The Full Story Behind Princess Diana’s Iconic Haircut (2024)

From her outfits to her haircut, Princess Diana really set a precedent for style. This is the story behind her distinctive 1990s haircut.

The Full Story Behind Princess Diana’s Iconic Haircut (1)Doug Mills/AP/Shutterstock

The late Princess Diana was renowned for her profound effect on the fashion world, but her most famous hairstylealmost never came to be.

Sam McKnight served as the hairstylist for a1990 British Vogue photo shoot, but he didn’t know ahead of time who his client would be. It wasn’t until Princess Diana walked into the room that he realized he’d be working with royalty.

“She came bounding up the stairs in a studio in Hackney, this beautiful long-legged blonde, and immediately made us all feel totally at ease,” McKnight told TODAY. “She had an amazing way of disarming you and kind of getting rid of all the nerves, and laughing and making jokes.”Don’t miss these 20 rarely seen photos of Princess Diana.

McKnight decided to try something new with Diana’s hair, which at that point was close to shoulder-length and still had some classic ’80s volume. In his book, Hair by Sam McKnight, he explained how he did a bit of follicle manipulating magic, tucking her hair behind a tiara to fake a shorter ‘do.

The style looked stunning in the shoot, but it could have stayed a one-off look for the magazine—that is, if Diana hadn’t been so inspired by what she saw.

“As she was leaving, Diana asked what would I do to her hair if I had free reign,” McKnight writes. “I suggested cutting it short and she, to my surprise, agreed, and we did it there and then.”

The Full Story Behind Princess Diana’s Iconic Haircut (2)News UK Ltd/Shutterstock

So, Princess Diana came in for a photo shoot and left with a sporty pixie cut—a dramatic change from her old style, which didn’t sneak by the press. Immediately, Diana’s new hairdo was all over the media, and shorter styles started trending. “It was quite astounding,” McKnight told TODAY. “I discovered the power that she had in the press. The manner of coverage was quite extraordinary.” Check out some more of Princess Diana’s most iconic fashion moments.

After the spontaneous quick snip, McKnight formed a working relationship with Diana. Whenever she was in London, he would swing by for a morning hair maintenance appointment and would sometimes swing by in the evening if the Princess had anevent in the evening or even accompany her on humanitarian trips.

But it wasn’t just Diana who took a liking to McKnight’s stylings; William was a pretty big fan, too. “Sometimes her beloved boys would be there and I would cut their hair, too,” he writes. “I remember Prince William responded in glee when I put gel in his hair for the first time.”

Yep, a haircut that shaped a decade of style was done without an appointment.Check out these other 10 fascinating facts you never knew about Princess Diana.

The Full Story Behind Princess Diana’s Iconic Haircut (2024)

FAQs

The Full Story Behind Princess Diana’s Iconic Haircut? ›

Princess Diana's iconic pixie cut

pixie cut
A pixie cut is a short hairstyle, generally short on the back and sides of the head and slightly longer on the top, with very short bangs. It is a variant of a crop. The name is derived from the mythological pixie.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Pixie_cut
, which became a symbol of independence, was born out of a spontaneous decision during a photoshoot in 1990. Her hairstylist, Sam McKnight, suggested cutting off her hair, and to his surprise, she agreed immediately.

What was Princess Diana's hairstyle called? ›

Shaggy Pixie

The unfussy cut feels markedly different than the coiffed styles that defined her days as a queen-in-waiting (this photo was taken after she had separated from Prince Charles), and the full look makes it easy to understand the royal's relatability.

How to do your hair like Princess Diana? ›

Trim the back section of hair at a downward angle so it meets at the nape. Follow the head's natural shape as you cut so that you end up framing the head. Comb the hair straight and hold it between your middle and first finger. Pull it away from the head so it's tight, then cut downward at a 45-degree angle.

What is the name of the Princess haircut? ›

The hime cut (Japanese: 姫カット, IPA: [çime katːo], HEE-meh; lit. 'princess cut') is a hairstyle consisting of straight, usually cheek-length sidelocks and frontal fringe. The rest of the hair is usually worn long and straightened.

