A day in the life: richard ward, celebrity stylist

I'm a lark (but a bit of a night owl too - like most hairdressers) so I'm always up at 6am. I often wake in the night at about 3am and if something is on my mind I find it difficult to get back to sleep. I go down and make the tea - Hellen insists it's my one domestic chore, to bring her a pot of tea in the morning. The children come and get into bed with us until it's time for us all to get going and get showered at 7am. I don't have breakfast before I leave the house as there isn't a lot of time.

The salon is in Sloane Square. We live in Parsons Green so if I don't need my motorbike for meetings in the day, we walk as it's only a couple of miles away. I've got a bad back at the moment so walking isn't an option and we're tubing it which is vile. I'd rather ride my bike any day!

I get to the salon at about 8.30am and check everything is ready for 9. I'm a maintenance freak - so I'll be replacing bulbs, cleaning stuff, getting odd jobs done, etc. I don't notice things like that at home (it drives Hellen mad) but at the salon I'm the first to spot everything. Once that's all done I'll have some breakfast. I do clients 3 days per week now, the rest of the time its meetings, calls, shoots, filming, etc.

My role is as the frontman to the business - to the media, the clients and the staff to a degree (as I'm working alongside them on the floor for much of the time). I coordinate everything from an artistic point of view, so that includes filming,  planning shows for QVC, artistic opportunities, my website, on-line shop, PR, marketing and more. My other role is as head of our product range, which is becoming increasingly all encompassing - from product development, production and manufacture to expanding the range portfolio. It takes up the bulk of my non-client time.

I spend most afternoons in meetings. I'm doing appraisals at the moment: Hellen does the management team, I do the art team and the seniors and Gavin does the reception, office and junior team members. It takes a long time and a lot of work but it's a vital part of my work.  I grab lunch when I can - usually after 2pm - and don't stop until leaving at around 6.30pm. Even after I leave I'm still talking about work - that's what happens when your business partner is also your wife - but normally by the time we get home work is off the agenda.

We spend time with the children then Hellen starts cooking while I get the wine out. I love watching the Channel 4 News to catch up with the day, then it's on to something mind-numbing on telly to chill out - like Eastenders - followed by a documentary to fall asleep to. We're always in bed by 10pm.