'the pressure is on me'

This week, I've got some really exciting news to kick off with: a fifth series of 10 Years Younger has just been commissioned and I am going to be the resident hairdresser again. The programme has created commercial awareness for me and given me new opportunities but the great thing about it is that it really drives people into salons. It also shows potential clients that, while some of the treatments are out of bounds for your average person, a good cut and colour is an achievable and affordable way to really improve your appearance.

If you can't wait until January, the 10 Years Younger Summer Specials begin on Thursday and I'm really looking forward to seeing them for the first time with the rest of you. We shot them back in March and although I don't completely forget, I'll still be shouting 'there's no way that can be the same person!' at my TV.At the beginning of last week, I had my British Hairdresser of the Year shoot. We had the odd little problem with a model, which is to be expected on a shoot, but other than that I was pleased with the way it went. I do find it very difficult to step back from it and look at it objectively, though, because I become so emotionally attached to the project. The Hairdresser of the Year is a different shoot to anything else that I do. I'm in a very privileged position to have been nominated and my CV will be taken into account, but so much depends on your eight images. And creating the right image is a very fine line. You don't want it to be too editorial, but you don't want it to be a bland head and shoulders shot either. Now that I have won the Hairdresser of the Year before, it feels like there is even more pressure on me. I got the balance right last year so I am really determined to do it again. <p align="center"

I'm not ashamed to say that I have never wanted to win the Hairdresser of the Year as much as I do this year. I've really enjoyed the responsibility of being an ambassador for the British hair industry and I hope that I have done a good job, but I don't feel that one year is quite long enough to do something substantial with the role. In stark contrast to my BHA shoot was the Marks and Spencer winter campaign I shot on Wednesday. It's an entirely different situation where you work under direction from their art director to achieve the look they have created. Working for someone else is all about building relationships, so you listen to what they want to achieve and give them your advice on how you can best help them. It's vital that you have a clear understanding of the brand and the messages they are going to convey. It's an interesting time to be working with Marks and Spencer because they have a developing brand image, but it still feels strange working on their December campaign in the height of the summer!Speaking of summer, I'm off on my holidays for two weeks now. If anything really exciting comes up, I'll keep you posted but otherwise I'll update you when I get back.