By Deborah Arthurs


Hair apparent: Attending a private charity dinner last night, Kate looked glamorous in a pale aqua dress, while her glossy hair, given a boost with strip hair wefts - was pulled up in a natural half up, half down style


The Duchess of Cambridge last night carried out her first official solo engagement 'with professionalism and charm' as she stood in for her father-in-law at a charity event.

Looking glamorous in a pale aqua evening gown, the Duchess had her glossy chestnut hair pulled up into a glamorous half up, half down do.

On closer inspection, however, it was revealed that the Duchess's voluminous locks were not entirely her own. Beneath her hairline on the left hand side, what appeared to be a strip hair weft was visible beneath the Duchess's own hair.

Volume boost: Kate's hair, styled by her favoured hair stylist Richard Ward, was given more body with a strip hair weft of the type pictured right. The weft is just visible in the Duchess's hairline

Kate's weft is simply a thin strip of hair - sometimes synthetic, but in this case, real human hair - that is inserted under layers of real hair to achieve body.

Usually affixed with a temporary glue, Kate's was attached using a form of double-sided tape - which could explain why the usually invisible extension could be seen.

'Kate Middleton’s hair looks really natural and to achieve this look most people would need to use temporary, virtually invisible, strip hair extensions’, said Vicky Demetriou from top London hair salon Daniel Hersheson.

The use of weft hair extensions to give natural hair a boost is nothing unusual, of course. These temporary hair wefts are simple ways to give hair a boost or to help achieve certain styles, and are frequently used by celebrities in the public eye to add volume to their hairstyles.

Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham have admitted to using hair wefts to give their own locks a boost, and the stylist behind the Duchess's hair - from her favoured London salon, Richard Ward - would likely have used the temporary strips as an alternative to using excessive backcombing or more permanent volumising hair extensions that, with long-term use, can cause damage to the hair.

Kate looked slender in her beaded gown - which, unusually for the Duchess, who tends to cover up with either sleeves or small bolero, showed off her shoulders - as she chatted with the 30 guests at Clarence House


Kate looked comfortable in her role as she greeted guests at the reception, held in aid of charity In Kind Direct

Catherine stepped into the role at Clarence House after the Prince of Wales was called away on a trip to Riyadh to present condolences to the Saudi Royal Family following the death of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

A St James's Palace spokesman said: 'The Duchess of Cambridge was delighted to be able to step in for her father-in-law, The Prince of Wales, to celebrate the work of In Kind Direct at the dinner.'

A palace aide said: 'The Duchess had a little bit of time beforehand to prepare for the engagement - it all went very well.

'She was so pleased that her first solo engagement was for the Prince of Wales, who has shown her so much support over the years.'

Robin Boles, chief executive of In Kind Direct, said: 'We were delighted that the Duchess was able to step in at such short notice after our founder was unexpectedly called away.

'The Duchess hosted a very special evening with absolute professionalism and charm.'

The burning question remains though - what will Kate do with her weft when she takes it out?

Perhaps the ever-receding Prince William - who was the butt of his brother's bald joke at the royal wedding evening reception - will be first in line to borrow it.


source:dailymail