“Fell into hairdressing accidental,” Murray said when asked what triggered his hairdressing skills.
Now Murray is now an award-winning hairdresser working at Atherton Cox. Although started out his training in Wolverhampton, his real journey towards hairdressing began at Vidal Sassoon.
His hairstyles and colors are so creative and artistic. When creating a new look, the key areas of complementing the perfection of color, cut, style and makeup at the same time executing the image for the client, Murray shared that he “will start just the haircut or a style that they have going to be dressed in work out the placement of colours and also what colours to use around the look to enhance the overall finish look.”
Murray’s dedication and hard work and constantly pushing himself to achieve new heights has made him chosen as finalist for the British Hairdressing Awards.
Adding to the list of accolades, he also won the Men’s Hairdresser of the Year at the 2009 British Hairdressing Awards in London.
“Competition is healthy the trick for me to create collection better than the year. So taken inspiration from fashion thinking out of the box regards to experimenting with different colours, textures and techniques.
“Be still keeping it commercial and wearable however if I got through to the finals before use last year as a template and tweak it,” he adds.
What inspires him the most and what brings out what he expresses in your art is “music, social media, celebrities, other hairdressers, walking the streets in London, fashion, and quite simply playing with hair not knowing where the journey is going to take me.”
“My inspiration comes from the passion of being in this industry. I can honestly say I’ve been in this industry for over 30 years and it doesn’t feel like I’ve done a days work,”
When it comes to his most challenging collection, it would be his avant-garde collection “because of the creative thoughts pattern and also the time it takes to make all the hair.”
Apart from being a hairdresser, he is a well-known and award-winning photographer and usually takes his own hair pictures.
“The trick is to be very organised regards to the hair looks and also the photography image. So beforehand I do a lot of preparation.”
Murray’s passion towards artistry and photography has earned him an international award from the A.I.P.P. which named his collection as the ‘Best Photographic Collection of the Year’.
“You have to get inspired and learn new techniques yourself that in turn makes you a better hairdresser.”
✄ How did it feel styling Megan Markle’s hair knowing that she was to be part of the Royal family?
Doing Megan was amazing also a really nice person, however I did not know anything about her and Prince Harry as this happened before it was all announced. Who was to think that you are later a part of the Royal family.
✄ The hair industry moves very quickly. As soon as a collection is created we are moving onto the next thing, a new collection, looks, techniques or colors change. What is your intake on this?
I think it’s a very good thing because you have to be one step ahead of the game. You have to get inspired and learn new techniques yourself that in turn makes you a better hairdresser.
✄ Who would be the first person you contact the moment you found out you placed as a finalist/ nominee or won a hair award and why?
It would be my long-suffering partner, because she goes through everything with me also supports me every step of the way.
✄ What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter competitions?
Look at the past winners. Try and find out who is judging. Read through the criteria very carefully and stick to them, and last but not least try and push the boundaries.
✄ What are your thoughts on aspiring hairdressers considering a career in hairdressing? What is the demand and challenges in hairdressing today compared to when you started?
If you’re a young person thinking of going to hairdressing my advice would be with a person or company that will nurture you and inspire which will grow your passion.
When I started hairdressing it was really hard to get any technical advice all learn new techniques, however the advanced social meet can learn virtually anything I want to find out so it’s a great time to be a hairdresser.
✄ What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to learn new techniques and new ideas in both hairdressing and photography.
✄ Which iconic hairdressers do you follow, and which creative hairdresser would you choose to cut your hair?
I love all the old school hairdressers Trevor Sorbie, Robert Lobetta, Anthony Moscolo, Eugene Souleiman, Sam McKnight, Guido Palau and Vidal Sassoon.
I would love the legendary Vidal Sassoon to cut my hair.
✄ If you had a photoshoot on the London Bridge, who would you want to be your model and what three products what would you style it with ?
Kate Moss would be my ideal model to style using, Product Hairspray, Dry shampoo, and Matt Paste.
✄ Who would be your ideal person to style, color or give a complete change, who would it be and why?
I would like to style Vidal Sassoon’s hair just to hear his story about hair.
✄ In what area do you think that hairstylists need to improve their services and when it comes to colors and cuts, especially with new trends and seasonal colors are constantly emerging?
I think man’s hair as come along whether there’s a big market for colours.
Title; Art Director
Twitter Account: @desmurray
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