A permanent fashion feature? (From This is Hampshire)

A permanent fashion feature?

1:45pm Sunday 9th March 2008 in

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TT was the image that characterised a generation.

It was trendy, stylish, in vogue. It was the look that launched Kevin Keegan into the spotlight.

And it was all thanks to one of Southampton's finest and most respected hairdressers.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, from his salon in Hanover Buildings, Trevor Mitchell made a name for himself as one of the country's top hairdressers, perming the hair of the stars.

Among the list of famous barnets coiffeured by Trevor are Arsenal old boy Charlie George and legendary England goalie Peter Shilton.

But the man who made Trevor famous was also the man who can be credited with starting the perm explosion - Kevin Keegan.

The England footballing legend's curly locks were the envy of men - and women - and they started life in Southampton.

"I made a name for myself perming Kevin Keegan's hair,"

Trevor, now 73, explained.

"Back in those days people were queueing up outside our salon in Hanover Buildings just to get one done.

"Between 1979 and 1981 we permed so many people.

"There's no doubting it - back then it was the look to have."

Off the back of his new-found fame and his thanks to his unrivalled talent, Trevor went on to enjoy huge success in the hair world, with numerous wins in national and international hair-dressing competitions, taking the world title on four separate occasions.

He even has an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest barber alive.

And the look that brought him fame could now be about to enjoy a revival.

Earlier this week, the Daily Echo reported that the 80s look could be on the way back with models sporting "big hair" on the catwalk and 80s-themed TV shows like Ashes to Ashes pulling in millions of viewers.

High street retailer Superdrug said sales of its home perm kits have shot up by 50 per cent in the last year alone, and electric blue mascara sales have also gone through the roof.

So could there be an impending return to a hairstyle more than 25 years old?

Not according to Trevor.

"There might be the odd one or two about, but there won't be a perm revolution," he said.

"All the hype about a comeback is just a PR stunt, it's all a bit tonguein- cheek.

"I have been to countless competitions all over the world, and no stylist at any of them is doing a perm."

Trevor has just returned from his role as a top judge at the Hair World Hairdressing World Championships in Chicago.

Before that he was deliberating over the world's best at an international event in Paris.

If anyone knows what's going on in the hair world these days, it's Trevor.

"In the competition world the perm doesn't even exist," he said.

"No woman these days would want to sit for hours, having her hair rollered up and permed.

"It also does so much damage to a person's hair, especially a woman's.

"In fact, it is pretty much the worst thing anyone can do with their hair."

According to the man in the know, sculptured' hair - such as that worn by X-Factor star Rhyddian - is on the comeback for men.

For women, the graduated medium bob, modelled by stars like Victoria Beckham, is the cut to have.

"I will bet now that the perm won't make a comeback," Trevor said.

"If it were to become as popular as it was back in the days of Keegan, I will retire! There's just no way I want to be doing perms again."