Hair by Duboux - Supplier Spotlight
Sally-Kate Duboux of Hair by Duboux joins me on this supplier spotlight blog to chat all things hair.
Hair by Duboux is a professional hair stylist with fifteen years experience. Specialising in Bridal hair, Red carpet events, Proms, Christmas parties and more.
Hair by Duboux Awarded Wedding Hair Stylist of the Year 2020 (Essex) by Luxlife Wedding awards.
Based in Hockley, Essex Sally-Kate serves the UK and beyond. As a highly trained professional hair stylist, she understand the importance of having the right look for you on your Wedding Day.
You can find out all about Hair by Duboux here:
But before you do check out what Sally-Kate and Hair by Duboux had to say when I quizzed her with a few questions about her wedding hair styling business journey and she offers some great tips!
How long have you been in the wedding business?
I started out in the wedding industry styling a friend and ex-colleagues hair back in August 2012. We had toured the uk with a production of Disneys Beauty & the Beast and she was my company manager.
Two years later I got a call asking me if I would style her hair for her wedding. She said she saw something in me and knew that when she got engaged and was planning her wedding she would ask me. I felt honoured more than anything. I can’t believe it is eight years ago now.
Did you always want to work in the wedding industry?
The short and very naive answer is no - I hadn’t even thought of a wedding having an industry so to speak.
I started out at just eighteen after getting a Triple Distinction - BTEC National Diploma in media makeup (essentially theatre makeup) I loved the wig making aspect of the course. 2005 I went straight in to full time work after a weeks work experience with a prestigious facial Postiche makers in North London - Sarah Weatherburn & Co. The in-house knotting work ranged from wolf suits, to eyebrows, to mutton chops, wizard beards, you name it we made it. All for film, television and theatre. I was with Sarah and her team for almost four years before joining the glittering lights of the West End. Working on countless shows within many wigs & hair departments.
I would say I discovered the depths of the wedding industry through my friends getting married and being involved in styling their hair. It ignited my passion for hairstyling in a completely different way.
Have you noticed any changes since you began compared to now?
Within my career of fifteen years I’ve seen huge changes both for hair and for weddings. Within the wedding industry and the rise of social media I think weddings have grown somewhat, I also think the industry is oversaturated particularly with hairstylists and makeup artists.
Do you think people spend too much money on weddings?
I believe weddings prior to lockdown had become grander - showing what can be achieved when the sky is the limit! I love big weddings and I love small intimate weddings at the end of the day its about the commitment and love between two people. I think once we come out of lockdown and weddings get the go ahead I think we will see a new change on what couples deem as essential for their wedding.
Are you married?
No. My partner and I have been together five years. We’ve spoken about marriage but no more than that. It usually comes down to would you rather - Scott will ask 'would you rather go on holiday or get married?' - We love our holidays!!
Are there particular wedding suppliers that you look forward to working with?
I’ve worked with a Make-up artist based in Hampshire a few times Birute Thomas! We actually met at Heathrow boarding a flight for a destination bride of ours, we clicked. I feel like I’ve known her for years. It’s lovely when a couple bring you together with likeminded individuals and friendships are made.
My cousin is also a photographer and videographer - Dan Lambourne Photography. We were due to work together for the first time on a destination wedding out in Canada this July which has sadly been postponed till next summer. His work is amazing but then again I am slightly biased!
There are so many incredible wedding suppliers that I am yet to work with. I’m based in Essex yet have only done a handful of weddings in my home county as I travel all over the UK as well as abroad.
What’s your favourite wedding venue and why?
Thats a hard one. I loved the intimacy of Cain Manor in Surrey. The history and gardens are beautiful, the staff are lovely and all round helpful. The bridal suit is open and spacious with lots of natural light. Light is important in the bridal suites, more so for the makeup artist and Cain Manor has a lovely big window.
I was really looking forward to visiting Emerald Lake Lodge, Banff, Canada. The setting looks jaw dropping and I know the bride would look breathtaking!! Roll on July 2021
I live locally to Baddow Park House in Essex. I follow the wedding venue account on Instagram and love seeing the renovations and alterations they have being doing. I would love to be involved in a wedding at the venue in the future.
What’s your best/worst wedding story?
I like to be organised, maybe borderline on OCD. However on a number of occasions it has calmed my brides and contributed to the tradition;
'something borrowed something blue something old, something new’
I carry a supply of accessories and rarely take them out of my kit. I’ve had a couple of my brides having left their accessories at home, or simply misplaced them. I have been able to loan my pieces out to them, contributing to their something borrowed and something old.
Aside from what people see you doing, what else is involved in your business that couples don’t see?
I had no clue that running a business involved so many roles firstly; hairstylist, website design, blogger, accountant, social media manager, PR to name a few. You see the before and afters, the transformations and the blushing bride. What you don’t see is the journey I go on with my couples; the planning, the mood boards, the friendship, the trial. All of the journey is kept private adding to the wow factor on the day!
What’s the biggest tip you can give to a couple who’ve just started their wedding planning?
My biggest tip is clear communication! Oh and bridesmaids; of course you want your besties by your side, but the larger the bridal party the more charges you incur, for example an assistant may need to be brought in to help with hairstyling adding an additional rate but also take into account the time it will take to style six of you when the ceremony starts at 12pm - you’ll need to be finished half hour before for your chat with the registrar - this means a very early start which as a hairstylist we are used too but intern adding to your unforeseen costs if a hotel is required.
What are the current trends in wedding hair and accessories?
Hair and accessory trends tend to filter down from the catwalk and larger fashion houses. I keep an eye out for these trends roughly a year prior to the current wedding season. It can take time to filter down and every hairstylist has their own flair and interpretation of a style. I love the creativity that hairstyling evokes even with my brides.
I get all my brides to save images on Pinterest that make their eyes light up. We work together in creating a style that’s bespoke and tailored to them with inspiration taken from their collated images. Wedding hair is so much more, its about feeling and creating a breathtaking hairstyle that represents a refined version of my client.
You either want your accessory to enhance your style; hair, dress, venue - really the overall look and feel of the wedding. The alternative is to go for a statement piece that screams wow! However you still want to keep in mind the styling, maybe suited to the colour palette and the flowers of the wedding.
Many of my brides opt for Hollywood Waves - It is such a timeless, elegant style that when you look back on your photos in years to come, will still look current. Ultimate glam look, partnered with a comb on one side really gives the finishing touches.
Where can people find out more information about what you do?
My website holds all the key information about me, who I am and what I do, testimonials, gallery. I have a blog which can be accessed via my website and my features page has all the links to my editorial magazine features.
My door is always open (so to speak) hairbyduboux@hotmail.com instagram too.