A HAIRDRESSER who has attended to the likes of Janet Jackson has ditched Hollywood for Painswick bringing his expertise to the valleys of the Cotswolds.

Paul Green, who specialises in making and fitting custom-blended hair extensions, has joined the recently renamed Hair Connection of Painswick.

Asked why he wanted to return having owned salons in Hollywood, Seattle and Dallas, he said: “It’s to come home.

“I’ve been away for 33 years and I want to be around family and friends again and to bring my craftsmanship back.

“It’s rare to get custom-blended European hair specifically matched.”

In 1983 with a one-way ticket Paul moved from Cheltenham to California in Hollywood, home of the US film industry.

Once there, he and his partner identified a niche in the market for Caucasian hair and began to create custom-blended extensions to match their client’s locks.

The couple went on to have celebrity clients with TV stars such as actress Joan Collins of American soap opera Dynasty and US television personality Paula Abdul as well as other elite Hollywood customers.

To see Paul’s extensions on recording artist Janet Jackson watch That's the Way Love Goes, on YouTube, a song from her fifth studio album, titled janet.

“But it’s not just for the rich and famous, it’s affordable for anyone,” said Paul.

So how do custom-blended hair extensions work? First Paul has a consultation with his client and takes a sample of their hair.

Taking the colour, shine, thickness and wave into consideration he then has the best matches of hair blended together for each individual client.

Although at the moment this is done at his wholesale company in Dallas, Paul is also looking to train hairdressers up in Painswick to be able to blend hair effectively.

His USA-based business distributes custom-blended hair all over America creating the individual blends with just a picture as guidance.

Once the hair is sewn into strips or wefts, he attaches them to the client’s hair over the course of an hour or so using little copper beads which can be unclipped, leaving no damage to the hair.

He says that people can have extensions lengthen their hair or give it more volume.

Once the extensions are in place they can last up to a year with occasional appointments to maintain them. To do this Paul unclips the copper beads and moves them up the clients hair if it has grown.

To mark its grand opening Hair Connection of Painswick’s rebranding celebration will take place on Wednesday, August 24 from 5pm-7pm at at the salon formerly known as Painswick Hairdressers & Barbers in St Marys Street.

Paul and his team are holding a prize draw for a complimentary hair extension service to the tune of £500.

Canapes and Pimm’s will be served compliments of The Painswick Hotel and Restaurant.