Long, casual bobs, multiple highlight changes, and a '90s throwback. If there's one thing you can say about Pippa Middleton, it's that her hair style never stops evolving.
Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00Long, casual bobs, multiple highlight changes, and a 90s throwback. If there's one thing you
00:05can say about Pippa Middleton, it's that her hairstyle never stops evolving.
00:10Pippa Middleton rose to international fame as Kate Middleton's younger sister in the mid-2000s.
00:15At the time, Kate was dating Prince William, and while she was in the spotlight as a soon-to-be
00:19member of the royal family, her sister also caught the public's attention. Pippa, who was
00:24in her early 20s at the time, was all about looking casual but chic. Her hair was very
00:29similar to Kate's, as both of them rocked long layers and their natural brown hair color.
00:34The year 2011 marked an important one for the royal family, as Kate and Prince William tied
00:38the knot. For her sister's big day, Pippa opted to go with an elegant half-updo and loose curls,
00:44ensuring she looked chic and youthful. The star of her hairstyle was undoubtedly the floral clip,
00:50which stole the spotlight from the back. While talking about her sister's wedding,
00:54Pippa revealed to Today,
00:55It sounds funny to say, but we saw it as just a family wedding,
00:59and actually I didn't realize perhaps the scale of it until afterward.
01:02We all took on the roles as any family would.
01:05We have a very normal sisterly relationship."
01:07In 2012, Pippa changed up her hairstyle ever so slightly. Approaching her 30th birthday in 2013,
01:14Pippa opted to add a couple of face-framing layers to her haircut,
01:17giving her hairstyle plenty of added dimension and volume. The change was very subtle,
01:22but it made a difference in movement around the socialite's face. Often spotted at Wimbledon
01:26Games alongside Kate, Pippa's go-to hairstyle for the occasion was almost always a classic
01:31blowout with a side part. The shorter pieces, which subtly curled inward toward her face,
01:36helped accentuate her stunning features, ensuring she looked perfectly put together.
01:41While we're sure Pippa has hairstylists who help her achieve this blowout, a layered haircut like
01:45this is actually very low-maintenance, making it a great option for anyone who has busy days.
01:51In 2014, Pippa opted for a more dramatic hair change, as she decided to do quite a bit of a
01:56chop. She had her hair cut into a casual long bob, making sure it remained long enough so
02:01she could still put it up. Celebrity makeup artist Rachel Wood told the Daily Mail that year,
02:06"[Pippa's long locks were starting to look stringy so I like the new do.
02:10This cut gives more structure to her cheekbones which looked a lot rounder with lengthier locks
02:14and I'm loving the extra highlight she added to her makeup to accentuate them."
02:18Unlike the sleek lob of the early aughts, Pippa decided to mostly wear her as blown
02:23out with soft curls at the bottom, giving her a less harsh appearance. The carefree
02:27styling of the lob gave her an approachable and casual look, instantly making her appear younger.
02:32That same year, Pippa also opened up about being in the spotlight,
02:36admitting that the online scrutiny she faced daily wasn't easy to take. She told Today,
02:41"[I have felt publicly bullied a little bit just by, you know, when I read things that
02:45clearly aren't true or that, whichever way someone looks at it, it's a negative side.
02:49It is quite difficult."
02:51"...it's been a crazy couple of years."
02:54In 2015, Pippa began embracing a middle part, a style that would emerge again a few years later
02:59thanks to Gen Z. Pippa was clearly ahead of the trend, proving herself to be something
03:04of a trendsetter. Celebrity hairstylist Sila Pekska explained to Elle,
03:08"[Styling a center parting can be achieved from freshly washed hair by following your
03:12usual washing routine of shampoo and conditioner or mask."
03:16While her style has always been just as chic as Kate's, Pippa has been known for experimenting
03:20and having more fun with her look. Whether we're talking about hair, makeup, or fashion,
03:25having gotten tired of the shorter lob haircut, she let it grow out. Now, instead of the curled
03:30ends, Pippa began incorporating braids into her hairstyle to create a more bohemian aesthetic.
03:36The year 2016 was a pivotal one in Pippa's personal life, as she got engaged to James
03:41Matthews. At the time, she let her hair grow even more, resulting in long, slightly layered locks.
03:47While Pippa still often wore her hair in voluminous blowouts, we also saw her rock
03:52sleek, straight hair on numerous occasions. At the time, Pippa also opened up about
03:56struggling with how the public perceives her. She told the Daily Mail in 2016,
04:01"[People see me as someone privileged who has used my position to advantage,
04:05that I don't really work, that I'm a socialite. That word really irritates me,
04:09and that I'm the party girl without any substance. I have developed something of a thick skin."
04:14When it comes to Pippa's hair, her 2017 bridal updo is a moment that's hard to forget.
04:20On May 20th, Kate's sister tied the knot with Matthews, and for the wedding,
04:23she decided to go with a classic, slightly loose updo, a white tiara,
04:28and a stunning veil attached to the back. Her hairstylist, Paul Garcia, wrote on X,
04:33What an experience. Thank you, Pippa, for trusting me with your hair on your special day."
04:37"'It really is the wedding everyone is talking about this morning.'"
04:41Of course, even though we're focusing on her hair, we also have to mention Pippa's
04:45stunning bridal gown, designed by Giles Deacon. Deacon told Business of Fashion,
04:49"'I wanted that, how was that done factor? It's all hand-pieced,
04:53which is why you don't actually see a seam.'"
04:56In 2017, Pippa also decided to once again shorten her hair into a lob.
