A HAIRDRESSER with a Mohican was barred from Harrods.

Lisa Mansour says she was told by security guards that her hair do was 'offensive' and asked to leave.

Lisa, 40, a stylist at Urban Angels hair salon in Didsbury, originally had her hair cut and shaved into a 12-inch high Mohican with a silver streak, for charity in May. But it proved too much to manage, so she had most of it lopped off last month and the streak died green.

She visited London to buy presents for her nephews and nieces and was staggered to be ordered out of the store. Lisa said: "I couldn't believe it. Who do they think they are? My hair's not offensive. I don't know if they thought I was going to rob them or something, but I've never been barred from anywhere before.

"They're just a bunch of snobs."

Lisa said: "I've been to Harrods loads of times in the past, and I know they're funny about large bags so when I tried to go through the door I said to the security guard 'Is it ok to bring my rucksack in?'.

"But he said to me 'Your bag can come in, but you can't - your hair's offensive'. I asked him what he meant and he said it was because it was more than two inches high."

Lisa tried to get through a second door and was stopped, so she went away but decided to go back and explain her choice of hairstyle.

She had the hair cut done to raise £1,300 for the Brain Tumour UK charity, in memory of her neighbour's grandson, Mark Westwood, who died of brain tumour last year, aged eight.

"I told them I'd had it done for charity, but they just kept telling me my hair was offensive. By this time everyone was staring and I was getting really upset, tears were welling up in my eyes."

She added: "It was very humiliating and I think it's quite disgusting.

"I've had all sorts of punky hairstyles since I was 13 but I've never been judged like this or barred from somewhere, ever. And I bet they didn't ban David Beckham when he had a Mohican.

"I think I'll stick to the nice shops in Manchester in future."

A spokesman for Harrods said: "Part of the wider Harrods dress code policy for customers includes extremes in personal presentation.

"We can also confirm that we heard no mention of a charity."

Meanwhile, Manchester's top shops would have no qualms about Lisa's hair.

Iain Mackenzie, general manager for the city's Harvey Nichols store, said: "As a forward-thinking fashion retailer, our customers express themselves in many different ways through culture and fashion - it all adds to the diversity of our clientele.

"Everyone is welcome at Harvey Nichols, as long as they conduct themselves with good grace."

And Rebecca Warburton, marketing manager for Selfridges in Manchester's Exchange Square, said: "We would welcome her. Selfridges is an inclusive store."