She has some of the most enviable tresses in the world – and now the Duchess of Cambridge’s hairdresser has revealed just how much work goes into maintaining her locks.
Ahead of the royal visit to Norway and Sweden this week, Amanda Cook Tucker shared a photo of the countless brushes, tools and cans of hair spray she will be taking with her on the tour.
The expansive haul of hair products – including no less than 13 brushes, six combs and two hairdryers – gives a fascinating insight into just how much work goes into keeping Kate’s glossy mane intact.
The snap was shared widely online after being posted on Twitter on Monday.
It includes a can of Elnett hairspray (£6.70), Kiehl’s Crème with Silk Groom (£18), and Charles Worthington: Volume & Bounce Body Booster Mousse (£5.99).
Glam kit: Amanda Cook Tucker shared a photo of the countless brushes, tools and cans of hair spray she will be taking with her
The expansive haul of hair products – including no less than 13 brushes, six combs and two hairdryers – gives a fascinating insight into just how much work goes into keeping Kate’s glossy mane intact
Thirteen brushes for princess-perfect hair
Commenting on the picture, celebrity hairdresser Jason Collier told FEMAIL: ‘I’m not surprised Kate’s hairdresser has such a substantial kit for the Royal Tour – we’ve come to expect Kate to look impeccably groomed and glamorous, and she is so famous for that beautiful blow-dry that it always needs to look perfect.
‘In terms of the kit, there’s everything a stylist could need to create hair worthy of a princess.
‘Round barrel brushes are essential for creating Kate’s infamous bouncy blow-dry. The first brush looks to be a metal bristle brush, which is great for heat-styling wet hair, aka the first step in the blow-dry process.
‘The metal base will heat up, taking out a lot of the bulk and making it easy to tame thick hair like Kate’s, for a smooth finish.
‘A natural boar bristle barrel brush is in there too, along with a large mixed-bristle brush; the natural bristles grip the hair really well, while the mixed version would pull through hair nicely to create lots of lift and volume.
‘I would use the boar brush as the finishing step in the process, to get that gorgeously glossy finish. I like that the stylist has chosen a brush with a grip handle – very necessary for this kind of work!
‘The next set of brushes look to be ceramic bristle brushes, which are again fantastic for creating plenty of gloss and shine.
‘They look like they could be Balmain Paris Hair Couture brushes, which help to regulate the temperature of the hair, prevent frizz and lock in the style – all essential for a princess who’s out and about!
‘The larger brush would be used to create smoothness and large waves, while the smaller brushes would be used for Kate’s fringe sections, or to create small flicks or curls towards the front of the hair.
Glam squad: Amanda often styles Kate’s hair at home and has been cutting William and Harry’s hair since they were children (pictured here arriving in Assam, India, in April 2016)
The hair guru, who has been working for the Palace for years, often accompanies the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge abroad (pictured on the 2016 royal tour of India and Bhutan, with Sophie Agnew, left, and stylist Natasha Archer, right)
‘More small bristle brushes – you can never have too many when your client’s hair is as famous as Kate’s! Again, these would be used on smaller sections, and to create those perfect finishing touches.’
How Kate gets her ‘bouncy finish’
Jason added: ‘Next up, there’s a teasing brush, which is used to create root volume on dry hair, giving Kate that full, bouncy finish she’s known for. The cushion brush beside it is great for detangling either wet or dry hair, to remove knots without damage.
‘It looks like we have a Mason Pearson brush in the mix too, probably a mixed nylon and natural bristle brush. I’m not surprised to see such a premium brand there; they’re a brand with heritage and such a strong reputation.
‘This kind of brush would be used to distribute oils evenly through the hair and creating a soft texture; ideal for creating the kind of soft, sleek up-dos that Kate wears so well, with no harshness. Two smaller styling brushes are in the mix, which are great for a multitude of tasks – from detangling wet hair to reducing frizz in a finished look.
‘And then we have a selection of combs: tail combs for creating sharp partings and neat lines, fine-tooth combs for smoothing and getting that perfect smoothness in up-dos, and a wide-tooth comb to gently work through wet hair.’
Top tresses: Kate’s hair haul includes a can of Elnett hairspray (£6.70), Kiehl’s Crème with Silk Groom (£18), and Charles Worthington: Volume & Bounce Body Booster Mousse (£5.99)
Hair secrets: A teasing brush is used to create root volume on dry hair, giving Kate that full, bouncy finish she’s known for, according to Jason Collier
Amanda often styles Kate’s hair at Kensington Palace and has been cutting William and Harry’s hair since they were children.
The stylist has been Kate’s hairdresser since the couple visited the Far East on a Diamond Jubilee Visit in September last year.
The hair guru has become close to the Duchess in recent years and was credited with giving Kate heat-proof hair that defied the humid Asian weather when she toured the Far East with her husband on the Diamond Jubilee tour in 2012.
Mist, mousse and hairspray galore
‘There’s a water mist bottle there, which is great for reviving a hair style that’s in need of a boost,’ notes Jason.
‘After a day’s walking out and about, Kate’s hair might need a little rejuvenation, so a quick mist with water and a blast with the dryer will give a fresh bounciness back to the style in seconds.
‘There’s two Charles Worthington products in there which are surprisingly purse-friendly options for the Duchess: Volume & Bounce Body Booster Mousse and the Perfect Finish Hairspray, which both offer lots of lift and volume.
Kate’s busy schedule during royal tours means her stylist is tasked with keeping it glossy and intact even as she flits between formal engagements (pictured in Canada in September 2016)
‘The mousse is around £6 and the spray is around £7, which means you can use the same products as our future queen for much less than you might expect.
‘Both of these products offer “style memory technology” which holds on to the style longer, which is an essential for Kate on a long day’s meeting and greeting.
‘There’s another mousse – a volumised style requires mousse, so no surprises to see two bottles.
‘Kiehl’s Crème with Silk Groom is a premium pick that’s been chosen to maintain Kate’s healthy shine. It’s a conditioning hair treatment that promises silky hair with a mirror shine, likely used at least once a week to give her those dreamy glossy locks.
After a busy day of engagements, Kate’s hair might need a little rejuvenation, so a quick mist with water and a blast with the dryer will give a fresh bounciness back to the style in seconds, says Jason (the Duke and Duchess pictured here at Buckingham Palace in October 2017)
‘This is a classic product that celebrities have loved for years, so I’m not surprised to see it amongst the high street brands in the kit – it’s well-known for very good reason.’
Finishing touches for a perfect mane
‘It looks like Redken’s Pillow Proof Blow Dry Extender spray, which banishes oil and gives day-old hair a refreshed look without the need for washing [is there],’ adds Jason.
‘This is very handy when there’s such a busy schedule! And of course, there’s plenty of hairspray to keep those famous curls locked in place, including the classic Elnett – if it’s good enough for the Duchess…
‘And finally, the tools required for Kate’s crowning glory hairdo. A wide barrel tong is perfect for creating large curls or soft waves in the hair, while the conical tong is used to shape curls that are looser at the top and more pulled-together at the bottom – a look which Kate wears often to create shape without stiffness.
‘The slim barrelled tong is great for smaller curls or creating areas of movement around the face when the hair is worn up, and of course there’s straighteners in the mix too.
‘Two hairdryers, because you must always have a backup(!), and plenty of extension leads and adapters for every eventuality too – with a high-profile client, you must be prepared for any situation.
‘And there looks to be some microfibre towels in the kit too, which are ideal for preventing frizz after washing, and gently soaking up excess water to allow hair to absorb product better and dry evenly.’