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Inspired by Kate: Make your blowout last for 5 days... it's possible!

Hair today, gone tomorrow. Just as Duchess Kate's visit to the U.S. flew by too quickly, so too does the lifespan of a great blowout. Whether you're DIY-ing it at home or indulging in a trip to the salon, the perfect blowout is simply all too fleeting — until now. TODAY gathered tips from the experts to find out how to make your hairstyle last five full days. That's almost a week straight, just
TODAY
Duchess Kate at NBA game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York Dec. 8.EPA

Hair today, gone tomorrow. Just as Duchess Kate's visit to the U.S. flew by too quickly, so too does the lifespan of a great blowout. Whether you're DIY-ing it at home or indulging in a trip to the salon, the perfect blowout is simply all too fleeting — until now. TODAY gathered tips from the experts to find out how to make your hairstyle last five full days. That's almost a week straight, just in time for the holidays. Simply follow these rules and channel your inner princess. Who knows, Prince Harry's still single.

What you’ll need: shampoo, conditioner, mousse and/or root spray, finishing spray, dry shampoo, a shower cap, a big barrel curling iron, a small curling iron, sea salt spray, 6-8 bobby pins, 1-2 hair elastics.

Day 1: Wash, Prep, and Style

TODAY
Duchess Kate and her bouncy blowout on Dec. 7 in New York City.James Devaney / Today

The Product: If you’re starting at home, it all begins with a great wash. “Shampoo twice, first with a clarifying shampoo," recommended Brett James, hair guru and owner of the Brett James Salon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, "The second [shampoo] can be different, but not overly hydrating."

Next, give your hair a good conditioning treatment from the middle of the hair to the ends. Once out of the shower, “apply a volume spray or mousse to the roots and, finally, add a blowout serum,” James advised.

The Style: Continue to blow dry and style as you normally would, topping off with some finishing spray.

Day 2: Lightly Spritz, Curl, and Tousle

The Product: Continue to wear your hair down, but be sure to brush out any bedhead. “Begin by spraying your root area with a dry shampoo and shake your hair thoroughly. Then, go back in with a large curling iron to create soft texture,“ recommended Sherry Ratay, celebrity hairdresser and owner of Salon Ratay in Orlando, Florida.  

The Style: “After all sections are curled, shake again and use a finishing spray to hold the memory of the style. At the end of your night, lightly spray your root area if you tend to get oily," Ratay said, adding that dry shampoo is the next best thing to a fresh blowout.

Day 3: The Half-Up Change Up

TODAY
Duchess Kate's envious locks during her trip to New York City on Dec. 8.Today

The Product: By now your hair will start looking limp, so don't be afraid to add in a few products. “Apply dry shampoo, this time throughout the hair, and tease a little at the root area,” James said.

From here, you can either use a curling iron with a smaller barrel or use a sea salt spray to restore curls. Scrunch your hair in your hand afterward to reinforce the shape.

The Style: “Begin pulling pieces up around the front hairline and pin on the sides of the head or in the back of the head, securing in place with bobby pins and keeping it loose,” Ratay said. Then, just set the style with a tiny dose of finishing spray.

Day 4: Up We Go!  

TODAY
Duchess Kate rocks a sleek ponytail on Dec. 9 in New York City.Christopher Wahl / Today

The Product:  There’s quite a bit of products in your hair by now, so go easy on your locks. Target oily areas usually found along the hairline with more dry shampoo. Then, try one of these two styling options.

The Style: Updo Option #1: “Use a wide tooth comb to create a soft tease throughout the entire head,” Ratay said. “Then, with a soft bristle brush, pull into a high ponytail. If hair is shorter, do a low ponytail." Once the ponytail is in place, take a small section of hair and wrap it around the ponytail elastic, securing the ends with a bobby pin. Pro-tip: make sure the bobby pin blends with your hair color. Use the soft bristle brush again and carefully tease the ends of the ponytail for additional volume.

Updo Option #2: “Utilize a deeper side part using the wide tooth comb and braid the larger parted section loosely,” says James. Finish the braid at the base with an elastic and pull out some small pieces for a contemporary, undone aesthetic.  

Day 5: It’s a Wrap!

The Product: Your hair has been teased, textured, curled, braided, tucked and wrapped, which means it’s ripe to be rolled into a voluminous chignon. Use dry shampoo where needed, running your fingers through the sprayed areas to break up the product.

The Style: “Re-create your high ponytail, but now separate the hair into three parts, giving each of the sections a soft tease,” Ratay suggested. “Move each section away from the center of the ponytail and create a roll and secure it around the ponytail base with a bobby pin.”

Day 6: You've made it through the holidays with minimal hair time and maximum results – congratulations! Now that the seasonal excitement has come to a close, James said, “proceed to the hairdresser for a fresh blowout.“ Just in time for the New Year.

Julia DiNardo is a fashion and beauty expert residing in New York City who pens the blog Fashion Pulse Daily. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.