Celebrity hairdresser showcase - Lee Stafford

Abigail Montgomery models her Lee Stafford haircut

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Award winning celebrity hairdresser Lee Stafford brought his scissors to Rochdale to showcase his work to an excited group of young hairdressing students from Hopwood Hall College plus fellow hair and beauty professionals from across the North West.

The event was organised by Becky Lee, Curriculum Leader of Hairdressing at Hopwood Hall College. Ms Lee was clearly thrilled as the 350 strong sell out audience clearly enjoyed a unique opportunity to see a master of his craft at work. She said: “The aim of the event was to inspire and motivate all who attended, particularly young hairdressing students.”

Whilst cutting the hair of student volunteers on stage at Rochdale Town Hall, Lee explained to his enthusiastic audience that he spent his first 6 years cutting hair, mainly men’s, in his mother’s dining room in her Essex home, not having had any formal training.

Lee then took the decision to step up a gear and went on “loads of courses” led by household names such as Vidal Sasoon and Toni & Guy, before starting his own hairdressing salon.

Lee soon became recognised for his hairdressing talents, being named Men’s British Hairdresser of the Year 1998. Since then, he’s become a household name, with his own product range in Boots and has starred in various TV programmes such as Secret Millionaire and Celebrity Scissorhands.

Abigail Montgomery, a 16-year-old Hopwood Hall College hairdressing student was one of the volunteers who had her hair cut, asked what that meant to her she said: “It means a lot, it was amazing. Lee is such a talented hairdresser and a really nice guy.”

Asked the crucial question as to whether she likes her cut, Abigail said: “I really love it.”

Talking to Rochdale Online, Lee explained his hairdressing philosophy: “I charge £380 for a haircut and so I have to make sure my clients get a very special experience. I spend time looking at face shape and plan cuts from A to Z before I start and take around two hours to complete a cut.”

Asked why he accepted the invitation to come to Rochdale, Lee said: “For the big fee. No seriously, I have a moral crusade to try and educate young hairdressers. I have trained lots in my salon and make sure I gave them quality training and these shows allow me to reach many more.”

Event organiser Becky Lee said: “To invite Lee was the idea of hairdressing tutor Lindsay Brash, she came to me and I put the wheels in motion.”

Ms Lee added: “I am blown away by the night, it has been absolutely fabulous and so good to see so many here.”