What color was Princess Diana's hair? ›

It was caused by a genetic mutation or aberration which means she didn't have blonde genes and that's why her hair naturally darkened to brunette as she got older. She was told if she wanted to get Prince Charles's attention, she would have to dye her hair blonde, which she did by 1980.

Why was Diana's hair so short? ›

Princess Diana's iconic pixie cut, which became a symbol of independence, was born out of a spontaneous decision during a photoshoot in 1990. Her hairstylist, Sam McKnight, suggested cutting off her hair, and to his surprise, she agreed immediately.

Did Diana wear a wig to go out? ›

In real life, the Princess did wear different disguises at points, with Vogue UK writing, "Diana did, in fact, wear dark wigs and sunglasses when venturing out with Khan in his Chelsea neighbourhood or queuing with him outside jazz clubs." Princess Diana and Khan had a two-year relationship, from 1995 to 1997, until ...

What hair products did Princess Diana use? ›

Ladove Funsch used a special kind of gum resin to create Princess Diana's go-to "Helicopter Hairspray." So in order to create the perfect so-called "helicopter hairspray," Ladove Funsch embarked on several international trips to explore forests and terrains to source exotic ingredients fit for the Princess's hair.

How did Princesses wear their hair? ›

Women of royalty or aristocracy would wear two long lengths of hair that were braided with ribbon, or loose lengths that were bound throughout the hair with ribbon. Sometimes they extended the braids to the ground by weaving in false hair.

What is a butterfly cut hairstyle? ›

According to Maxine Salon hairstylist Jenna Spino, the butterfly cut is a heavily layered and feathered cut that features shorter layers on top of the head and through the crown as well as curtain bangs. These shorter, face-framing layers slightly resemble butterfly wings, hence the cut's cute name.

What is an e girl haircut? ›

Heavily inspired by 2010s fashion and a mix of indie subcultures, the e-girl hair look is usually completed with chunky face framing highlights, contrasting hair colors and fun hair accessories like butterfly clips.

What is a wolf cut hairstyle? ›

Wolf cut hairstyles are a mix of two popular current haircut trends, aka the shag haircut and the mullet. Both these trending hairstyles feature a mix of layers and bangs. While the mullet is a short haircut, the shag haircut can be short, long, or mid length.

Did Diana have thick hair? ›

Princess's Diana's hair grows lush and thick and blond, all qualities I am prepared to find beautiful; it's bobbed, and I often find a bob fetching.

What is Diana's haircut? ›

The classic Diana featured a bit of height at the back, with a full bang and piece-y texture, creating a glamorous and enduring image. "The haircuts were very simple," says McKnight. "It was Diana herself who provided the magic."

What was Princess Diana's fav color? ›

Her favorite color was pink and she wore a lot of pink dresses. When her photo made the cover of Time magazine after her untimely death, the Commemorative Issue sold more than 1 million copies at the newsstands.

What is Diana's style? ›

Her habit of wearing wide-shouldered gowns and lavish fabrics earned her the nickname "Dynasty Di". Diana wore hats that featured texture as well as "feathers, veils, and bows". Her early fashion choices were described as "demure and romantic", featuring pastels and ruffles.

What is an emu haircut? ›

Emo hairstyles are a popular and iconic look that have been embraced by many individuals who want to express their unique style and personality. These hairstyles are characterized by long, layered cuts with choppy, textured ends and side-swept bangs that cover one eye.

What were Diana's last words? ›

What were Princess Diana's last words? The firefighter on the scene of Princess Diana's accident revealed the last words she spoke before her death in an interview with The Independent. According to the firefighter, Xavier Gourmelon, the Princess of Wales asked: “My God, what has happened?”

What is the mermaid hair cut? ›

It's a style that celebrates movement and texture with soft, subtle layers that enhance the natural wave and curl patterns of the hair. Think of it as a nod to the iconic beachy waves associated with lazy days by the shore à la Little Mermaid.

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