ABOUT ME

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Dear Bride to Be,

As your wedding day hair and make-up artist, I’ll likely be involved in some of the most special moments of your life. So, it’s only fair that I share a bit about my own life, so you can get to know me a little.

jennifer west photography, wedding and family photography London, Kent, Bromley, Swansea, destination

My name is Gabrielle, but my friends and family call me Gabi.

 I love dance, travel, photography (which I use a lot in my work)  walking outdoors, and laughing with my daughter. I'm a mum, a wife, a friend.  I'm also a multi-award-winning hair and makeup artist based in Pinner, London - and I've followed my dreams and my heart to be here, talking to you right now. 

It's been un unconventional journey to this moment. I moved to London  just days after my own wedding with head full of dreams. I embarked on an office career before, at the age of 30, deciding to take the plunge and follow my dreams into the hair and make-up industry.

Now we're almost a decade on, and I'm even more passionate about what I do than I was when I started out. The career I thought would unleash my creativity has done so much more than that. In the last ten years I've had the privilege of working with hundreds of women for their weddings, for photoshoots and for other special occasions where they want to look and feel their best and most beautiful. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my work, so you'll often find me at workshops and masterclasses, honing my skills and continuing to get better and better. This drive combined with my experience in the industry has led to features in some of the UK's leading wedding publications, and I was recently named Wedding Hairstylist of the Year 2020 at the prestigious TWIA for London and South East England and also National Finalist, which are the latest of numerous awards that I've won. 

So, how did I get there?

The short answer: with lots (and lots!) of hard work and determination. It hasn't been easy, but it's been more than worth the effort.

I was always aware that I had a creative side that my office jobs (I’ve had quite a few of them over the years!) didn’t allow me to explore. In one particular job, I was the listening ear for a colleague who was unhappy with her work. The more I listened to her, the more determined I became to do something that would bring me happiness and release my creativity.

A couple of years before I set up Hair and Make-up by Gabrielle, I learned the art of hairdressing at a leading London salon. It was great – they really took the time to nurture me, and I gained invaluable experience working with hair of all colours and types. My breadth and range of skills are based on the strong foundations I gained here. However, I knew that I wanted to offer a more personalised experience for my clients, the kind that just isn't possible in a salon, so I decided to establish my own business.

hair and makeup artist

I love connecting with people – always have – and I soon realised that my calm and friendly nature made me a good fit for bridal hair and make-up styling.

As someone with real interest in psychology and mindfulness, I'm very in tune with the deeper aspects of my interactions with clients on their big day. Being able to be a calming presence who can help you to feel comfortable and relaxed on your wedding morning is a hugely important part of my job, and something I'm really proud to be able to do for you. Because my work is about so much more than helping my clients look their best. It's about giving them a real boost, creating a calm, stress-free atmosphere and making sure that, by the time they're walking down that aisle or out into the world, they feel as though the can take on anything.

Nothing gives me as much pride at work than the smiles and the looks on my brides' faces when I hand them that mirror at the end of our session.

I'm an advocate of empowering women in all types of ways; and my tools of empowerment just happen to be hairbrushes and make-up palettes.

You can find out more about how I work HERE, and get in touch for a chat about your wedding or special occasion HERE.

I look forward to meeting you and being a part of your special day.

Love, Gabi x