Pippa Middleton's Hair Transformation Has Heads Turning

In the world of royal glam, one name that everyone knows is Pippa Middleton. As Kate Middleton's sister, the socialite caught everyone's attention thanks to her classy and chic yet at the same time casual and effortless style. In fact, Pippa has always been as cool as Kate, just a tad more rebellious when it comes to her fashion and beauty choices. And one aspect of her beauty that many of us envy is her gorgeous brown locks.

Award-winning hairstylist Inanch Emir couldn't agree more. "Blessed with gorgeous looks and thick, glossy, tumbling brunette locks that turn royal princely heads, Pippa earned a legion of fans spanning the globe," she told Express in 2021. "Pippa undeniably inspired swathes of women to go brunette and embrace the natural wavy look." Now, while most might think of layers and brown hair when it comes to Pippa, the truth is that the socialite has undergone quite a few hair changes over the years.

Pippa Middleton rose to international fame as Kate Middleton's younger sister in the mid-2000s. At the time, Kate was dating Prince William, and while she was in the spotlight as a soon-to-be member of the royal family, her sister also caught the public's attention.

Pippa, who was in her early 20s at the time, was all about looking casual but chic. Her hair was very similar to Kate's, as both of them rocked long layers and their natural brown hair color. Slowly but surely rising on the social ladder, Pippa even landed a spot on Tatler's most eligible bachelorette list in 2008. While the two sisters have undoubtedly always been close, a source told the Daily Mail in 2010, "Kate was jealous of Pippa — in fact, I think Kate feared being eclipsed by her a bit. The two sisters are close, but there was always a sense of rivalry between them. Probably still is."

The year 2011 marked an important one for the royal family, as Kate Middleton and Prince William tied the knot in a royal wedding ceremony on April 29. For her sister's big day, Pippa Middleton opted to go with an elegant half-updo and loose curls, ensuring she looked chic and youthful. The star of her hairstyle was undoubtedly the floral clip, which stole the spotlight from the back. Talking about her sister's wedding, the socialite revealed to Today, "It sounds funny to say, but we saw it, as just a family wedding. And actually, I didn't realize, perhaps, the scale of it until afterward. We all took on the roles as any family would."

In 2011, one of Kate and Pippa's hairstylists — Richard Ward — opened up to the Daily Mail about keeping your locks healthy like the Middleton sisters. "The best way to keep your hair in top condition is to visit your hairdresser regularly," Ward said. "If you like your style and it's working for you, then a trim every six weeks will keep it looking fresh and easy to maintain at home. Removing dry, split ends will help the condition of the hair too."

In 2012, Pippa Middleton changed up her hairstyle ever so slightly. Approaching her 30th birthday in 2013, Pippa — who was known at the time as the braver sister when it comes to hair changes — opted to add a couple of face-framing layers to her haircut, giving her hairstyle plenty of added dimension and volume. The change was very subtle, but it made a difference in movement around the socialite's face.

Often spotted at Wimbledon games alongside Kate Middleton (who has had a stunning style transformation herself), Pippa's go-to hairstyle for the occasion was almost always a classic blowout with a side part. The shorter pieces, which subtly curled inward toward her face, helped accentuate the socialite's stunning features, ensuring she looked perfectly put together. While we're sure Pippa has hairstylists who help her achieve this blowout, a layered haircut like this is actually very low-maintenance, making it a great option for anyone who has busy days.

In 2014, Pippa Middleton opted for a more dramatic hair change as she decided to do quite a bit of a chop. The socialite had her hair cut into a casual long bob, making sure it remained long enough so she could still put it up. "I always think a good few inches chop makes hair look thicker and healthier," celebrity make-up artist Rachel Wood told the Daily Mail that year. "Pippa's long locks were starting to look stringy so I like the new 'do! This cut gives more structure to her cheekbones which looked a lot rounder with lengthier locks and I'm loving the extra highlight she added to her makeup to accentuate them." 

