Master the Royal Blowout at Home With Tips From Kate Middleton's Hairdresser

Updated on 5/2/2016 at 3:20 PM

POPSUGAR Photography | Andy Barnham

If you've ever dreamed of expensive-looking hair to rival Kate Middleton's, Richard Ward is the man to teach you how to do it. The acclaimed hairstylist has an award-winning salon in London's Chelsea where he tends to the tresses of celebrities, socialites, and royals. He's the genius behind the "Chelsea blow-dry," the ultimate blowout that'll give you the glossy, luxurious-looking hair the Middleton sisters have made famous. And we're here to show you how to do it at home. Richard took us through the steps required to achieve the royal look, and you'll be surprised how easy it is to re-create with a little time and a lot of velcro rollers!

Before You Start

According to Richard, the key to the perfect blowout is in the preparation. Comb through your wet hair, and remove excess moisture by rough-drying. Try not to blow the hair in all directions, and don't rough-dry too much. Richard believes a good blowout begins on hair that is 70 percent wet. Prep the hair by sectioning it (two or three times, depending on how thick your hair is) and generously spritzing in a root-lift spray. Finish by adding a couple of drops of serum to each section. This will help to give a healthy, shiny finish. Now that you're prepped, it's time to get started . . .

Dry the Hair Section by Section

Make sure you have a powerful, good-quality hair dryer, and always use a nozzle attachment. This allows you to focus the heat into each section, flattening the cuticle as you dry for a smooth result. Work on small pieces one at a time from the top. Concentrate the nozzle down the hair shaft for optimum shine while using a barrel brush to grip the hair.

Richard believes a natural bristle brush is "absolutely nonnegotiable," as metal ones just don't work as well. He uses the Shine Angel brush, which has v-shaped strands that smooth the hair as you go.

Place Each Section in a Velcro Roller

To get a bouncy, expensive-looking blowout, you need more than just a hair dryer, especially if your mane is naturally straight. After you have dried each section, while the hair is still hot from the dryer, roll it onto a medium velcro roller. Angle your locks away from the face at the front, then down the back and sides of the head.

Create Tension and Clip as You Go

Make sure to pull the hair taut as you add each roller. This tension will help to keep the roller in place and give you lots of volume. Use a banana clip to hold each roller in place. Though most velcro rollers will hold without clips, Richard always clips them in place too. If you don't, they will drop quickly, and you'll lose all that bounce!

Keep Your Sections Uniform

Make sure you roll all sections of hair in the same direction (under, not over). For the best results, each section should be no wider than the roller itself. Once all your hair is in rollers, spritz with hair spray, which will cool along with the curls and set on the hair. Don't take your rollers out until the hair is completely cool. It's this change of state that will make your blowout stay looking perfect for as long as possible.

Twist as You Take Out the Rollers

Once the hair is cool, carefully remove the rollers one by one, starting at the nape of the neck. As you take each roller out, gently twist the hair to encourage those bouncy waves. For added shine, put a dab of serum on your fingers as you twist.

Tidy Up the Hairline

Don't be tempted to brush the hair after you've taken out the rollers (or your modern blowout will end up looking a bit more "vintage"). However, Richard has a great tip to add a little more volume and tidy up the hairline. Use your brush to gently pull the first one or two inches of hair away from the face, and blast it with the dryer. Tip your head upside down, add a touch of hair spray, and do the same around the neck. It really finishes the look and helps the hair to stay off the face.

Fluff up and You're Finished

Give your hair a final fluff with your fingers, add a last touch of hair spray, and you're good to go!

As you can see, the rollers don't really curl the hair; they just give bounce, volume, and a gentle wave around the lengths. If your hair is more layered, you'll see a more pronounced effect.

So Kate Middleton, right?