Meghan Markle [1] has great hair and that's a fact. Since joining the royal family, the Duchess of Sussex has tried at all. She's mastered the low chignon (she wore one on her wedding day, of course), found the perfect balance between easy and polished waves, and become a real pro at styling hats with the perfect, complementary hairstyle.
Meghan's hair has certainly changed since the beginning of her career, and we've enjoyed watching the evolution. In the beginning, she was a fan of sleek, glossy, straight hair, experimenting with angles and lots of layers (it was the early 2000s, didn't we all?). After announcing her engagement to Prince Harry [2], Meghan surprised the public by choosing to wear her hair in a messy, more casual bun [3] for her first few royal outings, proving to us all that you can still look like royalty even when you're wearing a style most of us reserve for nights on the couch watching Netflix. More recently, post-wedding and since becoming a mom, she's been following sister-in-law Kate Middleton's lead [4] with a more polished side bun [5] — a style she chose for Prince Charles's 70th birthday garden party.
By trying so many looks for so many different events, Meghan is the perfect person to get inspiration from when trying to figure out what to do with your own hair before a big event. And there's really something for every taste and hair texture. Sleek topknots, low messy ballerina buns, half-up waves, and slick-straight ponytails, whatever hairstyle you're looking for, the Duchess of Sussex will show you how to pull it off with ease.
Meghan Markle's Extra-Long Sleek Ponytail, 2020
For The Endeadvor Awards - her first official appearance since her and Prince Harry announced they'd be stepping down as royals [7] — Meghan let her chignon down. To complement the graphic, simple silhouette of her Victoria Beckham dress [8], Markle went for a low ponytail secured at the nape of the neck with a short middle parting. We're obsessed how with how it looks both luxurious and low-key at the same time.
Meghan Markle's '60s-Inspired Chignon, 2019
The duchess stepped out for a roundtable discussion with Harry [9] wearing a style that we've not see on her before: a '60s-inspired chignon that's brings to mind iconic French actress Brigitte Bardot. The look had plenty of volume at the crown of her hair, and although there were no clear shots of the chignon from the back, it was likely clipped together using plenty of hair grips. To keep the style from feeling too formal, tendrils were left loose at the front with a slight wave added.
Meghan Markle's Deep Brunette Waves, 2019
For an important appearance at the One Young World Summit Opening Ceremony [10], Meghan brought her hair A-game. Her colour appeared to be a much deeper brunette hue, with the possibility of additional hair extensions pieces to add extra volume. For the occasion, she chose her go-to loose waves style, making sure there were tendril pieces at the front to give it an overall relaxed feel.
Meghan Markle's Flower Hair Accessory in South Africa, 2019
During the duke and duchess's royal tour, they attended Heritage Day public holiday celebrations in Cape Town, and Meghan chose to wear a flower in her hair [11], simply tucked behind one ear with her signature loose waves in a centre part.
Meghan Markle's Sleek Twisted Bun, 2019
Meghan is sticking to what she knows works since becoming a new mum with a polished sleek twisted bun for The Lion King premiere.
Meghan Markle's Wrap Around Ponytail, 2019
For a hot day at Wimbledon with sister-in-law Kate Middleton, Meghan wore a low ponytail with hair wrapped around the elastic hair band to give it a polished finish.
Meghan Markle's Sleek Side Chignon, 2019
Both the Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of Cambridge went with elegant side bun [12] for the annual Trooping the Colour, a style Kate has been experimenting with for quite a few royal appearances lately.
Meghan Markle's Low Neat Knot, 2019
Meghan chose a low bun that sat neatly tucked underneath her pillbox hat [13] at the Commonwealth Service in 2019.
Meghan Markle's Middle-Parted Side Bun, 2019
No hat hair here. The Duchess added small curls at the front of her low bun style for a continued day of Commonwealth celebrations.
Meghan Markle's Wavy Low Chignon, 2019
Messy bun but make it royal. Meghan kept her hair smart but casual for a panel discussion on International Women's Day at King's College in London.
Meghan Markle's Twisty Knot, 2019
Slicked back, twisted bun was on the menu for Meghan for a visit with King Mohammed VI of Morocco [14].
Meghan Markle's Dressy Ponytail, 2019
For a day of activities in Morocco, the duchess chose to wear her hair in a neat ponytail with hair wrapped around the elastic tie.
