Armagh hairstylist Helen Reavy on working with A-list stars
Following the 2022 Met Gala, we spoke with Armagh-born entrepreneur Helen Reavy, who styled the hair of US politician Hillary Clinton, and Glamour editor-in-chief Samantha Barry for the fashionable fundraiser.
Helen Reavey’s passion for hair started at a young age while growing up in Armagh, leading her to move to Dublin in her early 20s where she kick started her career on the floor of Peter Marks in Dundrum, mastering the art of the curly blow dry before taking the plunge and moving to New York City.
“Its the city of dreams, it really is,” she tells me over the phone, reminiscing on the early days of her career. “I suddenly found myself at Fashion Week doing hair, and I just started to slowly build my profile from there.”
We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Snipping, styling, and dying her way to the top of the shiny haircare food chain, Reavey has become a go-to stylist for high-profiled clients such as Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren and Ralph & Russo.
Not only that, but her talented hands have been entrusted by celebrity clients including Harry Styles (yes, we’re very jealous too), Mark Ronson, Tilda Swinton, Alicia Key, Amal Clooney and Marisa Tomei.
With a glossy reputation and years of experience at high-pressure industry events, Helen’s passion for hair and scalp health led her to start her own hair wellness line Act + Acre, a brand that focus on long term hair health.
Creating the brand alongside her husband, Colm Mackin, Reavey says that the couple were inspired to use natural ingredients and a cold-processed technique to create products that would be kind to the skin.
We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
“It all started at Paris Fashion Week,” she explains. “This was one of the first ever shows to lead myself – styling, creating the look, coming up with whole concepts – and my husband Colm came to Paris to support me on my first major role there.
“He saw that all the girls’ hair was all built up with product and their scalps were red raw. He’d often see behind-the-scenes, but this was his first time backstage at the show.”
“When he left and went back to New York, he basically said ‘I think there’s a really good idea here for a brand, and I’m going to leave my job, and we can start developing this together’. We had no name and no concept, but I immediately I said OK and that it would have to be about scalp health.”
We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
With a wealth of red carpet experience behind her, it comes as no surprise that this year was not Reavey’s first at the Met Gala, however, this was the first time she was bringing Act + Acre. With so much at stake, were there any nerves on the night?
“It’s very strange, but the only time I am the most confident is when I’m doing hair,” says Helen. “It doesn’t matter who the people are, it honestly doesn’t cross my mind. It’s just when I feel most at ease.”
A great mindset to have, especially when your job includes working with former United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
“I was actually in LA when the call came in last week and then I flew back on Thursday to do the Vogue fitting and do the hair trial because Anna [Wintour] has to sign off on all this,” she explains. “It was really cool. I wanted her to look elegant.”
“She was incredible to work with,” she adds. “Just incredible.”
We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
As well as gifting Clinton with a soft and stylish up-do, Reavey was on hand to style Cork woman Samantha Barry, the editor-in-chief of Glamour magazine, for some fabulous Met Gala after parties.
To complete the ‘gilded goth’ look, the Armagh woman created Old Hollywood curls to complement Barry’s vintage Zac Posen gown, statement earrings, and radiant red lip.
Elsewhere on the night, Reavey’s team of Act + Acre stylists were working hard on the hair of model Ivy Getty and actress Tommy Dorfman.
“The hair stylists that we work with are good friends of mine,” she explains. “I’ve known them for years so I really trust them. We love to elevate other people’s careers and have ambassadors for the brand. Its lovely to be supporting my friends.”
We need your consent to load this Instagram contentWe use Instagram to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Having caught the attention of Vogue, Forbes and even Goop, Act + Acre have found solid footing in America since launching, and hope to move closer to home by entering the European market in the coming year.
“It just keeps growing, we have 20 people now and we just keep growing,” Helen tells me, excitedly. “We’re thinking of launching in Ireland later this year, and the UK maybe, it’s very exciting.”
“European expansion is going to be pretty huge for us. America is the biggest market ever which is why it just takes so long to launch overseas, it’s a completely different team of people, but it’s very exciting. We also want to extend the line and bring in hair tools as well. It’s constant innovation.”
To see where this Armagh-born talent goes next, follow her on Instagram here.