It took just 45 minutes (and a few cheap pins) to do her hair
MEGHAN’S hairdresser took only 45 minutes to style her hair, using cheap bun pins — grips you can buy in the supermarket.
French-born Serge Normant, 52, from New York, who was introduced to the Duchess last year by mutual friends, said she was a ‘dream’ to work with and had a very clear idea of how she wanted her — by now world-famous — ‘messy bun’.
‘On the day she was calm and chatty. She was very happy, it was a beautiful morning, the perfect morning to get married,’ he said.
‘We woke up early, had a little coffee and then just went on. It was all smiles, it was just one of those dreamy moments, to be honest.’
Asked if there were any signs of nerves, he added: ‘No I don’t think so, she was just very happy, very happy, very excited.’ He said Harry thanked him afterwards. ‘They are a beautiful couple.’ He said being at Windsor Castle was a ‘gorgeous fairytale’.
Speaking at Kensington Palace shortly after arriving back from the castle, he admitted: ‘I am still pinching myself this morning. It’s just one of those moments you dream of.’ Mr Normant said he already knew of Meghan before they were introduced a year ago.
‘I just always loved the way she looked and her hair. I always thought it would be exciting to get the chance to work with her. Her kind of style is so easy and not contrived,’ he said.
Although they had one or two meetings and discussed styles over the phone, the real work
‘We wanted a look that was effortless and uncontrived’
only started a week ago when he flew in from New York. He said: ‘She has a beautiful head of hair and is gorgeous, so it was just easy.
‘We worked really closely together, but there was nothing contrived about it. We knew what we wanted to do. We wanted something that was effortless and really timeless.
‘I always think of Audrey Hepburn, that timeless quality. But I didn’t want to do anything that was set in a time frame. I just wanted a loose and easy look, which is why we chose that loose bun.
‘I didn’t see the tiara until last week. It was beautiful, and pretty easy to place. That’s the key to anyone’s wedding. You want it to stay well.’
Asked how long it had taken him to style Meghan’s hair on the day, Mr Normant said that it was only around 45 minutes, using nothing more fancy than a round bristle-brush for blowdrying, tongs, a few styling products and some bun pins which can cost as little as £1.09 for 36.
‘We had to blow dry it from wet. Then they did the make-up and then we fiddled around with it a bit. But it’s not that long,’ he said. ‘If I had to plan it again, I would do it just the same again.
‘Pins were the key to this updo. I used long, regular ones. Things you could find in the shop for a few pounds. People could recreate it at home, absolutely, maybe even better! I used a few
products, a little mousse, a little texturising product just to make it look a bit more shiny. I dryed it with a round brush then used a little iron on the edges to give it some texture. And then put it up. Pouff!
‘The key is not making it too tight. I really wanted it to be loose. There were a lot of little bits [around her face]. I wanted her to be able to tuck it behind her ears if she wanted to, because that is what she normally does.
‘The shape of the style has to be seen a little bit through the veil so I needed a certain volume to it.
‘There was a lot of easing underneath and a little messiness.
‘I think the relaxed style is very reflective of her. It never looks like it has been too complicated to achieve.’
Mr Normant described the whole experience as ‘pretty amazing and surreal’. ‘She inspired me, I just loved her style, that smile she has. It was one of those amazing days that will last a lifetime.’