Duchess of Sussex joked about beauty trick at launch of Highbrow Hippie’s new hair care line

Meghan Markle has switched up her beauty routine in a relatable way during the COVID pandemic: boxed hair color.

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, made the relatable revelation at her close friend and hair colorist Kadi Lee’s November 15 launch party. Highbrow Hippie line for hair care and wellness at the Gjelina restaurant in Venice, California, showing support for the woman-founded business she’s backing 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 paint in a can when I met her!” eliciting laughter from those present.

At the launch party, Meghan gave Lee a thoughtful gift – roses from the garden of her home in Montecito, where she lives with Prince Harry and their children, Prince Archie5 and Princess Lilibet3.

Meghan’s glossy tresses have long been one of her style signatures, and she ordered her hair color online for just a few bucks during the pandemic.

Related: Meghan Markle glows at launch party for her hair colorist in California: ‘She was in a happy mood’

Celebrity hairstylist Serge Normant, who did Meghan’s hair when she married Prince Harry in 2018 and remains a friend, told her she only needed to meet one person in California: “Kadi Lee.”

PEOPLE understands the pair struck up a friendship following the presentation, and Meghan has been using the celebrity colorist for the past four-and-a-half years. Lee is a strong supporter of BIPOC businesses and Meghan is one of the main investors in his brand.

The celebrity hair colorist runs Highbrow Hippie with her business partner, Myka Harris, and the two are introducing the new eponymous range to address the root causes of hair loss to promote healthy hair aging. The hair pro highlighted her work with Meghan Instagram several times this year, from the countdown to the 2025 Invictus Games in February to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Gala in October.

Related: Meghan Markle’s winter hair transformation: The secret behind her ‘chocolate brown glow’

“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 at 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 Paltrowand Diane von Furstenbergand the release marks the next chapter for Highbrow Hippie.

Some of Meghan’s closest friends were also at the party, including her long-time friend and make-up artist Daniel Martin, as well as Vicky Tsai, the founder of Tatcha, who appeared in the Netflix series The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Harry and Meghan.

“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 revealed herself as an investor in women-founded, sustainably sourced handbag brand The Cesta collectiverecounting 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 burgeoning lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.

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“Investing in them helped align me for this chapter where I’m investing in myself,” Meghan said over the summer.