Meghan Markle's Ballerina Bun, 2019
For a reception hosted by the British Ambassador to Morocco, she wore a bun in a middle parting and heavier makeup for the occasion.
Meghan Markle's Easy Bends, 2019
She kept it casual for an event in Morocco with natural-looking waves.
Meghan Markle's Sleek Top Knot, 2019
Meghan chose a top knot [15] for her visit to the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
Meghan Markle's '60s-Style Knot, 2019
For a gala performance of "The Wider Earth" at Natural History Museum, Meghan wore a low bun with lots of volume along the crown and back of her head.
Meghan Markle's Casual, Clipped-Up Style, 2019
For a visit to the National Theatre, Meghan kept her hair chic but relaxed with a short side part and her ends pinned up in the back.
Meghan Markle's Messy Knot, 2019
For a royal engagement in January, the duchess wore her signature messy but sophisticated bun.
Meghan Markle's Sporty Knot, 2019
Meghan helped women style clothes for job interviews at the charity Smart Works and wore a supersleek ballet bun for the occasion.
Meghan Markle's Side Bun and Feather Hat, 2018
Christmas Day service with the royal family called for a twisty side bun, which made room for her navy feathered hat.
Meghan Markle's Centre Part Bun, 2018
The duchess echoed the straight neckline of her dress with an equally as straight centre part. Throwing her hair into a knot kept the overall silhouette neat without feeling overly stuffy.
Meghan Markle's Shiny Knot, 2018
Meghan surprised us all during an appearance at the 2018 Fashion Awards in London wearing a sleek, twisted bun and pushing the royal beauty boundaries with dark nail polish [16].
Meghan Markle's Low-Key Ponytail, 2018
For a visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen and helping in the kitchen, Meghan chose a simple, low ponytail [17] with a piece of hair wrapped around the hair tie to dress it up a bit.
Meghan Markle's Face-Framing Updo, 2018
For an evening at the Royal Variety Performance in 2018, the duchess threw her hair into a knot right above the nape of her neck. She left two face-framing piece of hair loose, tucking them behind her ears to better show off her Maison Birks Snowflake Snowstorm Earrings [18]
Meghan Markle's Straight Hair and Black Beret, 2018
The duchess didn't just show off her streamlined layers at the centenary of the Armistice at Westminster Abbey; she also surprised us with a teeny haircut [19] that almost no one noticed, and that's entirely the point.
Meghan Markle's Textured Bun, 2018
For a day interacting and taking part in local celebrations in New Zealand, Meghan chose to wear her hair in a casual messy bun.
Meghan Markle's Lush Waves, 2018
Meghan returned to her Hollywood roots for a night attending the Australian Geographic Society Awards with a glamorous blowout. She left the top half of her hair smooth, but curled the ends into effortless ringlets to add even more volume.
Meghan Markle's Ropey Bun, 2018
The ballerina bun strikes again, this time in New Zealand for a day of welcomes in the country.
Meghan Markle's Half-Up Knot, 2018
At the the Invictus Games, the duchess switched things up with a half-up knot, which was perfect for a day of activities.
Meghan Markle's Smooth Ponytail, 2018
The simple ponytail is back [20] — this time for the unveiling of The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy at Tupou College in New Zealand — proving yet again it can look both stylish and relaxed.
Meghan Markle's Tropical French Twist, 2018
The duchess shocked us all with a beautiful floral-topped French twist during her visit to Suva, Fiji [21].
Meghan Markle's Tropical French Twist, 2018
Meghan may have worn these floral accents for a royal appearance, but they would also make a great hairstyle option for a bride having a beach wedding.
Meghan Markle's Easy Glamour, 2018
For another day in Fiji, Meghan added the slightest amount of bend to her to not detract from her silver fascinator.
Meghan Markle's Philip Treacy Hat and Half-Up Hair, 2018
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle [22] attended the official opening of the ANZAC Memorial [23] at Hyde Park in Sydney, her black Philip Treacy hat took centre stage. Look closely, however, and you'll notice two small pieces of hair secured at the back of her head.
Meghan Markle's Philip Treacy Hat and Half-Up Hair, 2018
There was a bit of hair magic going on in the back, actually. In lieu of elastics or bobby pins, the duchess's hair was actually tied in a series of knots to keep it secure.
