Even though the Duchess of Sussex has been turning heads with her style choices ever since she appeared on screen as Rachel in Suits, her signature hairstyles post marriage are what have been shaking up the “royal beauty” standards.
Whether she is showing up with a messy bun with wisps, or a polished blowout, Markle’s looks have served as a breath of fresh (h)air in the sea of overly perfect royal hairstyles. The mum of two has twisted it up into a no-nonsense bun one day, and donned a half-up ponytail on another. Some of these iconic hairstyles have come to be known as The Duchess of Sussex’s signatures, and we can’t get enough of them.
“We made Cali girl hair a bit more formal and had a real laugh,” shared her hairstylist George Northwood about his philosophy while working on Markle’s hair during the latter’s time in the UK.
Inspired to try a royally fabulous hairstyle at home? Here are four of the best ones you can DIY at home.
The wraparound ponytail
Markle’s go-to no-nonsense hairstyle is the wraparound, swingy ponytail. When the Duchess liked to have her hair out of the way, she opted for this easy style with her flyaways and hair at the crown slicked back against her head. This ponytail suits any hair and face type perfectly, so the versatility makes it customisable.
Method
- Prep the hair with a mousse or hair oil to slick it down with zero flyaways in sight.
- Blow dry the hair straight with a centre parting, making sure to tame down any frizz that may appear.
- Then, gather the hair at the nape to create a ponytail and secure it with a hair tie.
- Using a small piece of hair from underneath the ponytail, wrap around the base to hide the hair tie, and you’re done.
The messy low bun
Markle’s messy bun has been her most iconic style choice till date—and the hairdo at her wedding reception stands as testament to that. “The messy bun purely came off the back of making the hair both appropriate and adhering to royal protocol, and modern at the same time,” shared Northwood.
“We wanted it to be up, because a lot of the time it was appropriate for it to be up, but we didn’t want it to be too formal. We always wanted it to be refined imperfection–that’s what sums her up,” he shared. This casual yet chic take on the low bun is perfect if you want a refined but comfortable updo to try. It won’t give you a headache at the end of the day, that’s for sure.
Method
- Spritz strands with a hairspray or mousse to create messy volume.
- Then, part your hair as normal and take two front sections out on each side.
- Pull the rest of the hair back into a messy, low ponytail and then wrap it into a bun. Using a wide-toothed comb, back-comb hair to create texture.
- Using a curling iron, tong the front bits into loose, flowy curls, and finish with hairspray to allow it to set.
The ‘fresh out of the salon’ blowout
Blessed with natural curls, the former Suits star typically blow dries her tresses and gets them styled in waves. She likes her blown out hair to either be voluminous and bouncy, or sleek and ultra-polished—although the first kind has always been her usual go-to. To prevent the style from appearing too formal, loose tendrils are usually allowed to graze her face at the front with a slight wave added. “Framing the face, they add the elements of youth and vitality to the wearer. Whether your hair is poker straight or naturally curly, there are a number of wavy hairstyles that can be created,” shared Northwood.
Method
- Prep your hair by applying an anti-frizz product on it.
- Then, blow dry the hair. Properly detangle the hair once dry, and then blow dry in upwards and outward motions, going section by section.
- Put sections of your hair in large hot velcro rollers to create loose, dainty waves, and then remove only when each section is completely cooled down.
- Gently run your fingers or a wide-toothed comb through your mane and enhance the shape of the waves while separating them.
The sleek bun
While Markle gravitates more towards casual, messier hairdos, she can rock a tight, sleek bun too, when the occasion demands it. The no-fuss style features some subtle volume near the bun, with not a single hair out of place—it is a style that anyone could DIY at home without the help of a glam squad.
Method
- Flat iron your hair straight, and then apply a smoothing gel, oil or hairstyle to tame baby hair and frizz.
- With a fine-tooth comb, pull hair into an elastic and secure it. Twist the ponytail and then wrap around, pinning it down with another hair tie.
- Secure any flyaways with bobby pins, and use a drop of hair oil or serum to slick everything down.
