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Around Town Meets...
Andrew Barton
 By Geraldine May
Around Town recently caught up with Barnsley born Andrew Barton, British Hairdresser of the Year and stylist to the stars. Known to many as the celebrity hairstylist on TV’s 10 Years Younger, Andrew doesn’t let his star status affect his down-to-earth personality and is rightly proud of his Northern heritage.
Born and bred in Barnsley, TV hairdresser Andrew Barton is very much a down-to-earth Northern lad who began his hairdressing career as an apprentice at a local salon.
Despite working these days with London’s rich and famous – including celebrities such as Girls Aloud, Robbie Williams and model Penny Lancaster – Andrew never loses touch with his Northern roots and regularly visits his mum Ann who still lives in Royston.
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 He says: “I started working at Denise Moody Hairdressing (now Moodyhair) in Darfield where I did my apprenticeship and was there for three or four years before moving on. Although my mum (the best mum in the world, he adds) still lives in Royston, she has a great life – often coming down to spend time with me in London and jetting off to Australia to stay with my sister who lives out there.
“It’s actually been a long time since I left Barnsley. I celebrated my 40th birthday recently so I’ve been away for half my life but people tell me I have never lost my Northern accent and I’m really proud to say I’m a Northerner.”
The last few weeks have been quite difficult for Andrew, who has been in plaster and on crutches with a broken ankle after an injury while out running.
“I do like to look after myself and keep fit but I’ve been struggling round with a toe to knee cast but still managed to keep working,” he said.
Today Andrew is based in Covent Garden, working for the internationally renowned Saks, the UK’s leading hair and beauty salon group. Andrew, who was headhunted by Saks some years ago, is today the group’s International Creative Director, as well as being British Hairdresser of the Year 2006.
He is just about to compete for the title again in the 2007 awards and is looking forward to a glamorous night at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane.
“It’s a bit like the Oscars” says Andrew. “You have to be nominated to take part in the awards and obviously it would be great to win the title again. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Andrew has just been nominated for the title for the fifth time and says he can well remember the moment he was ‘crowned’ last year. He received a huge wave of support from the audience, many of whom were on their feet applauding.
Today Andrew is very involved in the training and education side of the Saks hair organisation. When he joined Saks, the group had around 30 salons up and down the country – now it has over 100.
He is a very respected voice of authority in the hair industry and regularly works on magazine shoots, writes a regular newspaper column as the Hair Doctor and has regular advice pages in other publications. On the catwalk he has worked on fashion shows for Versace, Prada, Calvin Klein and others.
Many readers will recognise Andrew from the Channel 4 make-over show 10 Years Younger and he is fast becoming a household name after appearances on GMTV and Lorraine Kelly’s morning show.
He was asked to do 10 Years Younger after previous TV appearances and after completing a screen test was given the job. Together with a dental expert and cosmetic surgeon, Andrew helps to complete the transformation and make-over of an ordinary member of the public.
Together with the rest of the team, Andrew has just been filming the fifth series of 10 Years Younger which will be aired on TV in February 2008. Together with show host Nicky Hambleton-Jones, surgeon Jan Stanek, dentist Dr Surinder Hundle and make-up artist Ruby Hammer, he regularly transforms both women and men and tries to make them look at least 10 years younger.
“It’s a great job and very much a team effort. We can literally change someone’s life and give them a great confidence boost which they can enjoy for the rest of their life. Changing someone’s appearance can drastically affect the way they feel about themselves,” he said.
“I know that a new hair style and colour can give a great boost to anyone’s confidence and make people feel like a different person.”
Away from the TV cameras, Andrew is very busy in his day-to-day role with Saks – but it’s not all celebrity glamour.
“Although I do a lot of celebrity hairstyling, I do work with people from all walks of life who are coming to the salon for a treat, maybe as a present for a birthday etc. These days I suppose I can command a high price tag and people do enjoy coming into the salon to be pampered.
“It’s strange that the UK is not particularly known for excelling at sport, for example, but this country is a world leader in the hairdressing industry.
“Other countries, including Italy and America for example, look to us for guidance and hair trends. Saks has just opened the first international salon in Brussels and our hairstylists really are classed as the cream of the crop.”
As head of the world-renowned Saks Art Team, Andrew is responsible for creating new images, seasonal collections and the company’s signature hairdressing techniques. He regularly travels the world talking to international audiences and has recently visited over 20 countries including South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Poland and the Philippines.
He also visits colleges and salons across the UK to pass on his expertise and says he’s never happier than when he is teaching.
Looking to the future Andrew says he has some really exciting projects coming up, including more TV work and even his own show.
“It’s an exciting time and there’s lots going on in the future to look forward to. I am also hoping to launch my own range of hair products – shampoos, conditioners, the whole hair care range.”
Andrew is already the face of Saks Microlonics hair straighteners and loves to work with anyone coming to the salon for a touch of make-over magic.
Not bad for a lad from Barnsley!
Published Winter 2007. All information correct at time of print.
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