Unlike the sleek lob of the early aughts, Middleton decided to mostly wear hers blown out with soft curls at the bottom, giving her a less harsh appearance. The carefree styling of the lob gave Middleton an approachable and causal look, instantly making her appear younger. That same year, Middleton also opened up about being in the spotlight, admitting that the online scrutiny she faces daily is everything but easy to take. "I have felt publicly bullied a little bit just by, you know, when I read things that clearly aren't true or that, whichever way someone looks at it, it's a negative side," she told Today. "It is quite difficult. Because eventually I'm just paving my way and trying to live a life like any 30-year-old," she added.

In 2015, Pippa Middleton began embracing a middle part, a trend that would emerge again a few years later thanks to Gen Z. However, Middleton was already rocking it in 2015, proving that she was way ahead of the trend. "Styling a center-parting can be achieved from freshly washed hair by following your usual washing routine of shampoo and conditioner or mask," celebrity hairstylist Ciler Peksah explained to Elle.

While her style has always been just as chic as Kate Middleton's, the younger sister has been known for experimenting and having more fun with her look, whether we're talking about hair, makeup, or fashion. Having gotten tired of the shorter lob haircut, the socialite let it grow out. Now, instead of the curled ends, Middleton began incorporating braids into her hairstyle to create a more bohemian aesthetic.

Ring? Check. The year 2016 was a pivotal one in Pippa Middleton's personal life, as she got engaged to the chief executive of Eden Rock Capital Management Group, James Matthews. At the time, the socialite let her hair grow even more, resulting in long, slightly layered locks. While Middleton still often wore her hair in voluminous blowouts, we also saw her rock sleek, straight hair on numerous occasions — a look which, believe it or not, can actually be achieved without the heat damage.

At the time, Middleton also opened up about struggling with how the public perceives her. "People see me as someone privileged who has used my position to advantage; that I don't really work, that I am a socialite — that word really irritates me — and that I'm a party girl without any substance," Middleton told the Daily Mail in 2016. "I have had a few years of being in the public eye and I have developed something of a thick skin," she added.

When it comes to Pippa Middleton's hair, her 2017 bridal updo is a moment that's hard to forget. On May 20, the socialite tied the knot with James Matthews, and for the wedding, she decided to go with a classic, slightly loose updo, a white tiara, and, of course — a stunning veil attached to the back. "What an experience thank you Pippa for trusting me with your hair on your special day," her hairstylist, Pol Garcia, wrote on social media (via Express). Of course, even though we're focusing on her hair, we also have to mention Middleton's stunning bridal gown designed by Giles Deacon. "I wanted that 'how-was-that-done?' factor," Deacon told the Business of Fashion (via Elle). "It's all hand-pieced which is why you don't actually see a seam."

In 2017, Middleton also decided to once again shorten her hair into a lob. "The shorter length gives the appearance of thicker hair and brings a youthful swish to once long-hanging locks," hairstylist Rob Fitch explained to The Telegraph in 2017. "For Pippa, this style is great as it's the perfect length should she need to tie it up, which is often a request from busy and active clients as not everyone has the time for a full blowout each morning," he added. By now, it was clear that while Middleton adored a long and layered haircut, she also loved switching it up and going for a fun, easy-going lob. As hairstylist Larry Sims told Allure, "It's refreshing to see someone of her stature take on an effortless modern approach to her hair after seeing her so polished."

By 2018, Pippa Middleton developed a love for classic low buns and hats, as the socialite often attended events while rocking both. In fact, she decided to go with a stunning combo of the two for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding on May 19 of that year. However, while she experimented with styles, her hair remained what she loves and knows best: brown with subtle layers.

In an interview with Express, hairdressing expert Erica Burnand explained that Middleton knows what suits her, and she doesn't change her hair too dramatically. "Pippa has not drastically changed her hairstyle and I think it's good that she has found the style that she likes and has not bent to public pressures or new trends," Burnand said. "As a hair professional, it's important to work with women to find the styles they like or their own signature styles regardless of what's trending. So I'm glad Pippa also reflects that."

