Lipstick and Locks in Sudbury combines hairdressing salon with cocktail bar

Hairdressing salon owner Abigail Cutter is expanding her business with a new concept in hair and beauty.

Lipstick and Locks has opened in North Street in Sudbury – and it includes a cocktail bar.

Ms Cutter, 26, is pioneering a new idea to combine traditional and special occasions hairdressing with make-up and treatments, such as botox and fillers, while offering drinks and cocktails.

“I got the idea from Australia,” she said. “While I was on holiday on the Gold Coast, I went into this salon by the sea and had an amazing experience getting my hair and make-up done all in the same place.

“I rang my dad from Australia and said I wanted to open a place like that and he said go for it. My dad always believes in my ideas; he’s my biggest fan,” she added.

Lipstick and Locks opened following a launch party earlier this month.

Ms Cutter has other salons in Halstead and she is a third generation of a hairdressing business family.

Her grandfather, John Cutter, started the business in the 1950s, followed by her dad Julian, who owns five salons – two in Halstead and others in Sudbury, Hadleigh and Braintree.

Ms Cutter says she has not come across anything like this elsewhere, apart from in Australia.

“It’s something different and I think it will appeal to hen party clients and groups going out for the evening or for special occasions,” she said. “They can come to the salon and have their hair and make-up done and enjoy a few cocktails before going out.

“I have something similar in Halstead for special occasions, without the traditional hairdressing side, and that has really taken off, but this is on a much bigger scale.

“In Halstead, it got popular very quickly and I wasn’t ready for that, and I had to recruit extra staff. I am hoping it will be just as popular here in Sudbury.”

She said the addition of a cocktail bar had meant navigating some extra layers of admin.

“I’ve had to get various permissions and do some training, but that’s all sorted now,” she said. “The bar is fully stocked.”