I think to many people, textured curls still signify 'difference.' And kids like to pick on what's different.

I got into hairdressing and moved from Dorset to London, where I got an apprenticeship at Vidal Sassoon. This was around '83 or '84. I was working on South Molton Street, which was then the epicenter of all the shops. It was like a catwalk. So I did my apprenticeship there, but I wasn't successful.

Even though the industry is very big and there's lots of money, when it gets down to it, whether it's a photographer or a designer, as well as a stylist or makeup artist, you're really only working with maybe four or five people on a project. It's all quite small and intimate.

People comment, and that's where we are now. It's the way the world is.

It's hard to be shocking now. It's hard to challenge people because the Internet has allowed everyone to become much more worldly, much more visual. It's very hard to surprise people.

When you look back at your career, there are moments that are levels that you hit and you bounce off them.

I was building my work, and it took me a long time. For a good five or six years I was just kind of bobbing around, doing everything and anything.