NICKY CLARKE

Aims

To raise awareness:

• that cutting hair is a legitimate profession
• that it is open to women, men, straight or gay
• that you can move up quickly through the ranks and earn a good living
• that as long as hair grows, hairstylists will never be out of work

Curriculum relevance

This programme can be used and discussed in conjunction with courses in sociology, psychology, education, sexuality education, basic economics, fashion and media trend issues.

• England & Wales
• Northern Ireland
• Scotland

Programme outline

00-00.45
Introduction Nicky Clarke: as a celebrity hairdresser he can afford to buy his 50th £2000 Saville Row suit.

00.46-03.17
Nicky has built a multi-million pound business from his love and talent for cutting hair. Nicky gives a list of all the celebrity heads he tends to, including The Duchess of York's hair. Nicky styles a model on a photo shoot.

03.18-05.13
History 1: Nicky's a South London boy from a big working-class family with an outside loo. He practised cutting hair on his siblings; at school he did badly in his exams and dropped out. Nicky decided to take his hobby further, and entered world of professional hairdressing. His father didn't understand his decision but supported him anyway.

05.14-08.12
Nicky has an interview with the top salon of the day. His enthusiasm gets him the job, but the idea of cutting a longhaired model makes him physically ill. Realising he had no social skills to cope working with the rich and famous, Nicky decided to work even harder, and become even better. He used the cult movie 'Shampoo' to re-style his own image. To Nicky, cutting hair is like performing.

08.13-11.37
Nicky teaches a history of hairdressing class. Two junior stylists talk about the low pay and menial work you have to do when you first start. But once you learn your craft, you can earn a great deal.

11.38-14.44
History 2: Nicky confronts the issue of sexuality in hairdressing. He explains how he got first break from doing magazine spreads when he was 18, working 15-hour days as his reputation grew. The secret to Nicky's success is he takes looks of the moment and makes them more commercial and wearable.

14.45-17.24
Nicky sits in a café and comments on the various hairstyles going by. He uses his wealth of experience on the many clients he works on. Nicky is on a photo shoot again, restyling a model.

17.25-20.18
History 3: Nicky's ex-wife Leslie explains how she transformed Nicky into a household name, and the relationship between creativity and business sense. Nicky revolutionised the hairdressing industry – the first to charge £100 a haircut.

20.19-21.45
Nicky is now at the top of his game, charging £500 a haircut. Expectations of him are high and he has a lot to live up to. Nicky reveals he was shy boy, and that hairdressing is a confidence-building profession.

21.46-End
Nicky's hobby of doing something he loved transformed his life. If you don't mind hard work it's worth it because you make other people feel better about themselves. More importantly, hairdressers will never be out of work as long as hair continues to grow!