Meghan Markle's Half-Up Bouffant, 2018
For an appearance at the Macarthur Girls High School in Sydney, Australia, Meghan channelled Brigitte Bardot with her middle-parted, half-up hairstyle that featured a touch of volume at the crown of her head.
Meghan Markle's Pristine Bun, 2018
For a visit to Chichester, Meghan chose her go-to option of a low ballerina bun with face-framing tendrils [24] — perfect for greeting fans and smelling flowers.
Meghan Markle's Straight Hair at Loughborough University
The first time we saw the duchess wearing her hair straight [25] was for the Core Couch Awards at Loughborough University. It made us want to see more of her long, pointy layers (you know, so we could show photos of them to our hairstylist and copy them).
Meghan Markle's Tight Side Curls, 2018
Meghan traded in her middle part and loose waves for a deep side part and tight curls for the 100 Days to Peace concert [26]. The performance celebrated the centenary of World War I, and raised funds for Help for Heroes, Combat Stress and Heads Together – a charity founded by Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge. Sweeping all of her hair to one side expertly offset her high, square neckline, while the bouncy spirals softened the vertical darts along the bodice of her dress.
Meghan Markle's Low Messy Bun, 2018
This is how we wish our hair looked every day when we mindlessly tie it back in a quick knot. Everything about the casual style Meghan wore for the WellChild Awards at the Lancaster Hotel in London is perfect: The waved tendrils at the front, the bit of volume at the crown and around the ears, and of course, the perfectly imperfect knot.
Meghan Markle's Curlicues, 2018
Sure, Meghan wears her hair in waves a lot. But for the wedding of Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks, the duchess did something very interesting. Her waves mimic the shape and size of the curlicues on her black fascinator.
Meghan Markle's Relaxed Low Bun, 2018
A day out for the polo in the Summer heat calls for a low, tidy bun that keeps the hair both out of her face and off her neck (and will nicely show off her chic sunglasses).
Meghan Markle's Wispy Bun, 2018
Recreating one of her favourite looks, the duchess wore hair hair in a loose but stylish knot for a girls' day out at Wimbledon to watch the Ladies' Singles Final.
Meghan Markle's Simple Middle Part and Soft Bends, 2018
For a day of royal engagements in Ireland that involved both attending the Famine Memorial and EPIC Irish Emigration Museum, Meghan kept both her outfit and hair simple and understated.
Meghan Markle's Swirled Side Bun, 2018
Another go-to fascinator hairstyle, the low, swirled bun is a firm favourite of Meghan's, who has proven you can pull it off regardless of length. Her hair was just past her shoulders when she attended the celebration marking the centenary of the Royal Air Force at Buckingham Palace.
Meghan Markle's Braided Side Bun, 2018
Meghan punctuated her black-and-white ensemble for a day at Royal Ascot with a braided version of the low side bun.
Meghan Markle's Pastels and Curls, 2018
A side part and soft curls peeked out from Meghan's pastel Philip Treacy Hat for her first time attending Trooping the Colour [27].
Meghan Markle's Asymmetrical Bun, 2018
The low side bun strikes again [28], this time to match with an elegant hat at Prince Charles's 70th Birthday Patronage Celebration. We love how the placement of the bun almost creates a parallel line with the angle of her hat, which was designed by Philip Treacy, a favourite milliner of the royal family.
Meghan Markle's Wedding Crown Jewels, 2018
For her wedding day [29], Meghan Markle [30] chose to wear her hair in a middle parting and an oversized chignon that sat low on her neck, allowing her tiara [31] take the spotlight of her look.
Meghan Markle's Wedding Crown Jewels, 2018
Another look at the Duchess of Sussex's wedding day hair shows the relaxed style, which is exactly how she wanted it.
Meghan Markle's Face-Framing Waves, 2018
For an Invictus Games Reception in 2018, the duchess took a style tip from Kate Middleton and went for a soft but bouncy blowout. Notice how the face-framing pieces of hair are curled perfectly to accentuate her eyes and cheekbones.
Meghan Markle's Simple Knot, 2018
Meghan went for a supremely easy, low knot for a trip to Northern Ireland with Prince Harry in 2018. The unpretentious style complemented her cosy jacket and cashmere sweater perfectly.
