The Duchess of Sussex reportedly experienced a less-than-ideal outcome when attempting at-home hair dyeing during the pandemic, according to a leading hair color specialist.
Meghan Markle, 43, recounted on her “Confessions of a Female Founder” podcast that experimenting with boxed hair dye resulted in a dramatic transformation, leaving her with a look she likened to horror movie icon Elvira. The incident occurred shortly after relocating to California in 2020.
During the episode featuring colorist Kadi Lee, Meghan shared, “Because it was the pandemic, I kept ordering boxed hair dye. And I thought, ‘I’m gonna look just like she does on the box’.”
However, the final result was far from her expectations, described as a “very inky, almost Elvira-esque black hair.”
Jack Miles, proprietor of Revyv Hair, explained that the unpredictable nature of boxed hair dyes stems from their standardized formulas.
“Box dyes are formulated to be broadly effective across various hair types and colors, relying on significant amounts of chemicals like ammonia and peroxide,” he stated. “The challenge is they don’t account for individual factors—hair texture, previous color treatments, or damage from heat styling or chemical processes.”
Miles suggested that many people, including the Duchess, turned to at-home hair coloring during lockdowns. He added, “It appears Meghan wasn’t thrilled with her results.”
He further elaborated on potential contributing factors: “Her hair texture and any previous heat damage likely played a role.”
The expert pointed out that the Duchess may have frequently used heat styling tools to achieve hairstyles reminiscent of other Royal Family members. “This prior heat exposure probably influenced how the box dye reacted, potentially leading to uneven color, excessive dryness, or even hair breakage.”
Miles concluded: “While boxed dyes seem like a budget-friendly option initially, they often lead to costly salon visits needed to correct any damage or inconsistencies created by the at-home application.”
Beyond her recent dyeing mishap, Meghan also discussed earlier struggles with managing her biracial hair texture while attending Northwestern University.
“When I was at Northwestern and moved into Kappa — our sorority there – I don’t even think they made plug-in flat irons at the time,” she recalled.
She described using a stove-heated flat iron wrapped in a paper towel to straighten her hair, which sparked concern among her sorority sisters.
“I remember most of the girls who weren’t Black saying, ‘What’s that smell? Is hair burning?’ And it was just what you would do to figure out how to grapple with this texture of hair,” she shared.
