Everything to Know About Meghan Markle's Timeless Wedding Hair

The updo was inspired by Audrey Hepburn.

Instagram/sergenormant

Updated May 27, 2021

For the occasion of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, you might've expected the former Duchess to rock an intricate, perfectly-polished hairdo. But the final result was quite the opposite. Meghan Markle's wedding hair was polished—but it was simple, unfussy and slightly undone. For her wedding day, the Duchess of Sussex wore a loose chignon complete with face-framing layers and an on-trend center part. The classic day-of 'do was actually inspired by '60s style icon Audrey Hepburn. To-be-weds everywhere fell in love with the style because it struck the perfect balance between classic and modern. The hairdo perfectly complemented Markle's minimal wedding makeup and allowed her custom Givenchy wedding dress to shine.

Another reason we're obsessing over Meghan Markle's wedding hair? The timeless style is super simple. In fact, the whole hairdo took only 45 minutes to achieve, according to Glamour. If you'd prefer a breezy getting-ready process on your big day or you want to DIY your hair for pre-wedding events, pull inspiration from the former Duchess of Sussex. You'll look effortlessly gorgeous—and regal, of course!

Who did Meghan Markle's wedding hair for her wedding?

meghan markle wedding hair wedding ceremony

To achieve the timeless messy bun, Markle enlisted the help of celebrity hairstylist Serge Normant (who often works with Sarah Jessica Parker and Julia Roberts). The beauty pro was introduced to the former Duchess through mutual friend Amal Clooney. The pair worked extremely well together, and Normant told Glamour that they only had one hair trial.

When it came to pulling inspiration for the day-of 'do, Normant looked to Hollywood stars from the 60s. "I love when you see a picture of a bride that you can look at 10 to 20 years from now, and it still feels fresh," he told Glamour. "I feel like if I see that picture in 10 years from now, it'll still feel relevant."

Markle and Normant landed on a loose chignon because it looked equal parts elegant and soft. Despite the critical response from social media users, Normant says the updo was supposed to look partly undone. "I know everyone's fixating on the word messy, but it was more like unstructured volume," he told Glamour. "I wanted it to feel almost like she did it herself."

Plus, the day-of 'do was executed in under an hour. But Normant says the key to getting the style to look polished was taking his time with it. It seems counterintuitive, but achieving an effortless look is more difficult than you might think. If you're rocking a laid-back look like Markle's, we recommend working with a professional hairstylist. Scroll through The Knot to find a beauty pro in your area who can bring your royals-inspired updo to life.

Meghan Markle's Wedding Hair: Get the Look

We're fans of Meghan Markle's wedding hair because it's timeless but so simple. In fact, you can even recreate it yourself (though we recommend enlisting the help of a professional stylist). While we know Markle's makeup artist Daniel Martin used Dior beauty products for the wedding, Normant didn't disclose which items he used on Markle's tresses. To help, we rounded up the items you need to pull off this chic messy bun. See how to achieve the classic updo, below.

Create an On-Trend Center Part

While your hair is still damp, use a rattail comb to create a sleek center part. A clean part will keep the look feeling polished, and the center placement will help the hairstyle feel more modern and chic.

Goodofferplace 3 Rattail combs, $4, Amazon.com

Blow Dry Your Wet Hair

To achieve shiny, silky hair, blow out your freshly-washed hair. Use a round brush and blowdryer to help add volume to the roots so your updo doesn't fall flat. Once your hair is totally dry, go back over the front pieces to smooth them out so they look polished when you pull them back.

T3 Fit compact hair dryer, $150, Sephora.com

Drybar Full Pint medium round brush, $40, Sephora.com

Add Texture to Your Tresses

To achieve that "undone look," you'll need to add some texture to your tresses. Use a curling iron or wand to add loose bends to your hair, and finish it off with a texturizing spray. If your hair feels dry after the heat styling, add a drop of oil to your ends to bring back some shine.

GHD Curve 1.25" soft curl iron, $199, Sephora.com

meghan markle wedding hair texture spray

Verb Volume dry texture spray, $18, Sephora.com

BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY Hair Oil Everyday Gloss, $28, Sephora.com

Create a Low, Loose Bun

To create a true chignon, gather your hair into a low ponytail and secure it with an elastic. Then, tuck the length of the ponytail under the elastic. To achieve that effortlessly gorgeous look, pull out some loose strands and pin them around the chignon. As a finishing touch, pull out a few pieces in front for a wispy, romantic vibe. Pro tip: Don't forget to spritz with hairspray to hold the style in place.

meghan markle wedding hair clear elastics

Goody Ouchless rubberbands, $8, Amazon.com

John Frieda Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier Firm Hold Hairspray, $10, Amazon.com

Top With Accessories

Of course, it wouldn't be a royal wedding without hair accessories. For her royal wedding, Markle borrowed Queen Mary's bandeau tiara and topped the whole style with an extra-long embroidered veil. Love the look? Check out our roundup of wedding hair accessories fit for royalty.