There’s nothing quite like a hair makeover to make you feel refreshed, and as the Princess of Wales proves, it doesn’t have to be drastic to make an impact. Case in point: Kate has just given her hair a subtle update with soft, face-framing highlights that instantly lit up her entire look.
Kate’s makeover was unveiled in newly released pictures, showing her stepping out in central London to meet Melinda French Gates. She was all smiles, and we couldn’t help but notice how glowy she looked. Naturally, we took a closer look, and there they were: barely-there blonde strands woven seamlessly through the front of her hair – or, to put it in beauty terminology, ‘money pieces’.
‘Money pieces are lighter sections of colour placed around the front of the hair, usually either side of the face, to create a brighter, face-framing effect,’ explains Jason Collier, A-list stylist and Jerome Russell Bblonde Key Opinion Leader. ‘Kate’s latest hair look is a lovely example of how they can make a real difference.’
‘They can be as soft or as statement-making as you like, from delicate ribbons of colour that are only a shade or two lighter than your base to more noticeable blonde sections,’ he says. ‘Kate has gone for subtle, lighter pieces which softly frame her face and add dimension to her brunette base. The result is beautifully natural and understated.’
Money pieces appear to be having a real comeback, and Kate isn’t the only celebrity to jump on the trend. Keira Knightley also just updated her brunette bob with delicate, lighter pieces woven into her face-framing sections.
‘The reason money pieces are so popular is that they offer a relatively low-commitment way to refresh your hair colour,’ explains Jason. ‘You don’t necessarily need a full head of highlights to make an impact, as a little brightness around the face can completely change how your colour looks.’
At 40 and beyond, a brightening effect is always welcome. As Jason notes, our skin tone and complexion can change with age, and the hair colour that once suited us can start to look flat. This is what makes money pieces so effective.
He explains, ‘When you have lighter sections around the face, they reflect light, which can create the illusion of a more radiant, refreshed appearance. It’s a really effective way to give the complexion a little lift without making a drastic change.’
Feeling inspired? Us too. In the salon, Jason recommends asking your colourist to consider your skin tone and natural base colour when choosing the shade for your money pieces. It’s a style that can be completely tailored to your hair colour and skin tone. ‘You want something that complements your complexion and looks seamless with the rest of your hair,’ he says.
‘If you want a similar look to Kate, ask your colourist for subtle, face-framing highlights. It’s also worth taking a reference image with you so they can see the level of brightness and placement you’re looking for, and explain that you want the lighter sections to blend naturally into your existing colour rather than create a high-contrast effect,’ he says.
Equally, if you’re more of a DIY-beauty kind of person, Jason says a similar look can be recreated at home with ease. ‘The Jerome Russell Bblonde’s Maximum Highlighting Kit No. 1 offers an at-home option for introducing brighter highlights. It’s designed for light to dark brown hair and can lift colour by up to nine shades.’
Jerome Russell Bblonde Highlighting Kit No.1
Sometimes, the best transformations are the most understated.
