Kate Middleton's Natural Hair Texture Is A Departure From Her Usual Styles

It's hard to imagine Kate Middleton without her immaculately tamed, long brunette hair. Whether she opts for a mid-back or slightly shorter bra-strap length, one thing remains the same, and that's her lustrous, bouncy waves with their usually sleek, polished finish.

Since marrying Prince William and officially joining the royal family in April 2011, we've hardly seen a bad hair day from Middleton — naturally, with long-time personal hairstylist Amanda Cook Tucker just a stone's throw away during her travels and public outings. However, the Princess of Wales couldn't quite combat the humidity of the Solomon Islands during a 2012 trip, where she was caught on camera in the less sophisticated setting of the tropical outdoors.

Having spent the day canoeing and visiting local communities during Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee tour, Middleton's hair simply surrendered under the hot island temperature, undergoing a bit of humidity frizzing. The resulting look may have stripped away her signature silky, high-sheen finish, but it left her sporting chic, wind-swept, beachy waves. It was a rare sight, showcasing what appeared to be her natural hair texture, though we can't ignore how much of a departure the look was from her usual style. Interestingly, Middleton's hairstylist, Cook Tucker, had apparently just started working alongside the Duchess during the 2012 Diamond Jubilee tour. The hairstylist was tasked with protecting Middleton's naturally wavy hair from the expected humid climate, but it doesn't seem she could quite control the inevitable frizzing.

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Kate Middleton has had a stunning style transformation over the years, and hasn't been spotted wearing her natural waves, especially since becoming the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess of Wales. Certainly, her role in such capacities often requires appearances at royal engagements, diplomatic conferences, and charity events, to name a few. It's only natural that her team of royal staff, including her personal stylist, makeup artist, and hairdresser, all kick their efforts into high gear. Amanda Cook Tucker works from Kensington Palace to style Middleton's hair as needed for her demanding schedule.

The duchess is widely known for what has become her signature sleek, voluminous long hair, clearly her go-to style, thanks to Cook Tucker. While she may be responsible for day-to-day styling and routine cuts, when it comes to Middleton's lustrous brunette color, that's all courtesy of Richard Ward. "What I'm known for is this beautiful, glossy, frizz-free, gorgeous, glamorous, expensive hair. That's not just Kate's hair... that is the sort of finish if you came to our salon or used our products, everyone gets," Ward told Grazia.

Forget Middleton's natural, unfussy, beachy style waves. Ward is especially keen on achieving a smooth, pristine finish. "You're never gonna get that finish with a paddle brush," he shared. "You need to be using a round boar bristle brush. All these spikey metal brushes, in my opinion, they just rip through the hair. The round boar bristle brush helps seal the hair cuticles."