Meghan Markle recently opened up about her not-so-glamorous hair-care routine during her college years, offering a candid and nostalgic glimpse into her life before royalty.
On the April 22 episode of her Confessions of a Female Founder podcast, the Duchess of Sussex revisited her days at Northwestern University, where she studied from 1999 to 2003 and was an active member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
In conversation with her longtime friend and celebrity hair colorist Kadi Lee, Meghan shared stories of the challenges she faced managing her natural hair. Long before the convenience of modern flat irons, Meghan relied on a more traditional — and slightly dangerous — method to straighten her curls. “I had the little stove, with the flat iron that would go in, and a paper towel on the side,” she recalled, chuckling. “Most of the girls in the sorority who weren’t Black would ask, ‘What’s that smell? Is hair burning?’” Meghan laughed as she told the story, clearly comfortable reflecting on the awkward and humorous memories.
Kadi, who attended Spelman College, a Historically Black College for women, related deeply to Meghan’s experience. Their shared reflections highlighted the cultural significance and complexity of Black hair care, particularly during formative years like college.
Meghan, now 43, has spoken about her hair journey in the past as well. On a previous episode of her Archetypes podcast, she recalled how her grandmother would tackle her thick curls with little patience. “She’d say, ‘Just hold on to the sink,’ and I would grip both sides with my little hands,” Meghan remembered.
These personal anecdotes show a different side of Meghan — one that many women, especially women of color, can identify with. Through these honest conversations, Meghan continues to use her platform to share stories of identity, beauty, and resilience, reminding listeners that even a duchess had to figure out her hair just like everyone else.