Creative HEAD February 2018

WELL MADE
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME KEY INGREDIENTS
IN THE CAREER OF SYD HAYES, MOST WANTED
SESSION STYLIST OF 2017. HE TELLS CREATIVE HEAD
WHAT HAS MADE SYD… WELL, SYD!
Syd with his dad
Grazia, photography by John Akehurst
Pictured below: Syd (centre) planning with, from left: Anthony
Turner, Sandy Hullett, Alexander McQueen and Guido
THE LEGENDS
“At the age of 17 I was working for Nicky
Clarke at his Mayfair salon and it was
amazing. The element of showmanship
that allowed me to host my Creative
HEAD Education Featured Artist event
probably came from him, seeing him on
national television. He was very creative
and amazing to watch on shoots as well
as in the salon. I also met some the best
hairdressers that I learnt so much from
– Lewis Dyer, Simon Maynard, Rupert
Mitchell and Christian Pippin. That’s
what’s so great, you meet these people
over the years and learn from them.
“When I was 21 I thought I knew
everything, so going to Hershesons and
Daniel and Luke telling me I had to
varder for a year was actually one of the
best things I could have done. Daniel is
probably one of the best short hair cutters
I’ve ever met. Luke taught me a different
way, and opened up the higher end of the
fashion world to me.
“Back at Nicky’s, Rupert used to bring
back French Vogue and I’d see Guido’s
work and think ‘this guy is incredible!’ I
set out to get a job with him. Lockonego’s
Ben Cooke, who used to work on Guido’s
team, called him to suggest meeting me,
and I met him on a hotel rooftop in LA!
“Guido suggested I have a trial at the
shows and I was with him for three years.
I took away an experience of working with
the toughest of people, and being able to
do any type of hair in any situation and
not be fazed by people with opinions on
how something should be!”
THE TEAM
“Sometimes now I turn up with three
assistants and I think ‘this is ridiculous’.
But actually, it’s what you need. For
example, recently I landed at 5am from
China, went to shoot a Grazia hair story
for BaByliss from 7am to 3pm, then at
4pm was doing Bella Hadid’s hair…
you have to have a strong team set up
correctly to make it work, and I learned
that from Guido. It’s not just about me
doing hair these days, I have to come up
with ideas, visuals, do press interviews,
help brands… it’s a bit of everything.
“This now comes down to my core team
and help from my first assistant, Paula
McCash, and Jason Lawrence.”
With Guido
Sadie Williams S/S18
CREATIVE HEAD
Photography by Juergen
Teller for Vogue
Kristin Scott Thomas for Vogue
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