We have had to be innovative to compete against giants such as Procter & Gamble We look for a need that hasn’t been addressed That’s part of Gail’s genius. Our product Sheer Blonde came from focus groups she organised. Feedback from blondes was that they don’t use gel because they say it dulls their hair. So we came up with a line that targets them.Gail and I are like family now. When my father met her father, the similarity was uncanny – it was as if they’d known each other all their lives.

After my father had his stroke they ended up living in the same house.With Gail, I don’t have to explain There was a shared vision and goal that was solid. If we decide to do something, even if we don’t agree, we’re both 100 per cent behind it. She proved herself without asking for anything, and gave advice that was invaluable. She was open, generous and supportive, with confidence in her own ability.I had an intensive education from Gail in marketing I couldn’t get enough of it. I started in 40 Boots sites and within six months was in more than 1,000. I was running the company out of a basement in my salon; a logistical nightmare. Then I got an order for 1.2m bottles of thickening lotion – it was like having a hit record.

And it was the one moment when Gail was available to join me.One of Gail’s great strengths is that she can almost see the future She mapped out the next five years In my mind, there had been a vague notion Suddenly, there was a structure People tell you they are good, but they don’t show you She was matter-of-fact. My products had gone into Boots in a small way; then I began appearing on TV and the sales boomed. I’d never worked for myself because I thought it would affect my creativity But I needed to attack something new. That was in 1976.I wanted to expand, but didn’t want to open lots of salons Products were the way to go. The only professional line was Vidal Sassoon’s; I knew the products people needed, the ones I used on models, which weren’t available to anybody else.But I didn’t have a clue about marketing and distribution I began trying to do things in a small way. Then I got a letter from Boots the Chemists, saying: “Can we meet you? We’ve heard your products are good.”And I was approached by an American professional products company, Zotos, whose vice-president of advertising and marketing was Gail. But I’d spent nine years doing hair and that was my expertise I decided to open my own salon.

My motivation was to get out of studying; I thought I would go and work for my father.
I’d worked in the salon on Saturdays. When he realised he wasn’t going to talk me out of it, he said: “You must go and work for one of the big salons.” Off I went to the House of Leonard. After a month, I got the opportunity to be Leonard’s assistant. All of a sudden, I was working in the world of British Vogue and Harpers & Queen.But I get bored quickly At 25, I was thinking of giving up hairdressing I needed a new challenge. I’d done well academically, and took a couple of O-levels early Then girls appeared on the horizon I must have stopped working – I failed all my exams.