Kate’s royal hairdresser Richard Ward reveals how to give your party a blow-dry last week

Since Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, it’s likely that the 23rd will be the last day for a professional blow-dry before the festivities begin.

But don’t panic, with some expert advice from celebrity hairdresser Richard Ward, whose clients include the Princess of Wales, you can keep the blow-drying going for a week – right up to New Year’s Eve.

From ditching the sleek look to sleeping on silk and cooking with a shower cap, read on for Richard’s tips on how to keep your blow-drying bouncy beyond Boxing Day. . .

Curls are best

“If you want your hairdryer to last longer, ask your hairdresser to add curls or waves to it,” says Richard. ‘Have rollers put in it or, once it’s blow-dried, give it a tongue or beach wave. The more volume you have to begin with, the further your hair should fall, so any kind of volume created by heat styling should help it last longer.”

And while the temptation may be to use lots of mousse or hairspray to make your hairstyle last longer, Richard warns against this.

“Overloaded with products is a total no-go,” he says. Too much product can not only weigh the hair down, but it can also attract dirt and dust to the hair, meaning it will likely look and feel like it needs to be washed sooner rather than later.

The secret to smooth sleep

Hairdressers often say that a silk pillowcase is kinder to your hair than a cotton pillowcase because it is smoother and less likely to wrinkle the hair cuticles and cause tangles.

Richard agrees that this can certainly help you maintain the blow-dry, but also suggests putting your hair up before bed. “Wrap your hair around itself and then use a silk scrunchie to hold it in place on top of your head,” he says. “You want to make sure it’s a good topknot on the crown so you don’t sleep on it.”

“Any folds are at the nape of the neck or under the hair, which actually gives you volume when you take your hair down in the morning.”

Shower (and cook) with care

‘If your hair gets wet or full of steam, this will seriously hinder its lifespan,’ says Richard. ‘A shower cap is therefore an absolute must. Make sure you use one every time you shower or bathe. And if you’re in another steamy environment—like the kitchen with pots of vegetables bubbling on the stovetop—you might even want to wear your shower cap there.”

If it’s dry outside, consider opening a window.

To ensure that no moisture gets into your hair at all, put on a terry cloth headband before putting on your shower cap. This ensures that your hair is not visible and also prevents you from getting the stain where the elastic of the shower cap pokes into your forehead.

Use dry shampoo sparingly

‘If you feel your hair needs revitalizing, dry shampoo is a good option, but be careful where you use it,’ says Richard.

‘Using too much will dull the hair, so I always suggest using only at the roots.’ Follow the instructions, but usually you want to spray it on, let it sit for a few minutes, massage it in and brush it out.

‘Alternatively, if your hair needs volume – which may be lacking after a few days, flip your head upside down, spray dry shampoo at the roots and blow-dry it with a hairdryer for instant va-va-voom.’

Wash your hair, but not all of it

“If your hairline (that’s the part most people see first) looks good, you can get away with it if the rest of your blow-dryer doesn’t look perfect,” says Richard.

‘So if three or four days after blow-drying your bangs or hairline are looking lank or greasy and you need a quick fix, you can wash that front section over the sink and blow-dry it. Take a section from the crown to the ears in the front, pin the rest of the hair up and simply wash and blow-dry that section.’

Give the hair a boost with heat

‘Heat will always revitalize hair, especially if you use it in combination with something that gives volume,’ says Richard. ‘Use your hairdryer on dry hair with Velcro rollers, or use tongs or heated rollers.

‘While you blow-dry, apply hairspray to the roots to maintain volume. And if you have time, wrap the hair around your finger, cut it off and let it cool.’

Wear a silk scarf to make the turkey

“A half-up-half-down style can create the illusion of volume as you progress through the week, and if your blow-dry is really nearing the end of its life cycle, you can always tie your hair up in a ponytail.”

Big bows are having a fashion moment right now, so take advantage of that. Whether clipped or made from leftover wide ribbon, it can cover a multitude of sins.

Even if you plan to wear your hair down, keep it up until the last minute, Richard suggests.

“Whether you did it with pliers and left the curls in clips, or even if you can just secure it all on your head with a grab clip, the key is to take those clips out just before you put them on your want to look good, because it can drop quickly.’

That might mean holding your hair with tongs on Christmas morning and then leaving it up and under a silk scarf while you prepare the turkey, then letting it down just as you bring the bird to the table, while both of you looking your festive best.