05:00Hairstylist Rob Fitch explained to The Telegraph that year,
05:04"'The shorter length gives the appearance of thicker hair and brings a youthful swish
05:08to once long-hanging locks. For Pippa, this style is great as it's the perfect length
05:12should she need to tie it up, which is often a request from busy and active
05:16clients as not everyone has the time for a full blowout each morning.'"
05:20By now, it was clear that while Pippa adored a long and layered haircut,
05:24she also loved switching it up and going for a fun, easygoing lob.
05:27As hairstylist Larry Sims told Allure,
05:30it's refreshing to see someone of her stature take on an effortless modern
05:34approach to her hair after seeing her so polished.
05:37By 2018, Pippa had developed a love for classic low bums and hats,
05:41as the socialite often attended events while rocking both. In fact, she decided to go with
05:46a stunning combo of the two for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding on May 19th of that year.
05:51However, while she experimented with styles, her hair remained what she loves and knows best,
05:56brown with subtle layers. In an interview with Express, hairdressing expert Erika
06:01Bernand explained that Pippa knows what suits her, and she doesn't change her hair too dramatically.
06:05Bernand told the outlet,
06:07"[Pippa has not drastically changed her hairstyle, and I think it's good that
06:10she has found the style that she likes and has not bent to public pressures or new trends.
06:15As a hair professional, it's important to work with women to find the styles they like or their
06:19own signature styles regardless of what's trending. So I'm glad Pippa also reflects that."
06:25Once her lob grew out again, Pippa embraced a more casual and carefree hairstyle,
06:30rarely opting for a voluminous blowout or ultra-sleek and straight hair,
06:34both of which used to be staples for the star. Instead, the socialite was frequently spotted
06:39with loose and natural-looking waves, as well as braided updos that helped keep her locks
06:43out of her face all day. The subtle change in hairstyle preference came with motherhood,
06:48as Pippa gave birth to her son in 2018, and then a daughter in 2021.
06:53The then-mom-of-two revealed in an interview with HOKA in 2021,
06:57"[More recently, over the past two years, family life and motherhood has consumed much
07:01of my spare time and, unsurprisingly, the challenges I thrived on have taken a back seat."
07:06As a mother, Pippa gravitated towards hairstyles that are quickly created and
07:10won't need much fixing throughout the day. Luckily for her,
07:13bohemian-inspired hairstyles suit her perfectly.
07:16During the COVID-19 lockdown, Pippa was ready to switch things up once again by
07:20cutting her hair into a long bob. The star has previously rocked the haircut on numerous
07:25occasions, so she knew that it would be a fail-proof choice that suited her.
07:29Some might wonder why she's never gone for a classic short bob,
07:32and the answer might lie in the fact that Pippa leads a very active lifestyle.
07:37She enjoys running regularly, so it makes sense that she needs her hair long enough to have it
07:41out of her face while running, and a short bob is all but impossible to tie in the back.
07:46Pippa told HOKA,
07:47Like us all, I've faced different hurdles and challenges, but with running as part of my
07:51routine, it has brought clarity when I have felt muddled, a safe space before I make any big
07:56decision, and a sense of freedom when life's pressures weigh me down."
08:00In Pippa's personal life, 2021 was an important year as she gave birth to her daughter.
08:05So now, with two children, there was no doubt that Pippa would look for convenience when
08:09choosing a haircut. The next year marked a bold change in Pippa's hair journey as she decided
08:14to change her style ever so slightly by lightening her locks. While that change was anything but
08:20dramatic, it still left an impact on the overall appearance of the socialite.
08:24Now, Pippa's hair had a visible golden tint whenever she was in direct sunlight.
08:28The lighter shades softened her facial features, giving her a more youthful and fresh appearance.
08:33In 2022, Pippa also welcomed her second daughter with Matthews,
08:37and it seemed as if the mother of three was ready to switch up something more than just her haircut.
08:42Having already developed a love for loose waves, Pippa was now rocking her lighter locks in casual
08:47and undone curls, showing off a more carefree aspect of her style. That same year, Pippa
08:52received her master's degree in physical education, sport, and physical literacy.
08:56She told Hoka,
08:57"...getting back into studying took some getting used to."
09:00In 2023, Pippa hopped on a very popular hair trend, the Rachel haircut. With the resurgence
09:07of 90s beauty and fashion, the soft and layered haircut became a popular choice for many,
09:12and it suited Pippa perfectly. Hairstylist Luke Williams explained to Real Simple,
09:17"...the Rachel haircut works best on hair with a lot of layers as it will give your hair more
09:21body by surrounding your face in a heart shape and framing it perfectly."
09:25While Pippa was by no means a stranger to layered long hair, this time around,
09:29the layers were softer, and there were more of them, all of which helped replicate the beloved
09:3490s cut. Apart from the haircut, Pippa continued exploring what lighter shades have to offer,
09:47as she added some blended caramel brown highlights around her face. The change was
09:51very subtle but still noticeable, especially when rocking her hair down.
09:56In 2024, Pippa decided to take her highlights a step further by going for an even lighter
10:01shade of brown. In fact, some might even say the socialite is almost rocking bronzed hair now!
10:07Of course, if there's one thing we've learned from Pippa's hair changes throughout the years,
10:11it's that she makes careful choices that always allow her to maintain the low-maintenance style
10:15that the busy mother of three needs. Pippa definitely knows what suits her, and so far,
10:20she's only experimented with hair changes if she knows that they'll work for her.
10:24Of course, we wouldn't be surprised to see Pippa break out of her hair comfort zone
10:28just a tad more in the future. But for now,
10:31lob haircuts and subtle highlights seem to be as far as Pippa is willing to go.