Pic courtesy of Lancashire Evening Telegraph

FROM being a celebrity hairdresser in New York, to cutting the locks of  Accrington folk is all part of life's journey according to Paul Freely. In the latest instalment of a Day in a Life the 39-year-old orphan, who recently opened a salon in Cross Street talks about plans to become an MP while focusing on charity work and his bold new venture.

Q. What time do you get up?

A. I get up at 6am and exercise. When I was living in New York I was mugged and was forced to jump off a building to escape the attackers. I have since had 40 operations which means it causes me pain when I walk so I have to chose what I do carefully. I try and get to the gym so I can use the machines. I have executive clients that I cut very early before arriving at the salon.

Q. What's your daily routine?

A. I arrive at the salon in Accrington at around 9am and make sure everything is in order before the start of the day. I aim to ensure we offer a five star service. Hygiene is top of my list. The floors are mopped twice daily to ensure the place is cleaner than a hospital.

We offer our clients a unique personal service with refreshments served on a beautiful tray with no limits to what people can have.

My partner Heath David Greenhalgh, who helped build the salon, provides security by walking clients to their cars as we stay open till 10pm. I picked a lot of this up when I spent time at the Ritz in Cannes. They really know how to do things and I plan to incorporate that into this business.

Q. What do you love about the job?

A. I love people and I am able to offer something different. I was an orphan at 11 and before my adopted mother died I believe she already set in my psyche that I'd be a hairdresser. I spent seven years in New York and was stylist to a number of celebrities including Rod Stewart and Kevin Bacon. I had to turn Madonna down once because I was too busy.

We employ people with learning or physical disabilities, gay people, hetrosexuals, Christians, Muslims and Hindus. Nobody is permitted to push their beliefs on to anyone. That's not what we are about. Everybody has to be treated with respect. I want to break down the cultural barriers that exist and hairdressing is an ideal place to do it. We attract professional people from teachers to lawyers who travel from different parts of the country to come here. It's about going back to basics and customers appreciate that. They like the personal touch.

Q. What's the strangest thing that has ever happened to you?

A. I had to take four flights to get to Cannes to dye Rod Stewart's hair red. He was launching a new album and it was part of the publicity for that. On the way back on the aeroplane we got caught up in an electrical storm and had to stay circulating the airport for hours it was a very frightening experience.

A horrible thing to happen to me was when I was mugged. I was badly injured but I wasn't going to sit about in a chair for the rest of my life watching daytime TV. Being in employment gives you purpose even when I couldn't work I refused to sit at home. I went to college and studied theatrical hair and make-up at Manchester City College.

I spent my party years in New York and lived the high life - frequenting the Sound Factory with my body painted silver and travelling around in a limousine but now I want to help people. I am very politically minded and one day would like to become a Member of Parliament.

Q. What has been your proudest moment?

A. Having my two children. They are kept part of my private life and don't get involved in the limelight. They are grown up now aged 20 and 21 but they still live in East Lancashire and I am very proud of them.

When I was in New York I worked in a salon in Greenwhich Village and became a volunteer and cut hair for people with HIV and AIDS. I stand by my own belief systems which is what creates originality.

Q. What has been the best peice of advice you have ever been given?

A. Being gay has helped shaped my beliefs. Some denominations closed their doors on the gay community. I am a Christian, but I don't bang people over the head with a bible because I'm modern in my thinking but I think the Lords Prayer because I think we say it in repetition but never understand it properly.I think if you say it and understand it will get you through any problem in life.

Advice I give to my staff is to go back to basics and promote good honest hairdressing. We intend to put the salon onto the world stage.