That was the day Inspirations Hair Design in High Street kicked off. And it's still there today, just a short walk up the road from the Belmore shops where it started, and clearly thriving.

"Thirty five years. It makes me feel bloody old when I say it," Helen says breaking into a chuckle."But you know, I'm still loving it, still learning ... I'd do it in my sleep."

So, in case you're wondering, no, there's no end in sight.

"I've had clients with me right through from when I was an apprentice," she says.

"These days I also cut their children's hair and grandchildren's hair.

"It has been a really strong clientele ... and that's why we stayed open right through the pandemic. We did all the safety stuff and the social distancing ... everything that was required, and our clients kept coming."

So, how have the styles changed over the years? Helen says it's cyclical, with things going in and out of style.

"Look at the mullet," she says. "That was fashionable back in the '80s, and it has come around again. You barely heard about it for years, and then you have people coming through the door asking for a mullet again, although these days it's more of a trend mullet."

On the other hand there's always the classic style that will never go out of fashion.

"The long hair up style, the Audrey Hepburn look, that's always popular," she explained. "That's what I specialise in. It never goes out of fashion because there's always the school formal or the wedding."

It's that very look that has helped Helen see much of the world - "one of the perks" of her job.

"I've been a guest artist with Keune Hair Products doing the long hair up style on quite a few trips. I've been to Brazil a number of times, to the USA, Amsterdam, I've been on cruises ... I've got a trip to Switzerland coming up.

"And I've just started up with another company, Wella, which will mean more travel again."

Through it all the business has thrived. It started with Helen, a female partner (she sold out to Helen after two years) and an apprentice. These days she has between nine and 13 staff and says they're still "always busy".

In fact, as we're talking she says if a young girl is passionate and wants to learn, chances are she'll give her an opportunity.

Clearly she feels a sense of responsibility for her community, probably best exemplified last year when she organised with other hairdressers and barbers to give free haircuts to the homeless in the lead-up to Christmas.

It's also why she has stayed in High Street all these years.

"I could have gone to Green Hills when it opened, and again a few years back when they did that major extension. But we're busy here, so why move?

"Besides that, a lot of High Street businesses have closed and shops are vacant, so I just wanted to support High Street and the other businesses.

"I think we're an example of the fact that a business can most certainly succeed in High Street."

The success of Inspirations has seen Helen's daughter Chelsea work there, and her father Robert still works there two days a week as well - "he's not young any more and with COVID-19 we didn't want him here too often".

Her dad's story is one she loves to tell.

"He used to work on council as a labourer, and he'd cut hair casually during his lunch break in the electricity shop," she says. "He was always interested in cutting hair but wasn't qualified.

"So when he was laid off, I started him here as an apprentice. Everyone thought he was the boss but he was working for me. The thing was, though, dad was illiterate. He couldn't go to TAFE to get his hairdressing license because he couldn't read.

"We told TAFE about his situation and they organised a tutor for him. Within two years he had passed the course with a high distinction.

"How's that? He always said do what you love - and I have."