The big bouncy blowout is everywhere this spring – an iconic look that Catherine, the Princess of Wales has pulled off effortlessly for years.
It’s a glamorous and sophisticated haircut that has always been with her, and a haircut that other senior royals discover can work well for them too.
The princess has always been a long-haired lover. Such a voluminous hair dryer brings great glamor to evening events where an updo seems the obvious choice, but Her Royal Highness wants to wear her long locks down.
Soft, loose curls are also useful for outdoor activities as they hold up well to the weather when things take a windy turn. When blown around a bit, they look beachy and natural as they brush against your face, which can be very flattering.
Kate Middleton’s hair had a more classic, off-the-face look when she visited The Indian Steatery in Birmingham with William to celebrate Birmingham’s rich Asian culture.
Princess Sofia of Sweden, with her curls in a looser style, attended the 2019 World’s Children Prize for the Rights of the Child at Gripsholm Castle in Sweden
Queen Rania of Jordan’s hair is shorter and finer, making her curls easier to hold when she visited Cairo with her husband in January 2023
This style is proving especially popular with regal brunettes, which doesn’t surprise me. They know (well, their stylists certainly do) that the darker your hair is, the better it reflects light, giving it a luxurious shine.
These women are the center of endless attention and must always look royal. Once the photographer’s lights start popping, that shine adds an extra layer of drama to their gorgeous oversized curls.
Princess Sofia of Sweden is often depicted with her hair styled this way, although she wears hers longer in the front and the curls are much looser than other members of the royal family. Hers is a trendier, more runway-esque version of this style.
Meanwhile, our very own Princess of Wales is going for a more classic, off-the-face look in much the same vein as Queen Letizia, these women are both high ranking royals so will naturally lean towards something a bit more formal.
Princess Mary of Denmark has a cut almost identical to Catherine’s, but she’s been more adventurous with the color. Hers is dyed and has a bit of carrot stain in it, which has been in fashion all winter and will continue to be as we head into the new season.
Queen Rania of Jordan’s hair is shorter and finer, making her curls easier to hold as the weight of her hair doesn’t pull them down. She has touches of balayage (subtle shadow changes) that reflect the light beautifully. The Duchess of Sussex keeps her hair mostly one length – most of these other royals have cut long layers – which makes her curls look more sophisticated, with a touch of old Hollywood glamour.
Queen Letizia of Spain’s hair resembles Kates. She used this classic off-the-face look when she attended the presentation of the ‘All Against Cancer’ project, celebrating World Cancer Day in Madrid in February 2023
Richard says Princess Mary of Denmark’s hair is almost identical to Catherine’s, but she’s been a bit more adventurous with her color
Meghan Markle keeps her hair mostly one length, unlike most of the other royals who have cut long layers, making her hair more sophisticated with a touch of old Hollywood glamour. Meghan helped open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge in June 2018
It’s great to see so many royal women sporting a hairstyle that speaks very much to old-fashioned glamor and glitz. Best of all, though, is how achievable this look is for anyone with access to a few basic hair products and a big curling iron.
Last year was all about the beach waves – relaxed curls that look effortlessly undone. This is a much more mature, sophisticated and conscious-looking progression than that. It evokes an exciting modern take on a Farrah Fawcett, 1970s vibe that will be an enduring theme in fashion and hair this year.
Achieving movement is key for this style. The best bouncy stroke starts with hair that has long, graduated layers and is blunt-trimmed at the ends. The mistake some hairdressers make is adding too many layers – if those layers are too short, it restricts flow and movement.
To get this look at home, you must first blow-dry your hair so that it is smooth and smooth. This sounds counterintuitive, I know, but think of your hair cuticles as tiles on a roof — you want them to lie flat, completely free of frizz, to create a shiny, smooth curl.
So apply argan oil or blow-dry cream – I like Kérastase Elixir Ultime L’Original Hair Oil, £40 100ml – through the mid-lengths to the ends of your hair while it’s still wet. Less is more: Rub the product between your hands, as you would a hand cream, before running it through your hair to add shine and shine.
Richard Ward (above) famously styled Kate Middleton’s hair for her wedding to Prince William in 2011. He perfected a half chignon — half up, half down — for her walk down the aisle
Once your hair is completely dry, flip your head upside down and spray the root lift (my Richard Ward Bodifying Spritz costs £8, improves shine and also gives you heat protection) all over, close to your scalp.
Now cut your hair into four sections – big curls need big sections – and run your big hair tongs through each section, applying a setting spray as you go.
Once your curls have cooled, rub a fivep-sized piece of hair oil through your hands and glide the product through the mid-lengths and ends to smooth out any stray stray hairs. And there you have it: a big, glamorous curly blowout that’s trendy and fit for royalty, too.
Richard Ward spoke with Rachel Halliwell