It had been over two years since the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan, and her go-to hairstylist, George Northwood, last saw one other. Like many others, they were separated not just by an ocean, but by a pandemic. “The last time [before the Invictus Games 2022] I worked with Harry and Meghan was on the day of the ‘umbrella’ moment [the viral photo of the couple in the rain outside the Endeavour Awards 2020],” he tells Vogue. “It was an emotional time. I remember being at Buckingham Palace and, at the time, the Invictus Games were planned for the Hague in 2020, so when I said goodbye, it was more of a see you later. Little did we know!”
Samir Hussein
The Games eventually went ahead over Easter weekend, two years later than planned. As soon as he arrived in the Netherlands, Northwood went straight to visit the couple and “gave them both a cuddle”. The reunion was a sweet one – and not merely because of the hair magic it brought about. Just as he had done so many times before – from that perfectly undone wedding hair to myriad royal tour looks – Northwood created a series of excellent hairstyles on Meghan, as she made a brief return to the spotlight in support of the event her husband founded for wounded military personnel.
Patrick van Katwijk
Perhaps most notable of all were the perfect glossy waves that tumbled over Meghan’s cream, belted blazer by Brandon Maxwell at the Games on Sunday. Here, Northwood shares how to recreate the look at home.
Blow dry first
“This is a more polished wave – undone, but with a luxe feeling to it. It’s key to create a good foundation in the hair, so instead of a rough blow dry, blow hair out smoothly. If you’re going for a centre parting, blow dry the front of the hair forward – this creates a sweeping motion when you part it afterwards.”
Use a big-barrel tong
“Using a large-barrel tong, work your way around the head, taking sections of hair and curling them. Tong away from the face at the front of the hair, and focus on the mid-lengths, rather than roots and ends, to encourage more of a wave than a curl. Once you’ve taken the tong out of each section, pull hair straight so it cools in a softer bend. At the end, use your fingers or a paddle brush to brush through hair.”
Up the shine
“When it comes to products, focus on shine – aim for a luxe, glossy finish. Shine sprays, creams or serums are great to help smooth it.”
Kassy Rose Makeup Artistry 