Meeting Richard Ward was more nerve-wrecking than I had expected. The Duchess of Cambridge’s hairdresser exudes the kind of starry aura that comes from regular dealings with the glossiest trio of brunettes in the land. Not since Cindy Crawford in the Eighties have glorious, tumbling tresses so captured the public imagination. And having tried every tip under the sun and spent a small fortune attempting to achieve her impossibly silken mane, I was delighted to receive his special invitation.
Richard – one half of the duo responsible for creating the widely-praised ‘demi-chignon’ that Kate wore on her wedding day – offered to show me, step-by-step, how to achieve the ‘Chelsea blowdry’. The star snipper has been dealing with the Middleton ladies' hair for over eight years and he is still their mane man. Could there be a better guide? So I skipped along to his award-winning salon, located just off London's Sloane Square which attracts Chelsea’s well-to-do crowd. With a celebrity clientele that boasts Tara Palmer Tomkinson, Lisa Snowdon and Kim Cattrall, Richard's sleek salon-spa oozes the kind of chic sophistication you'd expect from such a high-profile coiffeuse. There's even a champagne bar where you can sip some bubbly before your pampering begins.
He was full of praise for the new royal. “She's absolutely lovely, like any 29-year-old girl,” he said. "She jokes around like everyone else.” Discussing the famous ‘demi-chignon’ that he created with stylist James Pryce, an honour they describe as “the hair gig of the century”, Richard revealed that it took three hours to create the simple yet stunning look. The maestro went on to work his magic on me, giving me luscious locks that gleamed with gloss and shine. And when I stepped out of the salon I felt… well, just like a princess. Click on the photos for a step-by-step guide on how to achieve the Chelsea blowdry, the Richard Ward way.
To book an appointment at the Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa, please call 020 7730 1222 www.richardward.com.Richard Ward Couture Hair is available from QVC online www.qvcuk.com or www.mycouturehair.com
Report: Alexandra Light