Kate Middleton’s hair has undoubtedly been one of her most admired features from the moment she came onto the world’s radar. Her thick, shiny chestnut hair and bouncy waves have been her signature in the same way Princess Diana’s short crop had defined the 80s.
Rescu. was thrilled to sit down with Richard Ward, the iconic British creator of the famous Chelsea blow dry and hairdresser to Kate Middleton and her famous family for over a decade.
We asked Richard Ward to share his advice and behind the scenes secrets for the wedding of the century and scored some excellent and practical tips for your own big day.
RESCU: You met Kate Middleton through family and not the palace right?
Richard Ward: Absolutely not, I didn’t know who she was. Until one day, I happened to be cutting someone’s hair and I looked in the mirror in front of me, and I looked behind me and I thought, ‘That looks like the girl that’s going out with Prince William, she’s at university’.
It was only on the Royal Wedding that I did her hair up and everything. I got involved in that and I started cutting her hair actually after the wedding. But they’ve all been coming in all that time. Just very quietly, like everybody else.
So, the relationship progressed. We’re thinking, ‘She’d be going out with him for 5 years, she left university’, so we started thinking, ‘Wow, what if this lasts, what if they end up getting married and maybe we’ll be asked to do their hair?’ Of course, that is exactly what had happened.
RESCU: I’d love to know what references Kate Middleton brought. What were the things she loved?
Richard Ward: She’s a longhaired girl, her first thought was, she wanted to wear it down someway. But that was never going to work, we knew she would be in an open carriage, and the whole world needs to see her face. That’s not going to work with a load of hair. She’s in an open carriage and it’s going to be blowing around all over the place. But we decided on this half up, half down, which we then named the demi-chignon.
RESCU: As a professional, can you give some tips you absolutely recommend for brides to do for their hair?
Richard Ward: Absolutely, I’ve been in this business since I was 17. It’s taken me years to be confident enough and knowledgeable enough, certainly with bridal hair.
There’s so much you have to take into consideration, are they going to be partying all day, what are the elements? What curls you’re going to do, is it likely to stay?
So, that is the main thing for me, for all brides, it’s all about the consultation. It’s all about the understanding with your hairdresser, what exactly is it going to look like. You’re going to have a few rehearsals, at least one.
I recommend all brides to bring in some idea what they would like. Tear some pictures out or buy bridal magazines. Bring your ideas to their hairdresser, and the might say, ‘Hey look, that’s not going to work on your hair. What are you doing on the day?’
As I say, take it into account, A lot of them go into the evening-do, they’re going to be partying, and it’s going to be hot. So much of that goes into it, and that’s why putting their hair up in some form or another is actually a safer bet.
RESCU: Do you recommend your brides to have some sort of a hair regime for the hair health, hair shine, hair glossiness in the lead up to the day?
Richard Ward: Yes, definitely. Absolutely, trims. I always recommend that if you have your hair trimmed to have it done 2 – 3 weeks before. I’d always recommend some treatments, don’t have your colour done unless you really, really trust your hairdresser.
RESCU: With brides do you have program you recommend?
Richard Ward: Absolutely. Most brides know they’re getting married on average a year before. It’s coming with a plan, for example, if you’re going to decide to have your hair up, some brides their hair is not quite long enough so they grow it. Treatment plans, getting all your ends cut, but I’m saying don’t leave it all to the last minute. Allow some time for possibly, ‘Oh hang on the it isn’t quite how I needed it’.
RESCU: So, you have a new hair collection, where will this be distributed in Australia?
Richard Ward: Priceline. It’s called the Chelsea collection. I wanted to put all my time and energy into this. So, one thing I will say which you wouldn’t expect me to say anything different, but it’s true, I totally believe in everything that’s in that bottle.
RESCU: Tell us about your anti-aging hair range.
Richard Ward: It’s anyone who has tortured hair. As we get older the quality of our hair that comes through diminishes. That’s people often say, ‘My hair isn’t what it was’.
The reason why the condition and quality decreases is because the blood flow to the follicle gets less, that’s a fact as we get older. So, what this ingredient does is it attempts to stimulate the blood flow to the hair follicle. At the source, so if we can manage to do that, we have a chance of at least trying to slow down the aging process of the hair that’s coming through.
feature image via pinterest