Once her lob grew out again, Pippa Middleton embraced a more casual and carefree hairstyle, rarely opting for a voluminous blowout or ultra-sleek and straight hair — both of which used to be staples for the star. Instead, the socialite was frequently spotted with loose and natural-looking waves, as well as braided updos that helped keep her locks out of her face all day.

The subtle change in hairstyle preference came with motherhood, as Middleton gave birth to her and James Matthews' son in 2018. "More recently, over the past two years, family life and motherhood has consumed much of my spare time, and unsurprisingly, the challenges I thrived on have taken a back seat," the socialite revealed in an interview with Hoka in 2021 (via Cosmopolitan). As a mother, Middleton gravitated toward hairstyles that are quickly created and won't need much fixing throughout the day. Luckily for her, bohemian-inspired hairstyles suit the socialite perfectly.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Pippa Middleton was ready to switch things up once again by cutting her hair into a long bob. The star has previously rocked the haircut on numerous occasions, so she knew that it would be a fail-proof choice that suited her. 

However, some might wonder why the socialite has never gone for a classic short bob, and the answer might lie in the fact that Middleton leads a very active lifestyle. The socialite enjoys running regularly, so she needs her hair long enough to have it out of her face while running — and a short bob is all but impossible to tie in the back. "I grew up in the countryside, so being outdoors and involved in sport [is] in my blood," Middleton told the brand Hoka (via Cosmopolitan). "Like us all, I've faced different hurdles and challenges, but with running as part of my routine ... It has brought clarity when I have felt muddled, a safe space before I make any big decision, and a sense of freedom when life's pressures weigh me down. Running and sport in general has been a constant light in my life." 

In her personal life, 2021 was an important year as she gave birth to her and James Matthews' daughter — and with two children, there was no doubt that Middleton would look for convenience when choosing a haircut.

The next year marked a bold change in Pippa Middleton's hair journey as she decided to change her style ever so slightly by lightening her locks. While that change was anything but dramatic, it still left an impact on the overall appearance of the socialite. Now, Middleton's hair had a visible golden tint whenever she was in direct sunlight — and the lighter shade softened her facial features, giving her a more youthful and fresh appearance.

In 2022, Middleton also welcomed her second daughter with husband James Matthews, and it seemed as if the mother of three was ready to switch up something more than just her haircut. Seemingly having developed a love for loose waves, the socialite was now rocking her lighter lock in casual and undone curls, showing off a more carefree aspect of her style. That same year, Middleton received her master's degree in Physical Education, Sport, and Physical Literacy. "Getting back into studying took some getting used to," the socialite admitted (via Hola!).

In 2023, Pippa Middleton hopped on a very popular hair trend: the Rachel haircut. With the resurgence of '90s beauty and fashion, the soft and layered haircut became a popular choice for many, and it suited Middleton perfectly. "The Rachel [haircut] works best on hair with a lot of layers as it will give your hair more body by surrounding your face in a heart shape and framing it perfectly," hairstylist Luke Williams explained to Real Simple. While Middleton was by no means a stranger to layered long hair, this time around, the layers were softer, and there were more of them, all of which helped replicate the beloved '90s cut.

Apart from the haircut, Middleton continued exploring what lighter shades have to offer as she added some blended caramel brown highlights around her face. The change was very subtle but still noticeable, especially when the socialite was rocking her hair down.

In 2024, Pippa Middleton decided to take her highlights a step further by going for an even lighter shade of brown — some might even say the socialite is almost rocking brond hair now. Of course, if there's one thing we've learned from Middleton's hair changes throughout the years, it's that she makes careful choices that always allow her to maintain the low-maintenance style that the busy mother of three needs.

Kate Middleton's younger sister definitely knows what suits her, and so far, she's only experimented with hair changes if she knows that they'll work for her. Of course, we wouldn't be surprised to see the socialite break out of her hair comfort zone just a tad more in the future, but for now, lob haircuts and subtle highlights seem to be as far as Pippa Middleton is willing to go.