Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Fashion Month
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career Money
    • Health Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes amp; Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • NYFW
    • Life In Plastic
    • Cari Champion
    • New Books
    • Postpartum Psychosis
    1. Beauty
    2. Hair

    Meghan Markle's Hair Transformation Is Almost Too Subtle to See

    Hairstyle Kadi Lee revealed how she achieved Markle's "chocolate chestnut brown" shade.

    Sophia Vilensky#039;s avatar
    By Sophia Vilensky
    Published 21 February 2024 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Meghan Markle smiles in Whistler, Canada.
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Natural sunlight doesn't lie about hair color (just ask Taylor Swift, a brunette in recent photos but a bona fide blonde in real life). When Meghan Markle attended an event on a bright day with seemingly darker hair last week, it was obvious that something was different. Now, her hairstylist has confirmed that subtle something was in fact a hair transformation.

    Ever since the 42-year-old appeared in Canada to celebrate the one year countdown to the 2025 Invictus Games, the internet has been buzzing with chatter that Markle's brunette hair took on a new tone. Less than a week later, Los Angeles-based colorist Kadi Lee offered some insight into how the royal's new "chocolate chestnut brunette" hue came to be.

    A post shared by Highbrow Hippie

    A photo posted by highbrowhippie on

    "Chocolate chestnut brunette, for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex for Invictus Games," wrote Lee's business, Highbrow Hippie, in a Tuesday, February 20, Instagram post. "This mixture of red and golden undertones makes a dynamic shade of brunette that not only gives skin the healthiest glow, especially during the colder months of winter, it also provides the hair with a next level high power shine."

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Unsurprisingly, the post's comments section was full of people complimenting everything about the podcast host's hair—especially the subtle hint of red. "This colour is giving everything it’s supposed to give," wrote one fan. "Absolutely stunning. So shiny and healthy. GOALS," added another.

    The wellness center also noted that Markle's curls were courtesy of the "bounciest, long lasting blowout" by hairstylist Hector Garcia. If that's true, the style lasted her all the way from the LA salon to Canada.

    You may like
    • Princess Kate sitting in a car wearing a white blouse and brown hat Princess Kate’s Summer Hair Switch-Up Has Become a Balmoral Tradition
    • a fall-toned background with an image of the same girl before and after an espresso brunette hair transformation Espresso Brunette Is the Most Low-Maintenance Hair Color Trend for Fall
    • Meghan Markle wears her dark hair in a ponytail and wears a brown shirt and a gold necklace Meghan Markle Channels Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy

    Meghan Markle smiles in Whistler, Canada.

    Markle grabs a photo during the outdoor event. Wouldn't you love to see her camera roll/new hair color selfies?

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Although the Duchess of Sussex has always been a brunette, her hair has evolved over the years. From switching up her part to trying out different trends such as the slicked back bun, the California girl strikes a balance of interesting and classic hair styles. Prior to Markle's recent change-up, Lee colored her hair a "shiny rich chocolate brown" for the Variety Power of Women event in November 2023.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Explore More
    Meghan Markle
    Sophia Vilensky
    Sophia Vilensky
    Social Links Navigation
    Freelance Writer

    Sophia Vilensky is a Freelance Beauty Writer at Marie Claire with a beauty, wellness, and entertainment journalism portfolio that includes contributions to Byrdie, Bravo, Teen Vogue, and Us Weekly. Growing up in a family of beauticians—and through her own personal studies—she developed an in-depth understanding of aesthetics, cosmetic product formulation, and beauty treatment development and has also held roles as a senior copywriter, content strategist, and proofreader for top beauty and wellness brands. Even so, you'd be hard pressed to find her with her hair and makeup actually done. Sophia is based in Minneapolis and is a 2019 graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she majored in English and minored in cinema studies. During her time at the university, she was the Arts Entertainment Editor for the Minnesota Daily, earning the 2019 Editor of the Year award for her work. She connected deeply with the Twin Cities arts scene, collaborating with leading beauty professionals, designers, and artists. Graduating Summa Cum Laude, her thesis—a close-reading of Vanderpump Rules—was featured on NPR. When not immersed in writing or testing new products, Sophia enjoys watching reality TV, reading, and exploring the newest woo-woo wellness trends. Keep up with her on Instagram @sophiavilensky.

    Read more
    Princess Kate sitting in a car wearing a white blouse and brown hat
    Royals Princess Kate’s Summer Hair Switch-Up Has Become a Balmoral Tradition
    By Kristin Contino
    Meghan Markle wearing a blue striped shirt
    Royals Meghan Markle Transforms Her Wardrobe from California to Cotswolds
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Meghan Markle holding Prince Harry#039;s arm wearing LA Dodgers hats
    Royals Meghan Markle “Is Taking One for the Team” For Prince Harry By Moving to Britain
    By Kristin Contino
    Meghan Markle wearing butterfly earrings
    Royals Meghan Markle Is Giving Princess Diana's Jewelry a New Life in Britain
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Latest in Hair
    Nicole Kidman attends the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
    Hair Nicole Kidman’s Emmys Hair Has Me Ready to Retire the Slicked-Back Bun
    Lukita Maxwell at the 78th Emmy Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
    Hair Lukita Maxwell Just Made the Baby Bob Fall’s Most Tempting Haircut
     
     
    Zendaya at the 2026 Emmys looking over her shoulder and posing.
    Hair Zendaya's Pixie Cut Is the Star of the 2026 Emmys Red Carpet
    a yellow blowdryer held up by a white hand on a golden brown background with two photos of women with blowdried hair
    Hair Little Did I Know the Key to Getting More Volume In My Fine Hair Was a New Blow Dryer
     
     
    Latest in News
    Ayo Edebiri 2026 Emmys red carpet
    Celebrity Style Ayo Edebiri Sticks to Her Winning Red Carpet Formula at the Emmys
    a white woman in a gold dress with dark brown hair
    Nails Selena Gomez's 2026 Emmys Manicure Is All About a "Frosted Sunset" Finish
     
     
    US actress Zendaya presents the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series award to US actress Jean Smart onstage during the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre at LA Live in Los Angeles on September 14, 2026.
    Culture We're Tracking Every Can't-Miss Moment From the 2026 Emmys
    Grace Gummer and Louisa Jacobson red carpet looks at the 2026 Emmy Awards
    Celebrity Style Meryl Streep's Daughters Make Their Mom Proud on the 2026 Emmys Red Carpet
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.