Royal Beauty: Keep It Simple Stupid!

It's hard to not look at the newest member of the Royal Family - Kate Middleton - and keep yourself from falling head-over-heels in love with her style.  Everything about her irresistibly likeable-look draws immediate attention from awed spectators all around the world.  It's no wonder why we want to break down her beauty style and make it doable for us mere mortals!

Don't shy away from the fact that she's married to "prince charming" and found her happily every after - surrounded by personal stylists, hair designers, and makeup artists.  Despite all of that, her style is really quite down-to-earth.  It's NOT impossible for you to get her look without getting the "royal treatment" on a day to day basis.  We think that's what makes Kate's style so attractive to us: it's that simple, natural beauty.  Anyone, anywhere is capable of pulling that off.

Kate has a go-to hair and makeup style for both the casual, everyday wear, and for more formal events.  The great thing about sticking to what you know works, is that you can dress it up or down with your clothes.   So whether you are going to a wedding, birthday party, or just out to lunch, you can pull off the loose curls that Kate Middleton loves to rock.  It's simple, easy, and oh-so-beautiful.

There are two ways to master the voluptuous long curls.  Here's how you get the look:  With freshly washed and still wet hair, take it one section at a time.  To make it easier on yourself, clip up portions of your hair on the top of your head to keep them out of the way.  Using a large round brush, wrap the ends of your hair around the brush as you blow it dry.  To get a little more volume and movement in your hair, alternate the way you curl the ends of your hair - with some pieces flipping in, and some pieces flipping out.  When you get to the pieces at the top of your head, blow them dry in the opposite direction that they lay on your head.  This gives a little lift at the root.  For the pieces around your face, curl your hair (with the round brush as you dry it) away from your face to give it that sweeping look.

If you're looking to get a little extra curl after your hair has been blown dry, you can touch up the ends  with a large (1 1/2 inch barrel) curling iron, roll up the bottom 2 inches of your hair and hold for about 10 seconds per section.   From there, give the ends a good spray with a light hold hairspray (one that still gives your hair a soft look and feel).  I personally recommend Moroccan Oil Hairspray which keeps the hold but doesn't make your hair crusty and hard.

The good news is that once you've mastered the basic Kate Middleton hairstyle, you can get versatile with it as well.  Pull it back into a cute, casual pony, or use a couple bobby pins and gather a section at the top of  head with a casual half up - half down look.  If you feel like this would be too difficult for you, come into the salon so we can blow out your hair and show you how it's done in person!

 But we love that IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE! The fact that Kate Middleton's style can be mimicked so easily is what makes her that much more likable.  And it's not just the hair that she does so simply.  Her makeup is always very natural looking - whether she's going to a park or a royal ball.  Again - what's not to love about this girl?!?  To get that natural, pretty, Kate Middleton - fresh face - keep it routine.  Guys aren't going to want you looking too done up with dramatic makeup anyways (they will just think you have a lot of stuff on your face).

So here it is.  This is such an easy - everyday makeup routine we all can master.  Stick with a light neutral color as your all over eyeshadow (from your lid to your eyebrow).  This should be a light - almost sheer - base coat for your eyes.  Directly on the lid she has a darker earthy hue (stick with a brown, grey, or even purple).  Line the entire eye (top and bottom) along the rim with a black eyeliner.  If you have lighter hair and don't want to do such a dramatic line, you can stick with brown instead.  Fill in the brow with an eyebrow pencil to make it look nice and full.  Match your blush and your lip gloss in a rosy pink shade to give it that girly touch.  Throw on some mascara and you've got the look!  No need to get crazy with it... this is something that really works for all occasions.  Like I said: keep it simple stupid!

Erin at the salon can help you pick out some natural colors to help you get a great every day - every occasion Kate Middleton look.  And why wouldn't you want that?  Believe it or not, we can all pull off that Kate kind of gorgeous (without it being a royal pain in our you - know - whats).  Simple, classic beauty. BOOM.