Profile of a celebrity hairdresser: richard ward

Award-winning celebrity hairdresser Richard Ward is one of the biggest names in the industry and is pioneer of the 'super salon' concept.

His award-winning Sloane Square salon in London plays host a team of 75 expert staff looking after the hair and beauty needs of more than 1,000 clients per week - including a glittering list of celebrities.

Richard is resident hairdresser and hair guru on ITV's Lorraine show and has also appeared on programmes including Coleen's Real Women, Fat Families and What Not to Wear shows.

Richard regularly appears as an industry spokesman on BBC News, Radio London and Radio 5 Live and his expert hair makeovers and soundbites appear regularly in both trade and glossy magazines too.

How did you end up in your job?

My mum took me to Daniel Galvin with her in the school holidays when I was 16. They couldn't afford to keep me at private school so staying on wasn't an option, although I probably wouldn't have wanted to anyway. There was a shoot on that day and there were models everywhere so I thought it looked like a cool job! 

My mum had salons (she was a hairdresser) so it seemed a natural fit. My best friend's parents had a house in Chelsea and they rented me a room right up until I got engaged - it was a riot.

What tips would you give for anyone who wants your job?

It evolves really - I love the variety of what I do now. My day can be so changeable and involves so many different elements and that's stimulating. But I never set out for that to happen, it just has. I'm a big believer in loving what you do - we spend too long at work not to!

What are the best and worst parts of your job?

I still love doing clients but I really enjoy my TV work and my QVC work. It's very intense, scary and adrenaline-filled. 

I don't like dealing with maintenance problems like our hot water going off or the elements in our tank going wrong. That sort of thing makes my blood boil. 

What do you like best about being involved in the hair industry?

It's a great profession and getting greater as the years pass. There are so many careers available to young people in our industry now - it really is a dynamic, forward thinking sector. 

It's a great solid trade, too. It withstands the recession better than most other trades and we should all be very grateful to be part of it. You meet some very interesting people too - everything else seems very dull in comparison.