How does one stop one's hair pouffing up? A young fan quizzes the Duchess of Cambridge on her heat-proof hair

By Toni Jones and Rebecca English

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Her smooth, glossy blow dry is one of the Duchess of Cambridge's signature looks, in fact it is so popular it even has its own nickname: the Chelsea Blow Dry.

But today brunette Kate admitted that even a royal hair do isn't beyond a bit of frizz.

Meeting well wishers in the sweltering Singapore heat the Royal, whose gently tousled hair style has launched thousands of copycat looks, was cornered for some style tips by Ella Major, 15.

The Duchess of Cambridge arrive at Gardens by the Bay for their first engagement on the second day of their Royal Tour
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend a Cultural Event in Queenstown, Singapore

Even a Duchess is not immune to an attack of the frizz: On the second day of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's tour Kate's normally faultless blow dry appeared to be feeling the heat

Perfectly polished: A frizz-free Duchess of Cambridge attends a State reception and dinner at the Istana in Singapore on the first day of the Diamond Jubilee tour

Perfectly polished: A frizz-free Duchess of Cambridge attends a State reception and dinner at the Istana in Singapore on the first day of the Diamond Jubilee tour

She said: 'I asked her how she kept her hair so perfect in this weather, because it’s so humid. Mine always pouffes up.

 

'She was afraid that her hair might be the same way in a few minutes. She said that her hair would pouffe up soon enough.'

30-year-old Kate has naturally curly hair, which as any woman blessed with the same will know does not react well to extreme heat.

The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at the iconic Raffles Hotel
Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, tour the Orchid Garden within the Singapore Botanical Gardens

Kate chose a simple up do for the couple's first official engagement to visit an orchid named after William's mother Princess Diana

And as the couple strolled around the Singapore Gardens today Kate's perfectly polished mane did seem to be starting to droop in the 36 degree temperatures.

Fortunately William's wife has access to a private hairdresser throughout their Diamond Jubilee visit ensuring that her long locks will be immediately primped for the next engagement.

Kate is a long-term client of the Richard Ward celebrity salon in Chelsea, but has enlisted the services of Amanda Cook Tucker on the trip to the Far East.

Mrs Cook Tucker, 50, often styles Kate's hair at home and has been cutting William and Harry's hair for years.

A source told the Mail on Sunday's Katie Nicholl: 'Amanda is an expert at what Kate loves – full glossy blow dries that hold. 

‘She is going to be indispensable on the trip as Kate will be in hot, humid weather and she’s going  to want her hair to look great.’

Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tour Gardens by the Bay in Singapore
The Duchess of Cambridge during a tour in the Cloud Forest of Singapore's Gardens in Singapore

On the second day of the tour Kate's long locks already seemed to be drooping in the 36 degree temperature during a morning visit to the Cloud Forest of Singapore's Gardens

Mrs Cook Tucker’s ex-husband Neville Tucker also has Royal connections.

His Knightsbridge salon held the Royal Warrant from 1980 to 1994 and he worked closely with the Queen’s longest-serving hairdresser, Charles Martyn.

The Prince of Wales will be paying for the cost of Mrs Cook Tucker, believed to be £300 a day plus travel costs.

A spokesman for the Duchess said: ‘The Duchess’s hairdresser on the tour is a private individual paid for privately.’

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, attends the welcome ceremony for her husband Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, at the Istana
Hairdresser Amanda Cook Tucker

Kate has enlisted the help of William's hairdresser Amanda Cook Tucker on the Diamond Jubilee Tour, Mrs Cook Tucker also cuts Prince William and Prince Harry's hair

AND HERE'S HOW TO GET THE LOOK AT HOME ....

The Daily Mail's Life & Style Editor Nicole Mowbray quizzed Richard Ward, the inventor of the Chelsea Blow Dry, on how to steal Kate's style.

Richard Ward, the celebrity hairdresser

Richard Ward, the celebrity hairdresser

Richard says: ‘The Chelsea Blow Dry is a free-flowing sophisticated way to wear long hair.’

1. Make sure you leave yourself enough time, it should take about 45 minutes.

First, thoroughly cleanse and condition your hair. ‘Use the flats of your fingers not your fingertips or nails to massage in the product and encourage increased circulation to the scalp,’ says Richard.

Rinse your hair for two minutes to ensure any product residue is removed — hair will shine if rinsed really well. Lightly towel dry.

2. Now apply styling products. Use some blow dry oil or serum (a blob about the size of a five pence piece) and smooth from mid-length to the ends to give lovely sheen. Spritz a root boosting product evenly on the first two inches of hair only.

3. For the shiniest finish, hair shouldn’t be dripping, but 80 per cent wet when you start blow drying — you’ll get the best results when you still have moisture in your hair.
‘The main mistake people make is waving a hair dryer at it to rough dry it,’ says Richard. ‘It becomes over-dried and hard to style.’

4. ‘Start blow-drying at the front if you’re doing it at home — that’s the bit others will see,’ he says.
It also means that this most visible part will be wet enough to get the best styling results. If you start at the back, by the time you reach the front, your hair may be dry and more difficult to manage.

5. Dry each section using a round brush, pointing downwards — use the nozzle of the dryer to concentrate heat on the section, but make sure you hold it at least five inches away from the hair.

Don’t wiggle the brush around too much — move the hairdryer and brush down the hair shaft at the same speed and smooth downward. Once each section is dry, roll it up in a medium sized Velcro roller (available from Boots or any salon) and pin to your head.

6. Keep the rollers in while you  get dressed (ideally for half an hour) and remove just before you leave the house. Once you’ve taken the rollers out, turn your head upside down and run your fingers through your hair to separate out the curls.

 

The comments below have not been moderated.

The hairdresser is not doing her job. About time the scissors were brought out and shortened that hair - it's way too long and thick. Catherine would look 100% better with a chin length bob. Time for a change, DOC - your hair has been that way since day 1.

Click to rate     Rating   6

Her hair poufed up.

Click to rate     Rating   3

Please get rid of that big old MOP of hair - it's boring like a floor mop.

Click to rate     Rating   7

People need to stop hating on this gorgeous lady

Click to rate     Rating   29

When it's that hot just wear it up, twist, pony, whatever gets it out of my face.

Click to rate     Rating   24

Cambridge is very old fashioned looking. Ghastly wide mouth/spindley legs to boot. All in all, in the looks department she is a 4/10 at best. Although she seems a nice sort of person maybe.

Click to rate     Rating   36

Why are there all these articles about how to look like celebs, there millionaires who employee people to make them look good, thats how no crazy simple secret, so stupid.

Click to rate     Rating   20

I don't think her hair looks as good as it usually does, to be honest.

Click to rate     Rating   23

Get it cut!!!......getting too old for that style!!!

Click to rate     Rating   38

I am totally fed up with the woman complaining about Kate. Yes, she is working, she is an asset to this country, she is beautiful and stylish and intelligent unlike you lot, I suspect you are all fat, ugly and nasty and thick. JEALOUS bully's the lot of you. - Sensible gal, Edinburgh, 12/9/2012 20:33 You bet yeah I'd LOVE to see a picture of Kate Evans of Nottingham honest she calls the Duchess unattractive. Would love to see how 'attractive she is''.

Click to rate     Rating   67

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