Hair pins and claw clips might be dominating this summer, but Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is championing an even more elegant alternative. Yesterday, the royal stepped out wearing a '90s classic: a French comb updo. It's an accessory that ticks all our boxes — effortlessly chic, practical enough to keep hair neatly in place and clever enough to create the illusion of extra volume, making it an especially flattering choice for mature hair.
The hairstyle made an appearance as Sophie’s trip to Portugal commenced, cementing it as the perfect choice for sun-drenched getaways. ‘It’s a timeless classic,’ says OSMO Ambassador and award-winning hairstylist Jude Taylor. ‘It frames the face beautifully, and all round adds effortless elegance.’
As Jude explains, the French comb is designed to follow the curve of your head and secure a style in place — in Sophie’s case, a regal bun. It minimises the need for less-than-pretty hair grips while exuding effortless French-girl glamour.
‘It adds an extra accent to the hair,’ says Jude. ‘Often French combs will have embellishments, this elevates the hairstyle in an instant.’ Take a closer peek, and you'll notice diamanté detailing on Sophie's clip.
Beyond their decorative appeal, French combs are particularly effective at boosting volume in fine, mature hair. As Jude explains, ‘the comb isn’t flattening any hair like a grip is. When the comb is pushed and locked it gives the hair on the crown of your head a little lift, giving you that boost extra volume.’
‘Sophie’s bun, to me, looks like a casual French twist’, he says. While it might take a little more handiwork than your average claw clip, Jude reassures us that it shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes. ‘Simply gather the hair at the nape of your neck, twist it round and upwards folding it in on itself and secure with the French comb.’
Manicare French Side Combs, Pack Of 2
He explains, ‘To insert the comb, twist it 180 degrees and push it in on itself, making sure the curve of the comb is following the curve of your head. This twist and lock motion secures the style in place.’
Très chic, Sophie.
