L'Oreal challenge for stylist

A DERBY hairdresser is to jet out to Paris next week to style the hair of top models who will be launching a new range for an international beauty company.

Sally Montague, who owns Sally Montague Hair Group, will fly out to the French capital on Tuesday for a photo shoot which will showcase the new styles and products in L'Oreal's autumn/winter collection.

In the past, international hairdressers like Trevor Sorbie and Charles Worthington have been asked to work at the event by L'Oreal.

It will see Sally style the hair of six top French models, who will be photographed and filmed for L'Oreal's publicity material, which will then be distributed worldwide.

Sally said: "This is something I've been wanting to do all my career. They usually choose London-based stylists, so to select me is really gratifying.

"When they called me up to say I had got the job I thought it was someone winding me up.

"It's a great opportunity to display my skills and raise the profile of the business. It's going to be quite nerve-wracking and there will be a lot of pressure, but I'm really looking forward to it.

"All the staff are walking around with different hairstyles because we have been using them as guinea pigs!"

Despite the recession, Sally, who has been running her salons for 25 years, has continued to grow the business. In November, she opened a fifth salon in Ashbourne, adding to existing salons in St Peter's Churchyard, Iron Gate and the University of Derby's Kedleston Road campus and Belper.

Sally also runs her own training academy.

The business employs about 50 people and, over the past 12 months, has taken on six additional staff.

The business is also celebrating four of its staff getting through to the semi-finals of the L'Oreal Professionnel Colour Trophy, which will take place in Manchester on Monday, April 19.

Angel Montague, Sally's 20-year-old daughter, who has been studying at Vidal Sassoon in London, and Ryan Parkinson, from the St Peter's Churchyard salon, will be competing in the colour trophy category.

And Chris Gregory, who works at the Belper salon, and Lizzie Fox, manager of the Iron Gate salon, have made it through to the Men's Image Award category.

Lizzie will be accompanying Sally on her trip to Paris.

The quartet will be hoping to get through to the grand final, which will take place in London on Monday, June 28.

Sally said: "I'm proud of them all.

"It's a great achievement that so many have got this far. It shows the strength in depth that we have.

"Some of the staff have asked me whether the work we are doing with L'Oreal means we are going to open a salon in London.

"My heart is in Derby and I think I'll always want to be around this area. I'm a great believer that if you're name is above the door, then you should make sure you are there and I try to do that with all my salons.

"But my daughter is very keen on the idea so it may be something for the next generation."