Lee Stafford Talks Celebrity Hair

2 months ago 30th Oct 15:26

Lee Stafford is not only a stylist to the stars, but also a big softie who likes to help out charity too. He counts Victoria Beckham and.Jordan among his celebrity clients, giving him a firm A-list standing in the world of Celebdom.

Lee is currently heading up Celebrity Sissorhands for BBC's Children in Need, taking nine celebrities under his wing and teaching them the tricks of the trade, with the proceeds going to charity. It's Lee's second year running his celebrity academy, and he couldn't be happier to be back in charge of whipping those new trainees into shape.

FemaleFirst caught up with Lee to talk about causing trouble in Texas, his naughty hair secrets and why he'd like to restyle the Queen's hair.

Hi Lee! how are you doing this fine morning, well afternoon I guess?

I'm doing very well thank you, this morning and afternoon.

So what have you been up to recently?

Me?! Well, oh my god! I went to Texas about three weeks ago, I went to do a TV show in America, it's called Split Ends and it's like wife swap meets salon swap. I swapped with this girl who was very religious, never been outside Texas and I was in the middle of nowhere in Texas. It was very amusing though, I ended up having the biggest fight of my life!

Oh no what happened?

Well, I told a manager that her team couldn't cut hair. They were a great bunch, they really were and had great service and that all going on, but I've never seen anyone cut hair that bad. So I said to one of them in a training session, and I expected her to be all diplomatic about the whole thing, but she wasn't and ended up telling everyone. It was bullshit, it all went a bit mental. It's all fun, I was getting a bit bored over there to be quite honest with you, and I thought well, what are people watching going to be like, so I spiced it up a bit. But I ended up throwing about 100 chilies into the mix in the end!

When is it on TV?

Well, it will be on in America, because it's an American show, but it is on the channel called Style Channel over here. You can find it on Sky somewhere. I'm sure!

Tell us about your involvement in Celebrity Sissorhands this year

Well, I'm the manager so I have a lot of celebrities that I have to train up, all for Children in Need. It's the same format, because it worked so bloody well last year. I've changed my mind set a little bit, in the sense that I'm going in there you know as if my life depended on it. I want to get these people good at cutting hair, it's a challenge for me. It's what I do, I educate and that's my vocation. I want to prove I can get these people looking good in three weeks.

Have you met any of the celebrity snippers yet?

I did an interview this morning with the girl from The Apprentice, I met her this morning for the first time.

What did you think of her?

I thought she was nice, you know. I didn't see her on The Apprentice, but I know she wore really bright clothes, why what do you think she's like?

Me? oh, well I don't know what she's like in real life, I thought she got bullied a bit on the programme though. She came across like she didn't do anything when she was in a team, but really stepped up when she was leader and was really good, so I'm sure she'll be fine. Good luck with her!

Thanks!

Why and how did you get involved with Sissorhands?

Well, it's for a great cause and erm, it's challenge you know and as I said before. It's great to train people who have never cut hair before. Life's too short, you should have fun.

What do you think are the main hair trends this Winter, I've just had mine cut into a crop, so tell me that's fashionable!?

Really, have you? how are you finding that to style- must take you a bit longer each day, and how long was your hair before?

Well, I like to change it a lot and it's pretty funky! but I did it slowly so I had a bob first and now it's just shorter.

Good girl, good girl! (mumbles) er...(munch, munch)

Are you eating while you're talking to me!?

Yeah! I'm eating nuts. Anyway, Posh is such an influence and all girls like her and now she's had her hair cropped off, it's going to grow out into many different styles. I think it will influence a lot of people, who want to try shorter hair. Although maybe not as short as she has it now. I think that shorter hair is definitely a trend for girls- I've styled very few because not many girls have the courage to have it.

You obviously have a passion for hairdressing, is it the same now as when you started out?

Well, I've got more of a passion these days, because it's taken all of my bloody life to actually cut hair well. Even though there was so much to learn. It's great to have some motivation in your life, like when you do great work it feels good and people feel good, and I've had so many exciting things that have happened in my career now, it's great.

Have you ever made a mistake on a clients hair?

Loads, absolutely loads.

Did you let them know?!

Well, you know- you just try and bluff it really. You sweat and you panic and you do your best and ride it out. Everyone makes mistakes and it's a learning curve, and yeah... I've made more mistakes on models than I have on clients really.

Who cuts your hair?

At the moment one of my stylists, John cuts it for me and he's just a brilliant barber. I've just been having a short back and sides at the minute for the first time since the 80s. He's brilliant at doing that so I've been going there.

Who are your celebrity clients?

I've done everyone from Posh to Jordan, Rolling Stones, Kasabian. We've done loads...

What's next for the Lee Stafford hair range then?

I've got some new products coming out soon, that takes it to 22 and the new one is coming out this month, so I've got more space in Boots. It's going really well, we're now in 28 countries so you know the brand is just going from strength to strength.

Whose hair do you rate at the moment and who do you think could use your help?

I quite like Posh's and I think the Queen could do without my help, she needs a little Chanel bob or something.

We ask everyone we interview to come up with a question for the next person we interview so Gok Wan asked you -Do you wear briefs or boxers?

I definitely don't wear boxers. In fact the last girlfriend I had, I got into bed with her and she went 'oh my god, your pants are smaller than my knickers' I like the square ones really!

FemaleFirst- Laura Terry