Phyl Clarkemeets John Frieda, the king of frizz control
I was having a bad hair day - on the most important hair day of my life. Overcome with excitement at the prospect of meeting my hair hero, John Frieda, I had played it safe and washed my hair the night before, as it often sits better the next day. Next morning, with the taxi waiting outside, I was still taming my curls, adding a bit more product here and there, but there was no saving the day. Instead of a sophisticated, silken head, I was going to present - horror of horrors - a dolly-mixture of some parts frizz and others lying limp, drowned in product. I was going to meet the second most important man in my life looking like Mungo Jerry. The best I could do was pop on my trusty hair band, along with some earrings to deflect attention from the bird's nest mess on my head.
John Frieda is founder of a hugely successful empire. He is the creator of the famous "Purdey" haircut for Joanna Lumley, mentor of Nicky Clarke and, most importantly, inventor of the most significant hair product since hairspray, Frizz Ease Hair Serum, the product that transformed Nicole Kidman's mane into a sleek curtain.
One bottle is sold every 20 seconds and there are 180 serums trying, unsuccessfully in my opinion, to emulate its winning formula. It still racks up more awards than Frieda has mantelpieces to put them on, and it is available at your local supermarket and pharmacy for less than €10.
He was charm itself when we met. "Great to meet you, Mr Ease, I mean Frieda," I stuttered as I fell over my words like a star-struck teenager. Surely he must have a portrait in the attic, I thought. His relaxed and chatty attitude belied the fact that he must have done this type of meet-and-greet thousands of times. I decided the secret of his success must be his boyish enthusiasm and creative drive to improve on even the seemingly perfect.
To deal with the heat styling craze of today - the use of ceramic irons, curling tongs and blow drying - Frieda has launched a Frizz Ease Thermal Protection Serum which seals the hair and gives a glossy, silk-like finish. Along with the Original Formula, which was launched 20 years ago, and the recent addition Extra Strength, this is the holy trinity of serums.
But Mr Frieda was not all talk: he invited me to experience his treatment at his Mayfair salon. If they could see me now, I thought as I swanned in to be greeted by my stylist, Damian.
I thought nobody could be more interested in my hair problems than myself, but I was wrong. Damian discussed my needs and long-term hair plans, as I told him I was growing the top section down. He suggested taking a couple of inches off the ends to balance the look. I wasn't too enthusiastic at the prospect of losing the comfort of hair long enough to nestle around my neck. This was a common concern among women, he said. But Damian was confident that I would be happy with it, and then he said the magic words: "It will make you look thinner". Sold, I said, and put myself entirely in his hands. One hour later, I emerged looking (in my mind) like Coco Chanel, with a head of hair that seemed to make my neck look longer and my clothes more stylish. I also seemed to have lost 10 years somewhere along the line. A Tír na nÓg of a salon.
Dear Mark (my regular stylist), if you are reading this, honestly, it was just a one-night stand. He swept me off my feet. I was dazzled by the glamour of it all. I've had my fling, it's out of my system. Now, can I come in for a colour on Saturday?