“So, what’s the name behind Ted Morgan Hair Salon,” I asked during the interview? I met up Artistic Director Cyril Morgan for a cup of coffee and had a chat with him about his career, the creation behind Ted Morgan salon and why hair loss is the main issue in the UAE.
Click on the video above for the full interview
Cyril, can you please tell us about yourself and your career?
Hi Guys I’m Cyril Morgan of Ted Morgan Hair Group. I have been hairdressing for 33 years, and l am very passionate man and hairdresser about hair. My life has been put before anything else. Took the big leap of faith coming in January, running the hair business. My brother and his wife are in the HR side of the business. I’m in my comfort zone, behind the chair cutting hair this is where my passion is.
Ted Morgan, where/how did this name originate?
Both Damian and l have daughters, Ted Morgan is my father, so if ever we had a boy l would name him Ted after my dad, and that didn’t happen. So this is where the name came from. My father wasn’t a hairdresser and we thought it was a good catchy name when we were trying to come up with a name for the salon.
What are the top 3 most important things when expanding Ted Morgan within Dubai.
- Quality of work…if your good enough people are going to come to you, watch you and be in demand.
- Good location.
- Good Team…Passion and quality
What prestigious awards have you won and in which category have they been included?
Image magazine Award
L’ Oreal Color trophy
Irish Hairdresser of the year Award
Who inspired you to become a hairstylist, What was your first job at the hair salon?
My wife; I met my wife in the beauty business. I was a motor mechanic prior to that, l was hanging out with the beauty therapists and hairdressers. I had a motor bike and was dropping my buddy to his girlfriends, after dropping him off , driving in the country there was a bendy road. Two donkeys were standing in the middle of the road, l hit one of the donkeys and did some damage to myself. I was a mechanic at the time, my wife was working close to the city at that time, she was my girlfriend. She had a beauty salon and there I met a guy named Rory. He was a hairdresser, and l was recuperating after my accident. Just starting to get better, l was in the bar having a beer, Rory came in and mentioned his assistant was down and faced pressure and he needed an assistant. That’s when l mentioned to Rory that l would help him wash hair, went in with crutches the next day and started to shampoo hair. Actually l found this a fantastic interaction with people. I didn’t think about being a hairdresser for me it was a pure accident. It was an accident fall into it basically. the experience of shampooing has got me thinking , this is what l want to do and 33 years later here l am.
As a salon educator, you provide the training required to keep them your staff up to date? How often do you provide the trainings?
We provide training workshops with the whole group at least once a month. It can be any aspect, eg.we have a Lebanese guy come in and show the staff blow-dries as it is very different to what we do, the Lebanese blow-dries would last for a full week, as in Europe the blow-dry would last as long. Again the following week we have Demitrius from Redken. I also do quite a lot of travelling, teaching myself at the L’oread Academy. I explain to the staff l am am very accessible. I love teaching the staff, thats were my passion is. I see that it is my gift back to the industry.
I am all about client expectations!
In your view, is it important for salon owners to be coaches and mentors to their staff?
100%. You got to lead from the front. Lead by example. I want Ted Morgan to be the best!! That’s my goal.
If you had to describe your own personal style in one word it would be……..
I’m not a suit guy, l like to dress very casual. I like to dress being very relaxed. My style of hairdressing is very adaptable, very much about, client coming in tailor make the haircut to everybody. To me, fashion is all about suitability, manageability, and you have to look fantastic. To me that what hairdressing is all about. I don’t think that if one trend is in fashion that all should have the same style its a matter of what suits the client.
”My advice is…..Really Stay true to What You Are”
How do you think hair relates to a person’s confidence? Do you prefer long hair or short hair on a lady?
Again its all about suitability. I don’t have a preference. A lot my work is short haircuts. In Ireland l attract short clients to me as l am very precision cut and Sassoon educated. If it’s long hair, then l can adapt to long hair, no preference one or the other. My preference is the client leaving the salon looking and feeling fantastic.
To make an hair appointment with you, how many months in advance is the waiting list and what part of hairdressing are you renown for ?
As the salon is ladies only, l do not take appointments. There have been requests, but saying that my waiting lists are my staff queuing up to work with them. When l am in the salon its more for education, and l am currently looking for models. Call me and ask for Cyril, we are always looking for models for cuts/colours.
