F.A.M.E. Team get session smart with Syd Hayes

Syd Hayes is one of the leading names in British session styling, signed to top agency Art + Commerce and working with clients including Gucci, Miu Miu and Marc Jacobs and publications like Love, W and Vogue Italia.

However despite his session kudos, Syd also stays close to his industry roots – including working as director at his family salon, Q Cut, in London, working as UK ambassador for BaByliss Pro and acknowledging his hairdressing heritage at Nicky Clarke and Hersheson’s.

It’s this close connection with the industry that led Syd to spend the day with the Fellowship for British Hairdressing’s F.A.M.E. Team, during an inspirational day of mentoring and education.

The team met Syd at the Kent Brushes factory in Hertfordshire, where they were treated to a tour of the factory – which has been standing for more than 240 years and which remains a family business to this day. As well as enjoying a private look behind the scenes at the history of Kent – including archive advertising, imagery and brushes – the team got to meet workers, who craft the brushes by hand to this day.

At the end of their tour, the team were presented with their own personalised brushes, adding to the collection of 19 kit-bag essentials provided by Kent previously.

After their morning with Kent, Syd and the F.A.M.E. Team headed back into London to spend the afternoon at the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill. In their own private screening room, the team enjoyed an intimate one-on-one with Syd, including a film covering his career to date and the chance to ask him anything about making it in the industry.

Peter Mellon from Medusa Hairdressing in Edinburgh says, “Kent Brushes have been so generous already, but it was amazing to see the process of how the brushes go from start to end product in person. Throughout the day, Syd shared so much information about his career to date, and how we could make the most our experiences too. We all really enjoyed the day and received some priceless information. It was an experience that I don’t think any of us will ever forget.”