A talented hairdresser who bagged awards and delighted his customers has died aged just 57.
Fun-loving Kevin Finnell made his clientele feel like “a million dollars” in his Barrhead salon.
His devastated husband Brian MacMillan, 48, ran the F&M business alongside him.
And Brian said: “Please raise a glass tonight to a loving, talented bright light in our lives, that made us laugh, love and look our best for over 40 years.
“Thank you to all the clients over the years who allowed Kevin to do the career he loved.”
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Kevin, who lived in Barrhead, died early on Monday.
The stunned staff at the Cross Arthurlie Street premises are working through their grief and have kept the doors open.
Within hours of the news breaking, one thousand messages of support had been left on F& M Hairdressing social media.
Last year F&M was named Best Local Salon in the UK-wide Salon Business Awards.
It styled itself as “East Renfrewshire’s Premier Hair Salon” and was the area’s only hair firm rated five star in the Good Salon Guide.
Kevin had gone into hairdressing after school and still thrived in the job.
His husband posted a message saying: “Kevin Paul Finnell, our Co-Founder, Director, Colleague, my Husband and Best Friend, passed way this morning. Brian x.”
The pair were heavily involved in the Barrhead business scene and raised money for good causes.
The All About Barrhead business group said: “We are absolutely distraught to hear of the passing of Kevin Paul Finnell, of F & M Hairdressing.
“Kevin was a great supporter and champion of Barrhead.
“The work that both he and Brian quietly carried out in the community did not go unnoticed.
“Our thoughts go out to everyone whose lives were touched by him. He will be sorely missed.”
The circumstances of Kevin’s death are not known.
The journalist Yvonne Bolouri was a customer and friend of Kevin for two decades.
She told Renfrewshire Live: “Kevin was a handsome, funny and generous man. I don’t think there’s a single person who didn’t fall a wee bit in love him.
"He adored his husband Brian whom he called his ‘brake’ because while Kevin was going at full pelt, Brian was calmly smoothing his path. They loved to travel and had a vision to bring a world class hair salon to their hometown.
"With hard graft they did exactly that. You arrived a client and left a friend after expert hair care, freshly brewed coffee, Brian’s homemade cakes and a cheeky wee glass of wine. Kevin was a one-off. He will be deeply missed by everyone.”
He was known to have a “laugh and a smile for everyone” and was literally at the cutting edge of his craft.
Customer Jean Still said: “He was one of the best, nicest people I have ever met.
“As well as my hairdresser, I regarded him as a true friend. Totally irreplaceable.”
Alma Reid said he was a “wonderful guy who always had a smile on his face.”
She added: “He will be forever remembered in the work that he did for the community and the hairdressing industry.”
And Kirstin McGettrick said: “I have such a fond memory of him just before Christmas 2020 cutting and styling an older ladies hair. He made her feel like a princess and they both lit up the room that day.”
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