Interview: Helen Sutcliffe

Helen Sutcliffe is a wedding hairstylist with over 10 years experience of being a freelance wedding stylist. Being a cruelty-free wedding makeup artist, I flippin' love that she's so staunchly cruelty-free - beauty products don't need to be tested on animals! Helen's got such a lovely calming presence on a wedding morning - she's the quieter version of me, watching everything that's going on, and looks after her bride in such a gentle and loving way. I love that she always (ALWAYS) has a half way treat of a can of Diet Coke!

I caught up with her for my first recommended supplier interview of 2024...

How’re things with you? Tell me what's happening in your world.
I am currently trying to find the positives in January, not only to get my admin systems sorted, my salon space redecorated, but also getting out and doing things that make me feel happy, before it all feels a bit busy. There are times the seasonality of the wedding industry is difficult, but sometimes I feel quite privileged to have time to think and re-evaluated.

How did you get into being a wedding hairstylist, and hairdressing in general?
I originally worked as a stylist in a salon, I loved the energy, the creativity and variation of the industry. I was asked to style friends and clients hair for their weddings on occasion, my bridal client numbers grew slowly over a number of years through word of mouth, until I didn't have the time to do both, it was a very organic evolution.

The industry has changed a lot in the ten+ years I’ve been in business. What do you lament, and what are you pleased has changed?The industry has grown significantly over the last decade; I love that my brides have more autonomy about how the day will run, what details they want to feature and prioritise, and there is definitely less of a box to fit into in terms of styling. 

Could you pick one thing people should AND/OR shouldn't have at their wedding?
Other than having an amazing group around a bride to make her feel positive, I think good snacks are a necessary on a wedding day for a bride, no one ever feels like eating properly.

What advice would you give to someone planning a wedding?
My advice to a bride to be would be don't keep looking at pictures of your dress and other dresses once you have chosen yours, over analysis can be a real enemy. Also don't worry about the weather, please! It will be what it will be, and only your disappointment will put a dampener on the day.

Any embarrassing moments at/before a wedding?
Bridal suite often don't have locks on their bathrooms, which on a couple of occasions have caused a bit of embarrassment, but its quickly laughed off.