A NORTHWICH hair salon is gearing up to celebrate 60 years in the town.

Sutton’s Hair Salon, based in Witton Street, is Northwich’s oldest established unisex hairdressers.

The business was set up by Joe Sutton in 1957.

Originally based in Timber Lane, Joe set up two more salons in 1960, one in Middlewich Road and another in Witton Street.

Joe, his wife Pauline and eldest son Dean purchased the current property in the 80s and began renovating the building.

In 1987, Joe, Dean and long-standing member of staff Cathy Harrison opened the new salon.

During his long and illustrious career, Joe, 82, has seen many trends come and go.

“It’s quite incredible,” Joe said. “You have to keep up with the times.

“It was just short back and sides for a long time.

“Then the Beatles came and changed everything.

"Then it was the long hair. I had all the styles for that. You have to keep reinventing yourself, give something new.”

During his heyday, Joe represented Great Britain, winning a number of hairdressing awards at international level.
He has previously won the Welsh Open Hairdressing Championship and came second in the Open Hairdressing Championship.

He has also judged in a number of competitions.

His son Dean has also had a glittering career.

He represented the UK in the skill Olympics for hairdressing in 1983 in Linz, Austria. He was presented with the Austrian crystal for his hairdressing skills.

“It’s fantastic,” Joe said. “I feel very proud.

"It’s nice to see them continuing, Dean, my son, and Cathy, who was one of my apprentices. It’s really nice to see the enthusiasm.”

Cathy, 52, originally started working for Joe when she was 18.

She left the business when she had her son but rejoined almost a decade later, and hasn't looked back. 

“Joe said I had a job for life," she said.

"I was a teaching assistant for a while and when my son got to aged seven I just went in an said, ‘right, I’m back' and he said ‘that’s fine’.

"They’re a fantastic family to work for, they just took me straight back.”

Joe is now retired, but still calls in to the salon from time to time.

He moved to Northwich when he was 20 and has lived here ever since.

He’s now looking forward to seeing the town grow as it enters a new phase in its history.

He said: “The development is incredible.

"Hopefully it will take off because they’ve spent a lot of money, it’s wonderful to see. It’s a beautiful little town.

“It’s something to be proud of.”

Sutton’s Hair Salon is holding a celebratory day at the salon on Saturday, May 13. All are welcome. For more information call 01606 43632.