The Duchess of Cambridge displays her greys: Has Kate been too busy with baby George to get her roots done?

 

• Kate showed off a different hairstyle today - plus silver streaks
• Grey hair not directly associated with pregnancy
• Many women find hair feels and looks thinner after having a baby
• Some mothers tend not to dye hair while pregnant or breastfeeding

By Olivia Walmsley
The Duchess of Cambridge was as elegant as ever today in a claret LK Bennett coat while meeting military supporters, as well as servicemen and women, as part of London Poppy Day.
However, the glossy mane which inspired a million Chelsea blow-dries looked rather different: silver roots were clearly visible along the parting of her normally chestnut hair. She's also chosen a flatter style than she normally wears, parted in the middle.
During her pregnancy, Kate's lovely locks looked their lustrous best.

Grey roots could clearly be seen along the parting of Kate's normally chestnut mane. Grey hair is not normally directly associated with pregnancy, so it's likely that Kate had a few greys before and has simply decided not to cover them.

But since she gave birth to Prince George in July, it seems that, like many new mothers, Kate's hair has looked rather worse for wear.
The grey strands we see in her's hair is not normally directly associated with pregnancy, although many women do notice their hair becoming noticeably thinner after they give birth.
It's more likely that Kate had a few greys before and has simply decided not to cover them.
In fact, impeccably placed sources have whispered that the Duchess had, to her horror, started finding the odd grey hair (‘stress highlights’, her friends joke) before her pregnancy.

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To combat these, she had been having an organic vegetable-based dye and subtle low-lights applied during regular four-hour sessions at the Richard Ward Hair And Metrospa in Chelsea.
Evidently, Kate has let these sessions slip. Perhaps she's simply too busy with baby George? Not many new mothers, even royal ones, can spare four hours at the salon when they've a four-month-old to look after.

 

Impeccably placed sources have whispered that the Duchess had, to her horror, started finding the odd grey hair (‘stress highlights’, her friends joke) before her pregnancy

Hairdresser Daniel Galvin has this to say on the subject of Kate's hair: 'There is no evidence to suggest that pregnancy can cause greying of the hair.  However, going grey young can be caused by stress.
'Going grey marks nature’s way of softening the hair colour giving natural highlights as the skin pigmentation changes.  I always recommend using a semi-permanent colour with no ammonia or peroxide, to blend the grey hair and tone it down slightly.'
However, Kate may want to avoid any unnecessary chemicals: it could be that she's being very vigilant about the heath implications of dying your hair while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Many women stop dyeing their hair during pregnancy, and tend until around wait until around 12 weeks after the birth of their baby to begin colouring again. This is for fear of the chemicals used in many dyes being passed to the baby through breast-feeding.
However, the NHS says mothers needn't avoid the salon: 'The chemicals in permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes are not highly toxic. Most research, although limited, shows that it’s safe to colour your hair while pregnant.

This time last year, pictured above, Kate's hair was noticeably darker, and parted at the side

'Some studies have found that very high doses of the chemicals in hair dyes may cause harm. However, these doses are massive compared to the very low amount of chemicals a woman is exposed to when colouring her hair.'
During pregnancy, many women experience increased hair and nail growth as well as thicker and shinier hair. However, some women experience the flip side of that coin. Dryness, breakage and loss of hair are common complaints from pregnant women.
Often, women find their hair looks thicker and shinier during pregnancy but hormonal changes kick in after having a baby, as dermatologist Justine Hextall explains.

'Hair has three phases; growth, resting and shedding,' she says.

'Normally, hair grows at the same rate that it falls out. But under the influence of pregnancy hormones, more hairs remain in the growing phase, particularly during the second and third trimester, which is why women often notice hair becoming thicker as their pregnancy goes on.
'Usually, losing your hair after birth is just your hair going back to normal.'