Princess Diana’s Surprising Obsession Led to Her Hair Turning into 'Plastic,' Says Photographer
While Princess Diana's signature pixie cut hair is etched in our memories, that wasn't the case when she was growing up.
While Princess Diana's signature pixie cut hair is etched in our memories, that wasn't the case when she was growing up. Diana had long, straight blonde hair when she was younger. Renowned photographer David Bailey, reflecting on his long career, once shared what it was like capturing photos of the Princess and Queen Elizabeth. He disclosed that Diana was especially obsessed with getting her hair into perfect waves. This obsession, he claims, led to her hair being excessively stiff and plastic-like.
Bailey shared that the late Princess applied too much hairspray. As reported by L'Officiel, he said, "Terrible hair. You know, from the hairspray. The strands were as solid as a plastic mannequin." An iconic photo of Diana, taken at the age of 27, is among Bailey's most well-known black-and-white portraits, which became his specialty. In the close-up, Diana looks straight at the camera with a soft smile. Her delicate, swept-back hairstyle creates stunning facial framing. She accessorized her look with her famous diamond and emerald teardrop-shaped earrings.
Diana’s '90s hairstyle was the masterpiece of renowned hairstylist Sam McKnight. In the documentary Diana: Queen of Style, McKnight said, "I could feel that she wanted to change. I said I was going to cut it all off. Cut it all off and start over. So she said, 'Okay, let's do this.'" In the 2017 documentary, Diana in Her Own Words, a recording captured Diana reflecting on just how much her haircut meant to her. She said, "I think last summer, when Sam cut my hair in a different way, it set something completely loose. different."
Discussing also the late Princess's attitude, McKnight said, “She came bounding up the stairs in a studio in Hackney, this beautiful long-legged blond, and immediately made us all feel totally at ease. She had an amazing way of disarming you and kind of getting rid of all the nerves, and laughing and making jokes.” When Diana debuted her new, stylish cut at 19, she sent the media into a frenzy. McKnight recalled, “It was quite astounding. I discovered the power that she had in the press. The manner of coverage was quite extraordinary.” This was the beginning of McKnight and the Princess of Wales's close professional connection.
McKnight continued to be Diana's trusted hairstylist until her untimely death. In addition to the Princess, he also attended to Prince William and Prince Harry. Working with Diana meant McKnight also frequently had to travel with her on humanitarian trips, visiting hospitals and refugee camps in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and other places. Some of these trips were emotionally and physically demanding, but he was always amazed at how easily Diana interacted with people and how her love showed through even in the most trying situations.
