Suppliers Spotlight - Gavin Harvie Hair
Another week, another pleasure and honour to introduce you to one of my new-found friends, and possibly one of the loveliest humans on this green earth - Gavin from Gavin Harvie Hair. If you haven’t seen the images from our lockdown shoot, you might not have seen the beautiful creations perfectly and lovingly crafted by Gavin, and boy you will want too (see our Instagrams ASAP). Not only is he a geeeeeeeenius, working alongside him was a pure joy. You can see that every individual he works with, he doesn’t only care for them, but they feel special, and it is infectious. On our shoot day, he was not only professional and efficient, but also encouraging and excited to do what he does best. Make every bride the best version of themselves, and you can tell he relishes making you feel like a goddess from the inside out.
If you are looking for someone to complete your Wedding Day look, I could not recommend anyone more - stunning, timeless, hair-of-your-dreams as well as making you laugh along the way, and you’ll leave for the aisle feeling like a total Queen. What more could you ask for?!
I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed getting to know Gavin just a little better, and you’d be crazy not to give him a follow on Insta afterwards! Links at the end.
Firstly, please introduce yourself!
Hello there! I’m Gavin of Gavin Harvie Hair.
I’m a bridal hair specialist based in Brighton, covering parts of London and the South East.
Why and how did you get started?
At the age of 5, I was given a doll’s styling head by a very liberal minded Santa and I’ve been hooked on hair ever since!
Describe your style in 3 words!
Beautifully Textured Hair for the Modern Bride (Sorry that’s 7!)
What was your first ever wedding like?
I’ll never forget it! The groom arrived for the ceremony in a helicopter.
As he was landing on the lawn, the bridesmaids ran out to greet him and I ran after them shouting, “You’ll ruin your hair!!!”
What’s the biggest lesson you have learnt along the way?
Time management, for sure! Wedding mornings have a habit of passing very quickly, so I always make certain I have a timetable worked out,
leaving enough time for everyone to have their hair styled.
Highlight of your career (so far)!
Seeing my bride’s face as she catches herself in the mirror for the first time in her wedding dress,
with gorgeous hair and make up, is my highlight every time!
Do you keep up with current hair trends, and what are your predictions for 2021?
Absolutely! I’m constantly watching for new styles and trends and always trying to improve my skills.
After a few years of soft, loose up dos, I think 2021 will see a sleeker silhouette.
Advice for Brides when choosing their bridal hair look and hair accessories for their big day
Firstly, make sure you do your research and choose a stylist whose work you love. Have a chat with them on the phone to check that you have a connection (You’ll be spending your last few hours of being a Miss with your hair and makeup artists, so it’s important they make you feel at ease).
Go to your trial with an open mind. Pinterest is great for finding inspiration, but remember the styles you love may not look exactly the same on your hair. Try out a few styles to compare, but I would always go with the one that makes you feel most like yourself. Don’t be afraid to be completely honest with your stylist. Sometimes knowing what you don’t like is the best way to find out what you love!
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
My hope is that Covid is soon a distant memory so I can get back to creating dreamy wedding hair!
What does a typical day in your life look like?
My two main fears are arriving late to a wedding and not having what I need in my kit. So, on wedding days, I am up at crazy o’clock to make sure I am prepared. Once at the venue, I’ll set up and get started promptly. I will normally style the bride first, as she’s always up the earliest, followed by the rest of the party. I always stay until the last minute, can of hairspray in hand, making sure the hair is perfect! Then it’s back home, a few posts of the morning on Instagram and kit cleaned for the next wedding.
What’s your favourite part of your job?
I really love getting to know my brides at our hair trial and finding out what their vision is for their wedding.
No two brides are ever the same and this keeps it fresh and exciting for me to create something gorgeous.
And finally, talk me through one of your favourite hair styles!
A simple, elegant low knot! I love this style! Smooth and sleek or textured and a little bit messy,
it will compliment any wedding dress and neckline.
Thank you Gavin, for not only being a part of this blog but also being such a wonderful part of our Style Shoot in August, you are a total JOY.
See our Instagrams for more photos from that stunning shoot, and below are all the links for Gavin himself!