When do you get excited about a hair transformation you have done?
When l get publications, l do lots of shoots, its what l love.
You have worked in the hair industry for many years, what is the best lesson you have learned along the way? Would you implement this lesson to your staff or hairdressers?
Listening!! Lot’s of people don’t listen, we are not good listeners. Concentration!! Sit down look in to the ladies eyes and ask questions, and listen to what she says back to you. Always have an open question, that’s what l’ve learnt. Show the client styles, using your phone, now what is being used most of the time. Know what you are going to do before you start, visualise the finished product.
What advice would you give to hairdressers aiming for your profession and expertise?
Roll up your sleeves, be passionate, work hard. It is a demanding job, stay true to it. I wake up everyday, checking my Instagram and see whats happening in the world of hairdressing overnight. I sleep thinking of hairdressing and wake up again looking at my Instagram, which l think its a passion in you. My advice is…..Really Stay true to What You Are.
How is the clientele in Ireland different to Dubai? What are the most hair demands in Dubai compared to Ireland?
Hair is Hair. Demands in Dubai are definitely different to Ireland. People would come in the salon, have the money to spend and would show you a picture of a complete change. They would come in with a base 2, show you a picture of a blonde head of hair that they want to achieve, as they don’t mind the money spent on the change of colour. Obviously the base colours are lighter in Ireland which is more achievable. Hair in Dubai is much longer, l don’t see too many short hair styles even in European ladies.
”For a lady her hair is her crown of glory”
Which celebrity’s hair would you love to style or give a transformation to?
I’ve always had a passion for Halle Berry, she wears her style beautifully.
For women In the UAE, hair loss is the main issue. What can we do to avoid this and what advice would you give?
Since moving to Dubai this has been a main issue. At Emirates airlines, we have been asked to do workshops twice a month with their cabin crew and hair loss was part of the topic. Part of the problem in UAE is hair loss, and in Ireland l worked a lot with Cancer patients, hair loss and Alopecia. It was something that happened organically for me when a client told me she was going through chemotherapy. She asked me if l could do something for her, but l had no experience with wigs, or hairpieces that time.
For a guy he can get away of loosing hair at a certain level which some guys can except and some don’t at a certain level, but for a lady, her hair is her crown of glory. People have asked me is it the water, because it’s salinated and has chemicals. But it’s something that l can’t answer. We use a big range, a product that l would endorse, and have had massive results is Cerafil by Redken. In Ireland people that have had serious hair loss, through stress and used it and found great results. I’ve seen great results in Cerafil and would highly endorse it.
What would you say to people who think salon products are better. What is your favourite hair product?
Defiantly there is a difference from what you buy in a supermarket to what you buy in a hair salon. When you use a stylist expertise and she recommends you products especially for your hair. A lot of products overlap a bit, eg. same product different range. It’s very important that you get proper advice.
My favourite products are shine spray, and soft wax. Redken, and Techni Art, they have nice serums. l like soft products which make the hair manageable when l put my hands through it’s not stiff.
When recruiting staff at ted Morgan, is there a minimum years of experience or skill that is required?
We have our guidelines. When l advertise, we do require them to have some life experience and maturity. It all depends on the person, wether they are young, but l like them to be a bit more mature. We have a fantastic young stylist which is 22 years she is a great hairdresser in our Jumeriah Centre branch. I like to meet them face to face and get a feel of what they are and see how passionate they are about hairdressing.
What’s your vision for Ted Morgan hair salon?
Want to be the best in the region, the best in the world. I want to make the ordinary, extraordinary. My goal is when the client has a great experience from when she phones front of house to when she come in and has a proper consultation and has the best experience in the salon, to when she leaves. I am a believer,” if you do the small things well the big things happen automatically”. I’m totally full of ambition and energy.
What would you say to the people that would like to visit Ted Morgan hair salon?
Come in and try us out. We will make the ordinary, extraordinary. We are totally professionals, we have a strong criteria of procedures of how l like things done. We don’t take risks, We will give you proper advice and achieve what you want.
”If you want me to be there in a consultation, l’d love to be there” – Cyril Morgan
Salon images provided by Cyril Morgan
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