By Polly Dunbar
Last updated at 11:03 PM on 30th July 2011
For most women, a trip to the hairdressers is a rare chance to sit back, relax and enjoy being pampered.
But not for famously eccentric former It-girl Tara Palmer- Tomkinson.
Last week, the 39-year-old was pictured looking distinctly the worse for wear after a night on the town, one of her first for some time.
Wild night: Windswept Tara on her recent night out at Mahiki in LondonNow, The Mail on Sunday can reveal that she left workers and fellow customers astonished by her bizarre antics during a recent trip to the Duchess of Cambridge’s favourite hair salon.
Tara, who underwent surgery two months ago to rebuild her drug- ravaged nose, visited the Richard Ward salon in Chelsea for an appointment last month.
Kate Middleton has long been a loyal customer of Mr Ward, who did her hair on her wedding day in April.
Socialite Tara made an instant impression on her entrance into the salon. She was carrying a white teddy bear called Snowball and wearing a tiny pair of denim shorts and a top which she had accessorised with a bright orange and green Matthew Williamson belt – but no shoes.
Despite her eye-catching appearance, it was her madcap behaviour that really captured the attention of everyone present.
According to a source, she appeared to be in high spirits and was clutching a glass of white wine, which she had purchased from the salon’s bar.
‘She was in an excited state, shoving her teddy into the face of one of the staff,’ said the source.
‘She then ordered a sandwich from the menu which she gobbled down before quickly ordering another one, saying she was still hungry.’
Her upbeat mood appeared to change, however, as she sat flicking through magazines while one staff member did her hair and another gave her a pedicure.
Cuddly friend: With her teddy bear Snowball - at one point she shoved it into one of the staff's face ‘At the top of her voice, she said to one young staff member, “These magazines are old. This one is over two months old. I thought this was a Royal salon. If I give you money, could you go out and get me some more up-to-date ones?” ’
She quickly forgot that request, however, when her mobile phone rang and she proceeded to tell her caller, in a loud voice, that she was soon to release an album she had been ‘working on secretly’.
As she was moved into another room to have her hair washed by three young members of staff, rather than one as would normally be required, she was clutching several ?10 notes.
‘She said: “Look at all my money,” and waved the notes around,’ said the source. ‘A few minutes later she had one of the notes stuck between her toes and was waving her bare leg in the air.
‘“Go get it,” she said to one of the very patient young assistants, who kept smiling throughout the whole show.’
More fresh-faced: Tara Palmer-Tomkinson earlier in the eveningOne woman sitting beside Tara mentioned she had seen her on tele?vision at the Royal Wedding in April. She replied, apparently joking: ‘I had six Tequilas for breakfast before I went.’
Following her blow-dry, she then jumped off her seat and disappeared into the salon’s bathroom, where she changed into a figure-hugging white dress and vertiginous heels. She emerged in the outfit, still clutching her teddy bear.
‘She stood in the middle of the salon floor where everyone could see her and shouted “bye guys” before leaving,’ said the source.
‘She left everyone feeling they’d been struck by a thunderbolt. She certainly lived up to her colourful reputation.’
On the Richard Ward website, Tara has written a testimonial in which she says she has been visiting the salon since it opened 17 years ago.
She adds: ‘They have been like a family to me. Not only have they thought about my hair, hair colour, nails and beauty regime, Gavin [the salon manager] has also sorted out most of my love life.’
Tara has spoken recently about the new-found confidence she has as a result of the operation to fix her nose, which was destroyed by years of drug abuse.
She said: ‘I feel ten years younger. I feel really excited.’ She has been clean of drugs since entering rehab in 1999.
Last night, she refused to comment, but a friend said: ‘Tara loves the Richard Ward salon and she feels she can be herself there. They know she’s completely mad, but they love her.
‘Her teddy bear, Snowball, always goes to the salon with her – it’s a running joke between her and the staff. When she goes there, she’s usually in a terrible rush and that’s why she has more than one person doing her hair.
‘She likes to joke about herself, but she definitely wasn’t drinking on the morning of the Royal Wedding. In fact, she didn’t drink all day.’
Testimonial: Tara has known hairdresser Richard Ward for a number of years and has been visiting the salon since it opened 17 years ago
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