What’s In My Hair Kit: Syd Hayes

Brushes & Combs

Mason Pearson makes my favourite hairbrush. With mixed boar brush bristles, it not only detangles hair but also brushes out tight curls into a beautiful, classic and static-free wave. I also love my 3ME Brushes – they’re from Italy and are made from thick wood. They last a lifetime. One comb I am never without is my Matador Wide Tooth Comb. It’s great for defining partings or smoothing hair when you want to braid it. I picked up some insanely good Matt Anti-Static Japanese Combs in Paris recently and they’re already a staple my kit.

Secret Staple

I absolutely love Brillant Diamant by Capilo. Not many people know about it, as make-up artists tend to use it on the skin. I, however, love to use it on the hair for serious shine. There’s nothing like it when it comes to that slick glossy finish. It was a backstage secret for years, but I still swear by it to this day.

Pretty Accessories

I’m so obsessed with hair accessories, I decided to make my own – the Syd Pin. It’s designed to pin any hairstyle in place. It also helps you dress up top knots and buns. I recently popped into Miu Miu in Paris and its selection of accessories is incredible. From fun scrunchies to cool metallic hair grips and slides – pop in if you’re near a store. 

Top Tools

I am a Babyliss man through and through. My latest tool is the 9000 Cordless Deep Waver. Use it to frame the hair around your face or to create a full head of waves that will last for days. It’s the product to throw into your bag for festivals or holidays. Plus, it’s wireless, which makes summer waves even easier. Another tool I love is the Babyliss 3Q Dryer. It’s so important to invest in a good dryer and use it properly to get the right results. Start on a low heat to get the damp off without over drying the ends or getting rid of any essential moisture. It’s the only dryer I use at Fashion Week to get through 30 models in record time.

Quirky Classics

One of the weirdest things I have in my kit is a selection of swimming caps and tights. I use these as wig caps, and sometimes a swimming cap as a look. It sounds bizarre but trust me, these things come in useful – especially at Fashion Week. For example, I once wrapped Emma Thompson’s hair in a gelled hair piece and sculpted it into a hat for British Vogue on a shoot with Juergen Teller. 

Everyday Essentials

Sam McKnight’s Cool Girl Mist is always in my kit. It’s brilliant for adding texture and instant volume. When it comes to hair prep, I always recommend a clarifying shampoo, like Maria Nila Eco Revive. It deep cleans the hair, resets your scalp and enables the hair follicle to breathe, which is a great base for any red carpet or session styling when you want to layer up multiple products. Another essential is the Kiehl’s Grooming Cream. It’s lightweight but still gives the hair better texture – it’s my secret weapon for taming flyaways. Another kit staple is R+Co’s Vicious Strong Hold Flexible Spray. It’s a session stylist’s dream, offering great longevity without going crispy, so you can still change things up and re-mould your style. Finally, I love EVO Root Canal Volumising Spray. It’s so versatile and can transform any look in a flash. 

Hair Motto

I’ve learnt over the years that less is more. If hair already has great texture, I’ll simply mist it with my trusty TIGI Queen For A Day and maybe a little bit of water, then let it dry. This leaves hair with a natural texture that looks a bit more realistic and natural. 

Niche Finds

My favourite place to buy products for my kit is Banbury Postiche. It has a wide range of professional equipment for wig work, which is vital to have in my kit, as my job is so varied. There’s also Helena’s in NYC. It has an amazing array of products and wigs – I’ve been going there for years. If I want to scope out good extensions, American Dream has always been my favourite – especially for the strip glue. If it’s for tape, I love GL Tapes from Great Lengths. The hair completely covers the tape, so you don’t see the join. 

Go-To Organisers

Organising my kit is an ongoing job. Luckily, my team and I are tidy people, so it’s more of a maintenance job than anything else – we always clean the brushes and combs after we’ve used them. Sometimes, spritzing them with water and removing the debris with the pin end of a tail comb is enough. It’s essential we regularly wash our towels and gowns, too. As my kit has grown over the years, I’ve started to use a filing system where everything is itemised. That way, I know where everything is. I even have a photo library of all my wigs – we have sections for lace front wigs to party colour wigs, it’s all in there. My kit started as one small bag, but now it’s spread across at least six bags to fit everything in – I use Burton’s Wheelie Sub – and it splits in two so I can get more in there. You can never have too much in this industry, and you never know how things will turn out on set. 

Follow @SydHayesHair for tips, trend & product advice.