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For the longest time, my friends and I have wondered how Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge keeps her hair so full of bounce and shine. Even before her wedding to HRH Prince William on April 29th, 2011, Catherine trusted only one man to maintain her famous locks. His name is James Pryce, and he is a hair genius. Pryce is gearing up to show the stateside gals how to condition and style the hair they were dealt with. (places and dates to be announced on his Facebook page).
We wanted to know firsthand how to get hair as glossy and as beautiful as Duchess Catherine’s. What I enjoyed most about Pryce was his insistence that one need not be the future Queen of England to have a great hair style. His direction works for the everyday gal.
SL: Many hairdressers have a preference of long hair vs. short hair and yours is clearly long. What advice do you have for girls with long hair as far as styling?
JP: You may be surprised to hear that my passion is actually cutting short hair. I love the intricacy and the precision needed in cutting short hair–which is far more of a challenge, as there is no room for error. Any mistake in a short hair style is very difficult to rectify. When I mastered the art of cutting short hair–with precision techniques, cutting long hair became easy. My advice for styling hair is to ensure that you use a serum which protects it from heat appliances. In addition, try using a bristle brush and a good hair dryer with a nozzle. Perhaps ask your stylist to show you how to use it properly.
SL: How do you get Catherine’s curls to stay put? Many (present company included) see their curls go flat after 20 minutes.
JP: To ensure that curls stay put, start with a good blow-drying spray, like L’Oreal volumizing spray. You might try velcro or heated rollers–Just be sure to allow them to cool down completely before taking them out.
SL: I noticed that Catherine’s hair had a lot of extra body the night before her wedding. Did you use a special treatment for her ‘do so that it would withstand the events of April 29th?
JP: As with any bride, I make certain that they use a good conditioning mask (like Shu Uemura masks) on the hair once a week in the lead-up to their wedding in order to give it a boost of shine, body, condition and beauty.
SL: You did Catherine’s hair for the wedding. The bridal suite must have been jam-packed with excitement. Was this is a significant moment for you?
JP: The whole Royal Wedding day was a truly magical experience and one that I feel deeply proud to have been an integral part of.
SL: How did you get the tiara to stay in place?
JP: As with any hair accessory–tiara or otherwise, making sure it is secure is extremely important. A great trick for securing is to sew the base onto to a small hidden plat.
SL: You accompanied Catherine on her North American tour with William. Like the rest of her, Catherine’s hair look positively flawless the entire time. Does her hair naturally cooperate with your products and styling, or does it take some effort? Is her hair naturally straight or does it have a wave to it?
JP: Every hair type has its challenges, so the key is to wear your hair in a style that compliments YOUR natural hair type.
SL: My friend commented this summer that Catherine “has hair that doesn’t quit,” and of course we must give credit where credit is due. How does it feel to have your work so highly regarded?
JP: Very kind of you to say so. Hairdressing is a profession where we are able to make people look and feel great. It’s great for the soul, in a manner of speaking. To be praised for doing that which I love is simply wonderful.
SL: You’re branching out on your own. Tell us about your plans for world domination.
JP: I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I just want carry on doing what I feel I do best. It is amazing that in just one hour of doing what I love, it is possible to change someone’s look and mood for the better. Everything else is a bonus. I am really looking forward to coming to the USA and absorbing the world-famous American positive attitude and warm welcome that you extend so generously.
SL: Tell us about your upcoming stateside tour.
JP: I hope to make many trips to the States–the first being in early 2012. I am excited to meet new, interesting people and cheer people up by simply cutting there hair.
SL: Did you always know you wanted to be a hair dresser?
JP: I am naturally creative and I enjoy meeting interesting people. I was also a bit of a rascal at school so my father suggested following in his footsteps. At seventeen, I left school and began training at one of London’s most prestigious salons, where I fell in love with the buzz and creativeness that hairdressing can offer.
SL: How does the common gal obtain that shine and gloss that Catherine’s hair possesses?
JP: I think the key to attaining noticeable hair is to have a cut that suits YOUR hair type. For instance, if you have frizzy, thin hair, then trying to achieve a style better suited to long, straight hair is not for you. Really, you want your hair to look as good as it possibly can with the least amount of effort, so just stay true to what will make your OWN hair type look its most beautiful.
Be sure to follow James Pryce on Twitter and Facebook.
teeerrrible interview! he seems to be unwilling to say anything, really. just some vague comments and “very kind of you”. he did not even say if her hair is straight or wavy! who a douche