- Katie Jones
- Assistant Editor, MyDaily
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The Duchess of Cambridge and her glossy long locks have been admired the world over, but the secret behind her royal look lies in the blow dry.

We asked the man behind Duchess Kate's perfect curls, Richard Ward, for his top tips on how to style hair after washing. Take a look below for his step-by-step guide on the Chelsea blow dry.
1. The foundation is essential, so ensure you thoroughly cleanse and condition with the right products for your hair type. Use the flats of your fingers (the spongy pads) not your fingertips or nails, which is more beneficial for scalp and blood flow stimulation. Rinse your hair for two minutes - time yourself. This will ensure any product residue is removed and your hair will shine if rinsed really well.
2. Towel dry - as much as possible, but be gentle. Apply one light styling product whatever suits your hair type. Never apply more than one so address your main concern and apply in the right place! Root boosting products need to be evenly spritzed on the first two inches of roots only, whereas serum or mousse should be evenly distributed through mid-lengths and ends.
3. Invest in a salon hair dryer. They are much more powerful than normal dryers and will complete the job in half the time. Ensure the nozzle is on and each section is the width and length of the brush you are using. Start at the back. Part the hair vertically down from the crown to the nape, working in small sections, left and then right. Treat from ear to ear to front as the other half and work horizontally up the head to the top. Treat the fringe area as a section on its own.
4. Use a round bristle brush. If straightening use a large barrel as they create good tension, or for curling go for a smaller barrel. Hold the dryer in the direction of the brush and at least five inches away from the hair.
5. Don't wiggle the brush around too much - keep it in synch with the dryer and smooth downward to get a straight result. Curl section up onto the brush and hold dryer underneath section for a curly result. Once the section is finished it should feel springy, shiny and cool. If it doesn't repeat until it does. The test is it should fall off the brush easily.
6. Then apply one finishing product only and be sparing! You don't need to overload the hair if you've blow-dried it correctly.
The Richard Ward Style School offers blow drying lessons with selected Senior Stylists. The 75-minute workshop is £120. Find out more at richardward.com
See more of the best curly-hair styles in our celebrity lookbook below.
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Celebrity hair inspiration: Brunettes
Rachel Bilson
Rachel Bilson was one of the first celebrities to channel the two-tone trend. The stunning actress's long layers went from mahogany to blonde-brown, and finished with a slight - yet body-building - curl. Gorgeous.
Celebrity hair inspiration: Brunettes
Angelina Jolie
Hollywood beauty Angelina Jolie kept her locks light and fresh at The Tourist premiere with some dark blonde lowlights, creating an overall soft-brown finish. She added drama with her signature feline eyes and some clever backcombing.
Celebrity hair inspiration: Brunettes
Anne Hathaway
Bride Wars star Anne Hathaway softened her chocolate-coloured hair with some soft amber highlights, which were beautifully enhanced by her apricot lips at the Love and Other Drugs premiere in New York.
Celebrity hair inspiration: Brunettes
Daisy Lowe
The MyDaily launch party saw a host of celebs come to celebrate with us - and we adored Daisy Lowe's soft eye-skimming fringe and tousled chocolate curls.
Celebrity hair inspiration: Brunettes
Kate Middleton
Kate Middleton's signature luscious locks were curled and polished, and her make-up was flawless when attending War Horse premiere.
Celebrity hair inspiration: Brunettes
Katie Holmes
This might be one of our all-time favourite Katie Holmes hairstyles! From the warm red undertones and high-shine glamour, to the big bouncy curls, we fell head over heels for this look, which she showed off at the Golden Globe Awards in 2010.
Celebrity hair inspiration: Brunettes
Kelly Brook
Curl power! Kelly Brook may well be one of the most glamorous brunettes in our round-up. And she was on sparkling form as ever when she stepped out at the Prince's Trust Rock Gala in 2010 with pumped-up tendrils showing a hint of a reddish glow. Love the matching peachy lips.
Celebrity hair inspiration: Brunettes
Kiera Knightley
At the Rome International Film Festival, Keira Knightley's face-framing mid-brown bob was the perfect colour-match for her deep brown eyes, while the loose kinks worked to soften her beautifully angular features.
Celebrity hair inspiration: Brunettes
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue and her glossy chocolate brown locks at the Cosmo Women of the year Awards.
Celebrity hair inspiration: Brunettes
Mila Kunis
Mila's makeup complimented her honey toned low-lights perfectly and there was no denying that the star looked gorgeous at a children's research hospital benefit gala.
Celebrity hair inspiration: Brunettes
Olivia Wilde
The actress swapped her long auburn locks for a shorter, two-tone waves hairstyle.