Meghan Markle shifted her beauty routine in a relatable way during the COVID pandemic: boxed hair color.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, made the relatable revelation at the Nov. 15 launch party for her close friend and hair colorist Kadi Lee’s new Highbrow Hippie Haircare and Wellness line at Gjelina restaurant Venice, California, showing support for the female-founded venture she backs as an investor.
After Lee spoke about how her friendship with Meghan influenced the evolution of her business, the Duchess of Sussex said, “I was using boxed dye when I met her!” eliciting laughs from those in attendance.
At the launch party, Meghan presented Lee with a thoughtful gift—roses from the garden of her Montecito home, where she lives with Prince Harry and their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.
Meghan’s glossy tresses have long been one of her signature style features, and she ordered her hair color online for just a few dollars during the pandemic.
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Celebrity hairstylist Serge Normant, who did Meghan’s hair when she married Prince Harry in 2018 and has remained a friend, told her that she only needed to know one person in California: “Kadi Lee.”
PEOPLE understands that the pair struck up a friendship following the introduction, and Meghan has turned to the celeb colorist for the past four and a half years. Lee is a strong supporter of BIPOC businesses, and Meghan is one of the lead investors in her brand.
The celebrity hair colorist runs Highbrow Hippie with her business partner, Myka Harris, and the two are introducing the new namesake range to curb the root causes of hair loss to promote the healthy aging of hair. The hair pro has highlighted her work with Meghan on Instagram several times this year, from the Invictus Games 2025 countdown in February to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Gala in October.
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“She was in a joyful mood,” a source tells PEOPLE of Meghan’s infectious energy at the event. “She was dancing and celebrating with her friends.”
Videos shared to Lee’s Instagram Stories showed the Duchess dancing and singing along to a gospel choir performance. Lee is also the hair colorist of Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Diane von Furstenberg, and the launch marks the next chapter for Highbrow Hippie.
Some of Meghan’s closest friends were also at the bash, including her longtime friend and makeup artist Daniel Martin, as well as Vicky Tsai, founder of Tatcha, who appeared in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan.
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“We needed this celebration of community and creativity,” Martin tells PEOPLE. “I was honored to celebrate these women among such close friends.”
In August, Meghan was revealed as an investor in the female-founded, sustainably sourced handbag brand, Cesta Collective, telling The New York Times there were between five and 10 brands in her portfolio. The Duchess of Sussex described them as complementary to her own budding lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.
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“Investing in them has helped me line up for this chapter where I’m investing in myself,” Meghan said over the summer.
