Whether gleaming at a piano in Windsor Castle or twisted into an elaborate updo at the Coronation, the Princess of Wales’s signature brunette hair is looking glossier than ever recently. It’s also noticeably darker than she has worn it for a while, swapping her usual warm chestnutty tones for a cooler, mocha chocolate shade. 

The Princess’s hair looks expensive, glamorous and oh-so healthy. Can the look be emulated by those of us without a crack team of stylists on hand? In short, yes. 

Here’s our guide to achieving the liquid brunette effect for yourself:

The weekly routine you need to incorporate 

Los Angeles-based celebrity hair colourist Adir Abergel, who has taken Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart from blonde to brunette several times, explains that “condition is the key” to the swoosh factor for an expensive glossy brunette sheen.

“The hair must be healthy for it to shine and reflect the light. Weekly hair masks are a must, and when it comes to drying you need to keep it frizz-free to get the gloss.”

The secret weapon he gives to all of his clients is a bottle of Virtue Healing Oil. “It’s much lighter than other hair oils and is best applied to damp hair pre-blow dry. It smooths down the hair cuticle for a beautiful glass-like sheen.” 

Hellen Ward from the Richard Ward salon, which has looked after Catherine’s hair since her 20s, agrees that achieving optimum sheen is essential. “The darker the hair is, the more ability it has to reflect light,” she notes. “Healthy hair is key. The outer layer needs to lie flat (think of roof tiles or fish scales) to reflect light and shine. We recommend all of our clients do weekly hair masks – popping one on and lying in a bath for 20 minutes ideally.” 

What to ask for at the salon 

Once healthy hair is in place, it’s all about the perfect colour blend. 

“The liquid brunette look is about seamlessly blending a mix of different types of brunette with layers of gloss to create this natural, healthy-looking finish,” says British hair colourist Zoe Irwin, based at John Frieda’s Mayfair salon. Frieda offers a “liquid brunette” service on its colouring menu. 

“The Princess’s mocha-noir colour may look like it’s one shade but it’s a mix of several colours. It’s slightly lighter around the hairline and on the ends to create this natural feel. It’s most probably a combination of semi permanent and permanent colours combined with glosses which give it its beautiful gleam.” 

Irwin always finishes her brunette clients with a combination of two types of gloss treatments to make sure they leave the salon with a Princess of Wales level of polish.

Irwin says that another advantage of this hair colour is that if you find the right shade of brunette it can be hugely flattering to the skin tone (a benefit which is definitely working to Her Royal Highness’s advantage). “Interestingly, the depth of colour can be flattering on the neckline and jawline too,” she adds.  

Ditch the dry shampoo – and the alternative to try instead

Using the right shampoo and styling products is equally important. “Using a green colour-correcting shampoo like Matrix Dark Envy will neutralise any brassiness in between salon visits,” advises Irwin. “And brunettes should avoid using dry shampoo as it will dull the hair and take away shine.”

Instead she advises using Hair by Sam McKnight’s Lazy Girl Biodegradable Hair Cleanse Cloths which come in a Wet Ones-type packet and can be useful on the hairline and parting if you haven’t got time to wash your hair.

The blow-dry techniques to try

Sloane Square-based stylist and salon owner Michael Charalambous, who is the go-to for many celebrity brunettes and royals (his immaculate, glossy blow-dries last at least a week and are much in demand from VIPs including Claudia Winkleman and Queen Rania of Jordan), advises using a ceramic ionic brush if you’re blow-drying at home: 

“The negatively charged bristles break up water molecules into ions (hydrogen and oxygen particles) and make the hair less frizzy, and makes the blowdry shinier.” 

His salon has recently started a popular new Glaze Service which offers any hair colour a deep conditioning and glossing treatment which makes hair the super shiny giving it some real oomph and “makes you have a good hair day for about a month”, says Nyumba’s colour specialist Guilia Zuccaroli. A month of good hair days? Now that’s the epitome of Princess hair.

5 products for a glossy brunette blow-dry at home

Matrix Total Results Dark Envy Shampoo, £11.79; Living Proof No Frizz Intense Moisture Mask, £36; Josh Wood Smoky Brunette Gloss, £19; Virtue Healing Oil, £42; Hair by Sam McKnight Lazy Girl Biodegradable Hair Cleanse Cloths, £17

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