I have been lucky to work with some of the world's most creative talents - Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga being just two of them. Being a good hair stylist, whether it's working on a red-carpet or with a client in my London salon, is all about creating a look that makes an individual feel good about them self and enable the rest of the world take them seriously. If people look good and take care of their appearance, we tend to trust their opinion more.
When I cut Ed and Justine Miliband's hair a couple of years ago, it was a simple case of sharpening up both their images. They had both gone from the political side lines to the mainstream overnight - they were a bit like rabbits in the headlights. My styling of Justine turned her from "mouse to fashion maven" overnight (that was according to Liz Jones so I will take that!) Ed, on the other hand didn't like the shorter, sharper look that I gave him. I think Ed would really rather be an academic hidden away than a media personality. Since I worked with him, his hair has gone all over the place - one minute its long, then short again - if Ed had a more decisive cut and stuck to it, then people would care less about how he looks (or the size of his kitchen) and more about why we all once liked the Labour Party -they do tend to care about people.
The biggest story for this year's General Election will undoubtedly be Nigel Farage: he smokes, he drinks, he wears his green Barbour with pride and he sports the classic middle England middle-class short back and sides. What you see is what you get with Farage - or is it? For Farage the symbols of 'Britishness' makes him safe - unlike say, the BNP. Farage appears to be 'one of us' standing up against 'all of them'. He is a clever operator and so is his look - especially as these days most politicians are scared to make any kind of statement.
Politics and fashion are no longer the friends they once were - think of the iconic politicians: from Churchill to Thatcher, even Michael Foot and his duffle coat - they all had a 'look'. You couldn't have Spitting Image today as our politicians have morphed into the same person. They are scared of fashion - more than that, they seem afraid to make any kind of personal statement.
This has caused the blandness of politics which is what we all complain about. This is why someone like Theresa May seems to make so much noise. I am not a particular fan of the woman, but because she actually appears to have read a fashion magazine and walked into a decent shop, people seem to like her for being a bit 'different'. A brightly coloured or patterned coat will always be more interesting for photographers and photo editors than yet another dark blue suit.
Politicians seem to feel that appearing to love clothes or to groom themselves is a weakness. I believe it will be the SNP party and Nicola Sturgeon who could prove to hold the balance of power come election day. Her new look evolved over the Independence Referendum: the more angular hair cut to the jaw, the rich honey highlights, the darker make up and the slick suits have given both her and the electorate more confidence. Nicola Sturgeon is now a major political and style power-house and her party may indeed end up controlling the outcome of the vote for the UK - not bad for a 'wee lassie in a tin helmet'.