Celebrities can boost hairdressing business

Celebrities help to set the agenda when it comes to hair trends, they can also be great for PR as Matthew Batham explains in this week's hairdressing news round-up.

Celebrities have been popping up at salons across the UK over the past couple of weeks - and whether they are A-list or more D-list, they've been given star treatment.

The new cast of teen drama, Skins, caused quite a stir at Image International in Spalding, Lincolnshire. According to salon staff, they were "lovely" and happy to sign autographs and pose for pictures. Apparently the salon was packed with curious members of the public.

I must be getting old, because I wouldn't recognise any of them if they turned up on my doorstep. Mind you, I don't think I'm quite the demographic the programme is aimed at.

Now, Linda Bellingham - I know who she is! The star of those Oxo ads, and one of the opinionated presenters of day time TV's Loose Women, is appearing in Calendar Girls at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham and popped into Keith Hall Hairdressing for a bit of TLC. Linda was "as lovely in real life as she is on TV," according to stylist Ruth Mettam.

 

Inanch in London pulled out all the stops for its celebrity inspired and attended bash held on the night of the Oscars.

There was a red carpet, champagne reception and even paparazzi photographers to help guests get into the mood. Celebrities attending included Michelle Heaton - former singer with LibertyX; and glamour model and star of I'm a Celebrity..., Nicola McLean.

Not quite as A-list as the celebrities attending the actual Academy Awards, but their appearance still created some excitement - and they'd all been styled by the team at Inanch.

Enjoying her 15 minutes of fame - well, half an hour - was Jane Bates, a client of Amanda James Hairdressing in Didsbury, Manchester.

Jane appeared in an episode of Channel 4's Come Dine with Me and was filmed in the salon while stylist Andrea Davis created a glam new look for her. Jane went on to win her heat of the popular programme. I'm sure her hair must have helped clinch it.

Sadly none of these celeb clients parted with as much cash as Jennifer Aniston for her look at the premier tour for her new movie Marley & Me. The star allegedly flew her usual hairdresser from the States to Europe to spend the week with her - at a cost of £40,000!

Love them or loathe them, celebs do influence the public, your clients, and they are a great way to generate publicity - they even generate some column inches on HJi!