When snipper Steve Turner first picked up a pair of scissors at 15 he wasn't motivated by a flair for fashion, inner creativity or an over-powering urge to keep everyone looking catwalk worthy.
Instead, he reached for the shears with one thing in mind — to simply meet people.
Little did he know by 21 he'd be looking after the locks of some of the world's most powerful and famous celebrities.
"Celebrities these days receive so much attention and adoration wherever they go, [and] are often surrounded by a bevy of ‘yes' men and women," joked the UK hairdresser.
"Sometimes they just crave normality and that's what I try and give them."
Well, that is until the pressure is on and he is expected to produce the impossible — the celebs having assessed every style on the night and are now demanding something bigger, better and more show-stopping, Turner gets them red carpet-ready in a matter of minutes.
Being a stylist to the stars sounds like a dream job for any hairdresser, but as Turner explains having the likes of UK diva Jordan, the gorgeous Sophie Anderton and daughter of a rock star Kimberley Stewart on your books isn't always easy.
"Some have great hair, some need more help," he said ahead of a trip to Dubai leading master classes for local hairdressers. "Some are prima donnas [not mentioning any names but take a wild guess] and others are very down to earth."
A vital factor in the overall look of any celebrity, Turner channels his creativity into developing new styles and looks part of the reason the celebs choose him.
"I don't treat celebrities any differently from any other customer," he said. "For me, each client is a VIP and looking after their hair is important to them and to me after all, they are a walking advertisement for my skills."
Over the years he has cared for, styled and looked after the locks of celebrities, glamour girls and models and says to keep them looking their best, his celebrity clientele visit at least once a week for a wash and blow dry.
You can do it
Loose and scraped back:Apply a light mousse. With hair loose and straight back blast dry with the air flow as close to the roots as you can stand. Blast hair completely dry before using a toothed-Alice band to scrape back as tightly as the blast dry will allow. For volume or a quiff, drag back further and push forward for the desired height and volume.
Half up, half down:This style is very '80s and right on trend now. Scrunch dry hair. Scrape pieces of hair up (use the right hand for the left side of the head and the left hand for the right side of the head). Using open hair pins pick hair from underneath, lift the hair and pin over the top and insert pin into hair. Use several pins to secure and repeat on the other side.
Feel like a change?
Steve Turner is heading interactive practical workshops at the Ritz-Carlton from tomorrow to Saturday. Six snappy presentations covering all angles of life with a pair of scissors in your hands, including cut, colour and styling, as well as a daily seminar on running a successful salon, are up for grabs.
Cutting against the clock
Hands-on at events, including London Fashion Week and Elton's Aids Foundation Party, Steve Turner confesses it's harder to remember whose hair he hasn't styled rather than those he has. "These shows present a number of challenges, because you don't necessarily know in advance what the theme is. You may not get a brief for the creative team and you don't always know what the celeb will be wearing, so you have to create a look to suit them, accentuates their facial structure or neck, and complements their designer gown. Most importantly, you're up against the clock.
"Elton's event was at the Natural History Museum in London and I was asked to do ‘updos' for about 25 models and celebs," he recalls. "I had just minutes to make them look glamorous and chose low ponytails, a tight Hispanic style chignon to the side of the nape of the neck for Jordan and Emma B, and soft scrunchy updos for Kimberley Stewart. I went for a more bohemian style for Jodie Kidd."
The long and short of hair extentions
Top tip:"The key to keeping your extensions looking good is to use specific moisturising shampoos without protein and to go to the salon once a week for a blow dry to maintain the look. Well cared for extensions usually last three to four months."
Jordan: "Jordan had hair extensions when she was blonde and preferred long curls. I put in 20 inches of fibres as well as pink and blue highlights, which she loved.
"The biggest challenge when doing Jordan's hair and remember a full head of extensions takes up to 5 hours was to remain focused on her hair and keep my attention away from her other attributes."
Sophie Anderton: "I looked after Sophie for a couple of years. Sophie had 18-inch racoon hair extensions. They last about four months.
When I removed them, I gave her a mid-layered tousled look which is currently very on trend. She looked stunning."
Don't Miss it
Steve Turner will be available for cuts and hair consultations at Pastels Salon, Ritz-Carlton Dubai Thursday. Call 04-3995016
