If there’s one beauty lesson to take away from Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, it’s never to underestimate the power of a good updo. Sophie, 61, has worn everything from sleek French comb buns to twisted braids over recent years, but her latest style may be her most flattering yet.
Debuting a soft ‘deconstructed updo’, the Duchess proves that a good updo not only looks incredibly chic but can also give midlife hair a fuller-looking finish.
Royal watchers were treated to a stylish appearance yesterday when Sophie and the Princess of Wales stepped out together in Windsor. Sophie and Kate were all smiles as they attended the 2026 Order of the Garter service, both looking elegant in pastel ensembles.
The real beauty moment came when Sophie turned around, revealing an intricate-looking updo. Her golden locks had been swept back from the crown and softly twisted into a deconstructed, braid-like design, before cascading into loose curled tendrils at the nape.
‘This is a gorgeous look for Sophie,’ says Carol Ritchie, hair upstyling expert and OSMO ambassador. ‘A deconstructed updo is all about the movement. It’s not about it being perfect but you want to see texture and looseness coming through.’
She adds, ‘Rather than the traditional updo that is sometimes very structured and sprayed to an inch of its life, this is looser and more modern.’
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It’s this softer approach that’s especially flattering on mature hair, Carol tells GH. ‘As we get older, our hair may become finer and lose some of its natural density. A style like this works brilliantly because it creates softness and volume without looking forced,’ she explains.
‘Tight hairstyles can sometimes draw attention to areas where hair is finer around the hairline, whereas a soft updo like this adds width, and is much more flattering.’
Though it appears to be one of Sophie's more intricate styles, Carol reassures us that it's actually far easier to recreate than it looks. ‘It's all about creating the illusion of density,’ she says.
The beauty of the effortless, undone finish Sophie has opted for is that there's no need to strive for perfection. ‘The biggest mistake people make is trying to make everything too neat,’ Carol adds.
To create that full, volumised finish, it’s all about prep. ‘You need to add texture into the hair first,’ Carol explains. ‘Start by creating texture through your blow-dry. Use a texture spray, such as the the OSMO Matt Salt Spray, to help bring in that added movement, then dry with a big round brush to get volume.’
With good prep, you’re already halfway there. ‘To recreate Sophie’s updo, loosely start to twist the hair from the mid-section and pin, then take a new section from either side to twist in again. Keep pinning the twists in place as you go along your hair,’ she explains.
There’s no need to be precise. Looking closely, you can see that Sophie lets the ends of her hair fall naturally, creating that textured, undone finish.
Though deceptively intricate-looking, the style is little more than a series of carefully placed twists. Not only does it make midlife hair look thicker, but it also looks as though you've spent far more time on your hair than you actually have.
One to add to your own beauty repertoire.
Zara Tuck is Good Housekeeping's fashion and beauty assistant, working across both the print magazine and online. She works alongside both GH’s style and beauty directors to bring trend-led stories to life. Outside of work, you will likely find her donning a maxi skirt, scavenging charity shops for vintage gems or shopping for a new lip liner.
