A POPULAR hairdresser who began life blow-waving teddy boys and backcombing beehives is celebrating 40 years in the trade.

But it isn't a case of hair today gone tomorrow for Burnley's Peter James -- as he has no plans to hang up his scissors just yet.

The crimper who was once asked to coiffure Welsh singing sensation Bonnie Tyler's hair and is forever recreating Princess Di's famous cut enjoyed remembering the high and lowlights of his career, which began when he left Stoneyholme High School at the age of 14.

He laughed: "It was a straight choice in those days. You either went down the pit or you got a trade. But there were plenty of jobs. All you had to do was choose."

So Peter started at the International Hair salon in Briercliffe Road for the sum of 30 bob a week -- £1.50 .

"That was the first time men had blow waves. Things were a lot different then. Women in Burnley used to walk around the town on Saturdays with their hair in curlers and under a net, ready for Saturday night.

"And the men -- some of them used to go without shaving for a week so they could come in to the barbers on Saturday."

Peter remembers learning to shave at Burnley College by practising on a balloon.

"I believe they still do it, but I've never had a balloon come in for a shave!"

Over the years Peter has owned salons all over the town, including those in Bank Parade, Keirby Walk and Nelson.

In 1981 Peter had his hands insured by a London broker for £1million.

He has also seen a wealth of hairstyling horrors.

"I remember Bonnie Tyler coming into one of my salons with a bleach job from hell. I told her that I couldn't cut her hair because as soon as I put water on it, it snapped.

"My staff wouldn't speak to me because I'd thrown out someone famous."

During his professional career, Peter was once the youngest-ever president of the Chamber of Trade and became the youngest hairdresser to be named as a master craftsman by the Hairdressing Federation.

"When I was the president of the Chamber of Trade, the six-day working week was introduced in Burnley. It was actually down to the previous President, but I got all the stick for it."

Hairdressers are well known for transforming their clients but sometimes it can be a tall order.

"During the 70s, girls wanted a wedge like Joanna Lumleys in the Avengers. Then when I was at Keirby Walk in the 1980s I put up a huge poster of Princess Diana which filled all the window.

"I paid for it in the end, because everyone who came in was asking for that style. I came to hate it."

But Peter looks back on his career with fond memories, and is still on the go, opening another enterprise in Standish Street, next week.

"I just love it. It is different now, but it is still great when a woman phones the next day to say they love what I've done."

PETER'S five favourite haircuts of all time:

Short back and sides -- "I like doing the modern version, it's a classic cut."

Cutting long hair on women -- "I love it. Grading all the hair and working with it, fantastic."

The classic bob -- "It is a great style for women. Done with neat lines, all one length."

Colouring -- "Putting eight or nine colours on women, I do enjoy."

A man's traditional haircut -- "Finished with a razor, I don't get to do it much now though."

THE worst:

The Mullett -- aka the weekend warrior -- "Men don't suit long hair, this cut is awful."

Feather Cut -- "Worse than a Mullet."

Curly Perms --"Makes people look like poodles, remember Kevin Keegan's attempt?"

Princess Di -- "I hate doing it."

Any of Carol Vorderman's styles -- "She all looks like she has been lying on one side of her head all night."