UK’s oldest hairdresser, 91, shows no signs of slowing down as she celebrates 65 years in her Chorley salon

On June 19th 1956, Margaret Sherlock opened Hair by Margaret – and today, over sixty-five years on, retirement remains firmly off the cards.

Saturday marked the sixty-fifth anniversary of her salon’s grand opening, and Margaret celebrated by doing the thing she does best: Giving a perm to the first customer she ever served, who’s now ninety years old.

The Irish-born former nurse ran the salon alongside husband Frank until his death in 2008 at the age of eighty. Since then, she has been running the shop with assistance from her daughter, Linda, sixty-four.

BBC Radio Lancashire

Incredibly, Hair by Margaret has only closed its doors once – in 1958, when her son Adrian was born. She even uses the same razor she had when the shop first opened its doors.

To this day, Margaret is on her feet for hours while tending to customers, many of whom simply pop in for a cup of tea and a chin wag. According to her daughter, she will keep going until she ‘physically can’t go on.’

Reflecting on her career, Margaret told the Lancashire Post: “My customers keep coming and I love it. It’s [sic] company. I like the idea of going to work – you’ve a sense of purpose in life, haven’t you?

BBC Radio Lancashire

There have been all different styles from the first day I opened. When I opened they [the customers] were younger, but now they’re still coming after sixty odd years.”

And Margaret’s contribution to her community hasn’t gone unnoticed: Back in 2018, she was the overall winner of the community hero award from BBC Radio Lancashire.

The Book Guild said: “It is proof that if you find a job that you like then you never feel that your work is done even at the age of ninety in the midst of a pandemic.”

amazon.co.uk

Now, to mark the sixy-fifth anniversary of Hair by Margaret, Linda has written a book about her mums remarkable career, titled Shampoo And Set: 75 Years As A Hairdresser. On her book, Linda said: “I have always enjoyed writing . Talking to my mum I realised that she had lots of stories to tell. There are so many characters too who are varied and interesting.

“This book gives first-hand accounts of times long gone such as the Lancashire Wakes Weeks holidays, working in the Lancashire mills and Walking Days as well as what hairdressing was like long before the glamour of the present day.

“It is also a story of how adversity can be overcome to fulfil your dreams and that hard work and determination can bring its own rewards.”

Linda’s book is available to buy here.