Crossword Genius

Massaging of pate with blue rinse initially respected (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

reputable

'respected' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)

'massaging of pate with blue rinse initially' is the wordplay.
'massaging of' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'massage' mean this).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'rinse' is 'r'.
'pate'+'blue'+'r'='patebluer'
'patebluer' anagrammed gives 'REPUTABLE'.

(Other definitions for reputable that I've seen before include "Well thought of" , "Respected" , "Upright" , "of good name" , "Well-regarded" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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