A-FORDE-able Hairdressing

With a second salon now open in Brighton, Forde Hair brings together shabby chic, high fashion & affordable prices in a unique salon experience

Gary Forde grew up in a small town outside Belfast and became interested in hairdressing at an early age. Inspired by visits to the hair salon with his glamorous grandmother, by age 11 he was saving up his pocket money to get styled there too. After a chance meeting with his hairdresser at a party, aged just 14, Gary asked for a job and she agreed. He worked for free on Thursday afternoons and all day Saturday, and, by the time he reached 15 he had left school and was enrolled in a YTP scheme learning his new found trade. Within a year he had moved up to a bigger salon in Belfast to work as a junior. Here in the early days, even before he had learnt how to cut, he was doing hair-up for which he had a natural flair. By 17 he was styling hair on fashion shoots – not bad for a boy with dyslexia who had been told he would amount to nothing.



Gary went on to live in Brighton for a couple of years before moving to Ibiza. After a few years of moving around Gary finally settled in Brighton and went to work for various salons around town including Tony & Guy, Lee Stafford and Kensingtons, before opening his own salon in St James’s Street, Kemp Town in 2007. Gary established an extensive client base and his boutique-style salon quickly gained notoriety.

A few years on, after a visit home to Ireland, Gary was inspired by the high standard of creative independent salons there and decided he wanted to open a bigger, more central space in Brighton. In addition to the Kemp Town salon a new flagship store ‘Forde Hair North Street’ opened in central Brighton in January 2013. Award-winning stylist Patrick Matthews moved over from Ireland to run the Kemp Town branch while Gary concentrated on his new space.

“I want my salon to fill a distinct gap in the market, offering a superior standard of hairdressing at a reasonable price”

Some may think it’s a brave move in this time of recession, but Gary was undeterred: “My vision for the new salon is for people to look into the window and see a luxury creative space” he says. “They may think they can’t afford what they see but on closer inspection when they see the prices they realise they can. I want my salon to fill a distinct gap in the market, offering a superior standard of hairdressing at a reasonable price that most people can afford.”

Gary is a keen art collector and his creative outlook has been incorporated into both salons’ unique and distinctive design, bringing shabby chic, royalist memorabilia, pop art and high fashion together to create a fabulous visual environment. Brighton-based photographer Mark Vessey has collaborated with Weeza Graphics to produce some stylish wall coverage in the salon based on his ‘Vogue’ image. In addition, contemporary artist Hizze Fletcher has produced a large decoupage wall of fashion imagery as a homage to one of Gary’s idols: Alexander McQueen.

“I wanted to create an amazing platform for self-employed stylists to work from and a salon that truly represents Brighton. I have signed a deal with Wella so I can provide high-end products for use within the salon and for sale. Also, local company Corioliss are selling their unique hair styling tools with us.”

Added to the salon’s visual extravaganza, the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and prides itself on going the extra mile for clients. With competitive prices Forde Hair and Forde Hair North Street present upmarket salons that are accessible to all.

There’s lots more in the pipeline at Forde Hair including high-end pamper parties to be launched soon. And Gary’s hopes for the future? “Amongst other things I would love to represent the South East in the British Hairdressing Awards and maybe one day get into producing my own products. My philosophy is to follow your dreams, work hard and you can achieve anything.”

Forde Hair Kemp Town
84 St James’s Street, Brighton, BN2 1TP
01273 609837

Forde Hair North Street
160 North Street, Brighton, BN1 1NE
01273 323319
www.fordehair.co.uk

Words: Hizze Fletcher
Photographs: Mark Vessey, www.pointandsnap.com