We're thrilled to be the newest addition to the fabulous Sugahfix team and I'll be bringing you all the freshest news, trends and titbits about hair and styling in my monthly column.

You'll find us on Castlereagh Street, in east Belfast, where we've been for 26 years now.

Being just out of the city centre is a boon for us, there's free parking and we've got the space to really pamper our clients - in the main salon, the dedicated male grooming room and in our beauty salon.

We've got loads of news to share with you this year - we're the TIGI (International) flagship salon in Ireland and we've just been awarded the honour of taking on the role of TIGI Academy for Ireland, just one of a handful of TIGI (International) academies throughout the world. Plus we're looking forward to another new salon revamp soon.

I'm Paul Meekin, head stylist and co-owner. I'm also a TIGI (International) Creative Ambassador for Ireland.

It's exciting times for us and for hairdressing as a whole - have you seen the crazy colours and cuts out there?

As we all know, Northern Ireland's women are the best dressed, most fashion forward, most stylish and sassy women in Europe.

I'm loving all the dramatic red and pink looks I'm seeing on the streets right now. R&B singer Nicki Minaj is a real inspiration for the crazy-colour look - I think she's single-handedly keeping the hair dye business booming!

At the salon we've even been asked to recreate one of her recent looks - bleached blonde with pink tips.

Fiery-red Rihanna is another women who's not afraid to experiment with her locks, proving that red-hot scarlet women are the new blondes!

We also love Sarah Harding's sensational switch from platinum to black while Corrie star Helen Flanagan, who plays Rosie Webster, has gone the opposite way, and now looks a dead ringer for supermodel Agyness Deyn.

With her edgy blonde looks she's gone from run-of-the-mill soap star to hip stand-out sex bomb overnight. It just goes to show how the right haircut can transform not only your looks, but your life.

Every month, I'll be giving you the low down on what's hot in the world of hair, but one thing I want to say to you this month is have fun!

Whether it's a vampy vintage do for a summer wedding or festival, a bold new cut or you want to go wild and get slices of colour, go for it!

2011 is all about statement dressing - and that goes for hair as well as clothes!

Love,

Paul

www.partnersbelfast.co.uk