CHERYL Cole created a stir when she arrived in LA with a bouffant do straight out of the Jackie Collins book of hairdressing.

The next evening, Sex And The City star Sarah Jessica Parker was spotted copying the look.

So it’s fair to surmise that the trend will travel from stateside to high street any time soon.

In York, fashion followers can get a head start by investing in some hair pieces by Harrods-based wig maestro Vicki Ullah.

A range of her easy-to-wear extensions have just arrived at Fenwick, York – offering a quick and inexpensive way for women to transform their hair.

Prices start at £16.50 for simple scrunchies that add layers, length and volume and go up to £129 for longer pieces to give you that Girls Aloud lift.

Pieces are available in a range of colours to match your natural hair colour.

To show how easy it is to achieve a new look in minutes, Fenwick staff Joanna Davy and Sarah Clark worked their way through a collection of hair pieces.

For a quick fix, the Angel clip-in ponytail (£69) is a must-try. Simply fix it on to your own ponytail for an instant mane of swishing curls.

“It’s great for pinning up too,” says Joanna, a former hairdresser. “Brides love them as well, as they can wear one with a tiara.”

The Bella hair scrunchy (£16.50) offers an equally fast, no-fuss, transformation. Jo pulls Sarah’s hair to the side, uses a bobble to create a loose bun, then wraps the hair scrunchie around it. It looks great as it is, but even funkier when Sarah pulls on a fake plait in the shape of an Alice band.

Finally, the pair try to create Cheryl Cole’s LA “power bouff” – the look she cultivated before losing her gig on the American version of The X Factor, thanks not to big hair but a big Geordie accent the Americans apparently found to be impenetrable.

Jo scrapes back Sarah’s hair into a ponytail then uses pins to fasten it to the back of her hair. Then she fixes a three-quarter-head pair piece (£129) using integral combs at the crown and at the base before shaking it all loose. Within moments, a waterfall of lustrous, wavy dark brown curls fall over Sarah’s shoulders. Very Duchess of Cambridge.

Jo then gently backcombs the front of Sarah’s hair and sweeps it over the top, covering up the join with the hair piece. She uses some pins to help keep it in place as well as plenty of Elnett hairspray (use this brand because it brushes out, advises Jo).

Jo also shows how the three-quarter piece works well with a plait, which again helps to cover the join between the extension and Sarah’s natural hair line.

Vicki Ullah trained Fenwick staff in how to wear the range of extensions, which are on sale on the ground floor. A mirror is available so customers can try them on; and all staff in the toiletries section have been trained to advise on fitting.

Anneli Shutt, of Fenwick, said: “Vicki said the best thing to do is to play with the piece yourself. If you invest in a piece, play around with it and experiment.”

The hair pieces are easy to look after and can be washed. The website vickiullah.com has video demos of how to wear the pieces.

Anneli said sales were already strong. “They are an easy way to enhance your own look, or give you a completely different look. They are just another accessory – women are happy to buy handbags and shoes, so why not hair?”


Offers and events planned all week

MAKE-OVERS, pampering treats and gifts galore are on offer this week at Fenwick in York.

The Coppergate store is running its summer Beauty Week until Sunday with plenty of offers and events planned.

It’s also staging its first Beauty Deal, with discounts on three best sellers: YSL Touche Eclat (£20 from £24.50); Lancome Hypnose Mascara (£16.50 from £20.50) and Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder (£26.50 from £33.50).

Customers can take part in a free prize draw to win one year’s worth of facial treatments in the Clarins Spa; lunch for two and a Viktor & Rolf fragrance worth £100 – entry forms are available from the perfume department on the ground floor.

Beauty Week is the chance to try new treatments and products, says Rebecca Elcock at Fenwick.

Clarins will be offering one-to-one consultations all week, while on Thursday people can enjoy mini-treatments and refreshments in the Clarins Spa. A booking fee of £20 applies, redeemable against purchase.

Chanel will have a visiting make-up artist, offering one-hour appointments with individuals, again a £20 booking fee applies, redeemable against purchase.

Estée Lauder will be advising on how to ensure your make-up lasts all day, while Beauty Plus will give discounts of 20 per cent on eyelash extensions and perming and gel nails.

Caudalie will host skin-care consultations in the beauty room on Friday and Saturday; booking is essential for the 30-minute appointments which cost £5.

Experts from Dr Hauschka, Ren and Skin Doctors will also be in store on Thursday to answer skin-related questions.

There will also be offers, sampling and gifts with purchase in the fragrance department.

For more information, or to book an appointment, phone Fenwick on 01904 643322.