My light bulb moment: Celebrity colourist Nicola Clarke, whose clients include Cate Blanchett and Kate Moss, on working with Madonna

Dubbed the Queen of Blonde, Nicola Clarke's shoppers embrace Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet and Kate Moss. 

Nicola, 41, is artistic color director for Shade Wow and John Frieda salons, and lives in London along with her husband, movie director Chris, and their two kids.

I by no means got down to work with celebrities. I used to be an Essex lady who liked vogue. However I at all times knew I needed to do one thing artistic.

I began as a Saturday lady in an area hair salon aged 13. Later I received a job at Hyper, Hyper, the fashionable Nineties vogue emporium, the place I met movie star hairdresser Sam McKnight. I referred to as his agent each week and used my vacation to work free as his assistant on London Style Week.

Dubbed the Queen of Blonde, Nicola Clarke's shoppers embrace Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet and Kate Moss

At some point Kate Moss turned up for a present with an enormous blonde stripe in her hair. Sam was appalled, so I went again to her home and recoloured it. I've been doing her hair ever since.

I nonetheless didn't consider myself as an artist. In Britain we downplay every part. Then, in 2000, Gwyneth Paltrow really useful me to Madonna. I went to her home in West London. I solely realised after I turned up I used to be colouring her hair for her wedding ceremony to Man Ritchie.

Once I arrived, she mentioned: 'Do you've my color system?' Her New York stylist hadn't given it to me, so I defined she'd have to attend whereas I labored out the color match.

Sure, she's a diva, and I'm certain folks crumble. However she actually respects you in case you're trustworthy and easy.

Wanting again, working with Madonna was my gentle bulb second. I assumed: 'Sure, I actually know what I'm doing.' It gave me the arrogance to see myself as a artistic, too.

Wanting again, working with Madonna was my gentle bulb second 

Once I go on movie units to work with actors I really feel like an equal. And I've taken a task as model ambassador for Shade Wow, hair merchandise which are formulated for colored hair.

Everybody calls me 'Clarkie'. I do know my boundaries, I'm not eager about being pals with celebrities. However Madonna sends me flowers for my birthday and invitations me to events.

The ladies I work with are artists and chameleons, at all times altering their picture for work. And like me they're fiercely loyal.

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