I WALK into Hooker & Young's new salon looking, quite frankly, a mess. My hair's untidy, horribly frizzy and I've got about half an inch of grey roots showing. When I leave a couple of hours later, it's so sleek and shiny I find it hard to believe it's my own hair.

But to be honest, I expected nothing less. Gary Hooker and Michael Young are two of the UK's leading hairstylists. With two salons in Gosforth and Jesmond, and a clutch of awards between them, the pair have a formidable reputation. And after benefiting from Michael's expertise, I can understand exactly why.

Pop stars Rachel Stevens and Natasha Bedingfield are the latest in a long line of celebrities to benefit from their expertise and Gary always does Lesley Garrett when she sings in the North-East. But the pair are surprisingly reticent about their famous clients; that's not what the business is about.

Gary and Michael have just opened their first salon outside Newcastle, on the exclusive Wynyard estate. With white walls, dark brown leather chairs and chrome fittings, it's understated and elegant. There isn't even a sign outside - something I attribute to the exclusivity of the place - although I later discover they're waiting for the windows to be etched with their name and logo.

Partners both personally and professionally, Gary and Michael have lived at Wynyard for three years but had thought about opening a salon when the estate was just an idea.

"We're good friends with members of the Hall family so we've seen Wynyard through from when it was just drawings," says Michael. "It was a fantastic vision and we always said we'd love to have a salon here, although we probably never thought it would be a reality. When we moved down here and this unit became available, we knew it was the opportunity we had been waiting for." Opening a salon on Teesside was a natural progression; Gary and Michael already have a dedicated band of clients from the area who travel to their salons in Jesmond and Gosforth. They've deliberately avoided city centre locations. In Jesmond and Gosforth they're in the suburbs and at Wynyard they're on a housing estate, albeit a rather upmarket one.

"It gives a more exclusive feel than having somewhere on the high street," says Michael.

Three times winner of the Northern Hairdresser of the Year competition, Gary is in the Hall of Fame for the British Hairdressing Awards and is a familiar figure in the media. Michael, too, has won the Northern Hairdresser of the Year title and is in great demand for his photographic and stage work.

They both worked for a big name hairdressing franchise before setting up on their own. "We're both very passionate about the industry and we became aware that the stakes were being raised all the time, clients' expectations were greater, and it was something we could capitalise on," Michael says.

"Hairdressing is much more than just a haircut. It's about coming into the salon and actually enjoying it, treating it more like a luxury than a necessity."

At Hooker & Young there are refreshments - even champagne if you want it - while little touches like scalp massages help clients really enjoy the experience. I'm particularly taken with the state-of-the-art backwashes. As I lean back to have my hair washed, I'm handed a remote control and, at the touch of a button, I can raise the bottom section of the chair and rest my feet on it. Bliss.

Hooker & Young is now a well-known name in the world of hairdressing but Michael is keen to stress that it isn't just about two people but a team of stylists, and he's always secretly pleased when clients ask him if he's ever thought about opening his own salon. "It means people see Hooker & Young as a brand and not just the two of us," he says.

The business is about creativity and quality. With just seven styling units, the Wynyard salon has an uncluttered, exclusive feel, although it would have been possible to squeeze in another ten or 11 styling stations.

"We've spent a long time building up our reputation and people expect a certain standard from us. It's not about making money, it's about being the best we can," says Michael.

Although it's clear Michael and Gary see themselves as artists, there's nothing precious about them. Michael describes himself as a "total northern lad", with his roots firmly in the region.

He and Gary both spend a considerable amount of time in London, working on photo sessions and shows. They're also artistic directors for Clynol, a leading product range, but there's never been any temptation to move to London.

"People used to think of the North-East as being really working class. You couldn't buy anything decent up here or find a decent hairdresser, but now everyone in London thinks it's fantastic. They love the North-East and they love northerners."

But while they have no intentions of moving south, they do have plans for expansion. Their fourth salon will open at Seaham Hall's Serenity Spa in the autumn and there's even mention of franchising the Hooker & Young name, as well as the possibility of developing their own range of hair products.

And while the boys work hard, they make sure they play hard too. They have ten dogs (and, of course, a kennel maid to look after them), and Gary spends his weekends showing the three Great Danes. "Gary's like Dr Doolittle," says Michael. "If there's an animal in distress he just can't resist. Once he came home from a trip to the supermarket with a donkey." For Michael, relaxation comes in the form of singing. At one point, he was considering a career in the music industry but then he got a Saturday job in a hairdressing salon and the rest is history.

I wonder whether working so closely and living together causes problems? Apparently not. Michael says: "Obviously it has its ups and downs. Some days, the last thing you want to do is go home and talk shop, and we definitely couldn't work in the same salon. A couple of hours is all right but any more than that...

"On the whole, it's fantastic having a partner in the same profession. We know each other so well."

* Hooker & Young, The Granary, Wynyard Village (01740) 644690