Meghan Markle's Side-Swept Waves and White Beret, 2018
At a reception for the Commonwealth Service in 2018, the duchess wore her hair down with a loose curl at the front to show off her stylish hat.
Meghan Markle's Long, Ropy Waves, 2018
During a trip to Edinburgh Castle in 2018, the duchess skipped the bouncy blowout for cool-girl waves that had not too much volume and a slightly matte texture.
Meghan Markle's Straight Hair and Hat on Christmas Day 2017
For Christmas Day with the royal family in 2017, Meghan chose to style her hair straight and smooth to not detract from her statement-making hat.
Meghan Markle's Bouncy Blowout, 2018
A bouncy blowout with a middle parting and a tiny bit of curl at the ends was the perfect style for a visit to Nottingham meeting the crowds with Prince Harry.
Meghan Markle's Soft Curls, 2017
Our first glimpse of the future duchess at the Invictus Games showed off her soft curls in September 2017.
Meghan Markle's Windswept Waves, 2017
The first time we saw Meghan Markle [32] and Prince Harry together at the Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017, she wore her long layers smoothed out with the softest bit of bend from mid-lengths to ends.
Meghan Markle's Messy Bun and Fringe, 2016
Meghan chose to wear a messy bun with a side fringe and here's hoping she brings back the fringe soon.
Meghan Markle's Old Hollywood Waves, 2016
Meghan channelled Old Hollywood actors like Rita Hayworth and Lana Turner with her crimson lipstick, deep side part, and silky waves, which were all curled away from her face and concentrated along the bottom half of her hair.
Meghan Markle's Windswept Waves, 2016
A trip to Wimbledon calls for laid-back waves that are meant to be blown around by the wind (and look even better after).
Meghan Markle's Tousled Waves, 2016
For the 12th annual CFDA Awards, Meghan went for relaxed waves to match her supersexy silver gown with plunging neckline.
Meghan Markle's Smooth Blowout, 2015
Meghan matched her crisp white button down with an equally as sleek blowout.
Meghan Markle's Relaxed Updo, 2014
At New York Fashion Week Markle broke out a badass studded leather jacket — and a purposely-dishevelled updo to match.
Meghan Markle's Straight Onyx Hair, 2014
Meghan experimented with her hair colour here, going for a jet-black hue that looked extra glossy when styled pin straight.
Meghan Markle'e Windswept Chignon, 2013
She'd mastered her messy chignon style long before her royal engagements. For the Golden Globes after party in 2013, she wore a voluminous low knot, the front of her hair completely brushed back from her face to show off those gorgeous cheekbones.
Meghan Markle's Whispy Curls, 2013
Looks like she also knew how to achieve voluminous curls before becoming a sister-in-law to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. In 2013, she wore the superglamorous waves to a dinner event.
Meghan Markle's Supersleek, Straight Hair, 2013
Who didn't love a flatiron in the 2000s? Meghan would have had to break one out for this sleek, straight style at the Much Music Video Awards in 2013.
Meghan Markle's Old Hollywood Waves, 2013
Going for classic Hollywood waves in 2013, Meghan shows she can wear both glamorous and relaxed curls with ease.
Meghan Markle's Elegant Updo, 2013
Meghan wore an elegant updo that would look incredible topped with a fascinator if she wanted to revive the style.
Meghan Markle's Faux Bob, 2013
Some of Meghan's best hair moments happened in 2013 — take this faux bob moment in London that nearly every celeb was trying at the time.
Meghan Markle's Sleek Ponytail, 2012
As a duchess, she's proven a couple times that you can dress up a ponytail for a big event. It seems she perfected that skill whilst working it on the red carpet.
Meghan Markle's Beachy Waves and Highlights, 2013
Meghan channelled her California roots with this copper hue and tousled waves.
Meghan Markle's Long Cocoa-Coloured Layers, 2012
The longest we've ever seen Meghan's hair, her style still had dimension thanks to some strategically placed highlights.
Meghan Markle's Glossy Bends, 2011
Back then, we called this Victoria's Secret Angel hair, which looks positively dreamy on Meghan with her glossy auburn-coloured hair.
Meghan Markle's Sharp Angled Layers and Chestnut Highlights, 2010
Meghan looked like a beach babe in 2010, when she was right on trend with her golden highlights, pale eye shadow, and pink lip gloss.