The Secret Of My Success: Jo Hansford

American Vogue described celebrity hairdresser Jo Hansford as the best tinter on the planet. And when Kate Winslet, Elizabeth Hurley or Antonio Banderas need a bit of colour, Jo's their woman.

I got my first job as an apprentice hairdresser in Mayfair, London. I had a choice between Ealing or Mayfair: my mum said Ealing and I naturally went for Mayfair. I had no idea where it was - I think it was fate. It took me two weeks to discover the salon had a colour room hidden away at the back. I was amazed and begged to be let in. I just couldn't believe all the wonderful things you could do with colour. Even now, I never get bored with it.

The secret to great hair depends on matching the right frame to someone's skin and eye colour. It's astonishing what you can achieve in terms of highlighting or toning down features. It's an instinctive thing for me; I just know when it's going to work. The art is to keep on adjusting the colour until it's perfect. I'm very detailed in that respect and I'll go on tweaking a bit more and more until the hair's the best it can be.

But my job is about improving someone's whole image. Clients come to me for advice because they know I'm honest and I'm there to make people look good. It's easier for me to make suggestions because I do it everyday - a bit like a personal shopper who knows what clothes will suit you. But we all learn from each other: I encourage clients to talk and discuss who is the best person for each thing.

Every new head is a completely new job and I adore the challenge. All the women seem to want to look like Meg Ryan, which isn't always feasible. That's where the psychological aspect comes into my work. I have to turn her wish around and make it work. Doing men is definitely harder; you need to be more detailed as the hairline is more visible and you've got less to work with.

I'm always ready to take up any challenge - I'm the first woman to have her own range of hair products and I'm pleased I've done that. As women, we have to be passionate about what we do to survive in a man's world and try twice as hard. I'm quite happy to be a role model for other women. But despite my success I'm still only as good as my last haircut or colour.

INGRID KENNEDY