is how hydrated it looks, which starts with a good conditioner. Gould says to especially "focus on the lengths and ends of your hair, as these areas tend to be drier." One to try is Garnier Fructis Hair Filler Strength Repair Conditioner (Buy from Amazon, $8.97), which similar to its shampoo counterpart mentioned above and it helps strengthen strands. Another great option is Redken All Soft Conditioner (Buy from Amazon, $26), which contains moisturizing and repairing argan oil.
3. Reverse damage with a hair mask
To really hone in on restoring shine to strands, Gould suggests using a deep conditioning hair mask once a week. And for the best benefits, "look for products that contain ingredients like argan oil, shea butter or keratin," says Gould. That's because all of these ingredients hydrate and repair hair at the same time. A mask that we like is OUAI Treatment Mask for Fine and Medium Hair (Buy from Sephora, $38). This mask contains both shea butter and keratin, as well as panthenol (which restores shine). For a drugstore option, try Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask (Buy from Amazon, $15.99), which is rich in argan oil.
Related: “I Tried the ‘Everything Shower’ and Loved How It Made Me Look and Feel!”
4. Detangle strands with a leave-in product
While hair is still damp, apply a leave-in conditioner or mask to tame tangles and frizz along with helping to maintain moisture. One we like: Hairitage Light as a Feather Detangling Leave-in Conditioner Spray (Buy from Walmart, $8.94). Or for a more intense leave-in treatment for those with extremely damaged hair, try Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Restructuring Bond Repair Masque (Buy from Amazon, $40). Tip: When using the Alterna product, skip conditioner while washing hair, per the product's instructions.
5. Keep hair healthy with regular trims
You've likely heard before how regular trims are essential to hair's overall health. And Gould agrees: "I like to tell my clients to trim their hair every 6-8 weeks to get rid of split ends and promote healthy hair growth."
For more over 40 hair care tips, check out the below video from @HeatherAndersonFashionOver40 on YouTube.
How to style hair like Kate Middleton's
To create the Kate Middleton hair styles she wears most — curls and a blowout — keep scrolling for the easy how tos from Gould.
How to achieve Kate Middleton hair: Bouncy curls
Prep hair. "Start with clean, dry hair," says Gould. And "apply a heat protectant spray to protect your hair from heat damage." One he likes: Garnier Whole Foods Hair Honey Milk 450F Heat Shield Spray (Buy from Walgreens, $8.49).
Divide hair into sections. To ensure you don't miss any pieces, divide hair into equal-sized sections. Then, keep one down and clip up the other sections.
Choose the right curling iron. The look you want to achieve all comes down to the size of curling iron you use. Kate sports loose, bouncy curls that can be created with a larger barrel curling iron, like HOT TOOLS Pro Signature Gold Curling Iron (Buy from Amazon, $21.84). For a slightly smaller barrel (and therefore tighter curls), we like Beachwaver B1 (Buy from Beachwaver, $79.20), which has an automatic rotating barrel that makes curling a breeze.
Apply a styling product. "Apply a curl-enhancing mousse or a lightweight styling cream to your hair," says Gould. His favorite is Garnier Fructis Hair Filler + Hyaluronic Moisture Repair Gel-Cream (Buy from Amazon, $9.99). This type of product defines curls and creates hold that lasts all day.
Curl hair. Using the curling iron of your choice, "take a small section of hair and wrap it around the curling iron, starting from the middle of the section and wrapping towards the ends," explains Gould. Hold the iron in place for a 10-15 seconds, then gently unclamp and let down the curl. Repeat for each section of hair.
Finish by separating and setting. One of the most important steps to getting Kate's loose curls is separating strands after curling. This will create a more relaxed, natural curl that still has bounce. Simply finger-comb through hair or use a wide-tooth comb, "avoiding brushing your curls, as it may cause frizz," warns Gould. And set strands with a light-hold hairspray, like SexyHair Healthy So Touchable Weightless Hairspray (Buy from Amazon, $22.95).
Related: Pro Stylists’ Tricks for Curls That Last and Last So Hair Stays Lush + Voluminous All Day
How to achieve Kate Middleton hair: Voluminous blowout
Wash + condition hair. Shampoo and condition with volumizing products, like Redken Volume Injection Shampoo and Conditioner Set (Buy from Walmart, $40.45 for both).
Work in a styling product. Apply a volumizing mousse or root-lifting spray, suggests Gould, before using a blow dryer. Two to try: Kenra Volume Medium-Hold Mousse (Buy from Amazon, $16.80) and Living Proof Full Volume & Root-Lifting Spray (Buy from Amazon, $32). These products lift strands up and off of the scalp to keep sleek strands from falling flat.
Blow out hair. Rough dry hair until it's about 80% dry, then use a round brush and blow dryer, like InfinitiPRO by Conair Quick Styling Salon Hair Dryer (Buy from Ulta, $39.99). For the best blowout work 1-2" sections of hair when using a round brush. Gould says to keep the blow dryer close to the brush, and lift hair up at the root and move slowly toward ends. Make a few passes until the section is dry, then repeat with the rest of hair.
Finish with serum or oil. To smooth frizz and flyaways and create a beautiful, shiny finish, apply a lightweight hair serum or oil, says Gould. Two options we like are Verb Ghost Weightless Hair Oil (Buy from Sephora, $20) and Kristin Ess Weightless Shine Working Serum (Buy from Ulta, $15).
The products Kate Middleton's hairstylist uses on her
Amanda Cook Tucker, Kate’s longtime private hairdresser, revealed the budget-friendly royal beauty secret she uses on Kate: L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray (Buy from Amazon, $12.99). This beloved hairspray is the key for holding Kate's gorgeous curls without making hair look or feel stiff.
Another product Tucker uses on Kate to prep her hair prior to styling is Kiehl’s Crème with Silk Groom (Buy from Kiehl's, $26). This styling cream works wonders to keep hair smooth, shiny and hydrated before blowdrying or adding in curls.
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