Tousled, chic, and effortlessly romantic, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex’s latest hairstyle is the ultimate summer updo. Debuted via Instagram to celebrate the American member of the British royal family’s 44th birthday, the softly textured bun showcases the easiest way to wear a wide-brim sun hat for the warmer summer season. A stark departure from her usual voluminous blow-dry, the undone styling embraces a more natural beauty approach than the Duchess typically chooses, yet it still serves as a source of regal inspiration.
The hairstyle features a loose, airy bun at the nape of the neck, paired with softly curled tendrils that frame the face delicately. The design ensures the summery hat rests comfortably on the head, while the rest of Markle’s locks maintain an effortlessly elegant appearance underneath.
‘This style is made easier when your hair is not freshly washed, so can be a great style choice when your hair is a couple of days in,’ says hair forecaster and stylist Tom Smith. ‘Alternatively, prepping the hair with a styling powder or a texturising spray will give the necessary volume, texture and grip required for this relaxed but secure look.’
He adds: ‘Movement and texture, either through your natural wave or curl pattern, or styled with heat, is an important foundation for the look. Shaking the hair out upside-down before creating a low ponytail will give the required undone vibe. Gently twist the ends of the ponytail up and secure with grips, and finish with a stronger Hold hairspray to keep things in place.’
The Duchess of Sussex showcased her signature brunette hair for the look: a rich, glossy, and dimensional chocolate hue that she has effortlessly maintained for years.
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If you’re considering a lighter shade for the final weeks of sunshine, we recommend taking inspiration from Kate Middleton’s elegant fresh honey bronde, which was one of the most coveted hair colours of early summer this year. Much like Markle, the Princess of Wales is
Karwai Tang
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Katie Withington (she/her) is the Beauty Writer, at ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar. Working alongside the ELLE UK Beauty Team, she covers all things beauty for both print and digital, from finding backstage make-up trends at London Fashion Week and investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, to unzipping the beauty bags of Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie. Prior to joining ELLE UK in 2022, Katie studied (BA) Fashion Journalism at London College of Fashion and has previously contributed to Red, Good Housekeeping and Prima.