Hairdresser, photographer, global ambassador… We chat to Desmond Murray on his journey in the industry, the importance of staying relevant, and his life mantra’s
Desmond Murray never wanted to get into hairdressing. In fact, while living in Walsall after finishing school, his mum got him a temporary job in a youth club just to keep him off the streets. It was in that youth club that somebody approached Desmond and mentioned a hairdressing job in Wolverhampton. “I thought, I don’t know anything about hairdressing really, and I don’t even want to be a hairdresser. However, my philosophy in life is, what have you got to lose? So, I gave them a call.”
That was when his career in hairdressing began: “While I was in the salon, I met an amazing hairdresser from London – he was a great person, liked great music, dressed well, had a long client waiting list. I thought, I want to be like him. He took me under his wing, was my mentor for two years and I became a junior stylist.” During this time, Desmond entered a few competitions in London and eventually got offered a job in a salon in Clapham two years later. Becoming part of the salon’s Artistic Team, Desmond was responsible for all the photoshoots, seminars, and shows.
Despite a tightly honed skillset in hairdressing, Desmond isn’t one to stop exploring – after all, hairdressers are known for being curious right? “I wanted to get an editorial book together,” he says. “I went into a photography studio, and asked the two photographers to teach me everything they knew. In return, I said I’d do all the models' hair free of charge. I did that for two years and they taught me everything to do with photography.”
Next came two years in New York, almost six years in Covent Garden, and many British Hairdressing Awards, not to mention working on Julia Roberts’ hair in Notting Hill, and meeting the iconic Vidal Sassoon – which he describes as the proudest moment during his career – Desmond now works in Atherton Cox, Marylebone, is a global ambassador for Matrix, and an established photographer. A typical day in the life of Des? “One of the great things that keeps me motivated in our industry is that I have a variation of different things to do – every day is different. From clients in the chair to shoots for magazines, salons and product companies, I’m just really busy,” he laughs.
Trying to keep up with his brain, though, is something that Desmond finds a challenge. “I always want to learn things and there’s never enough time in the day. My take on photography and hair is to keep current and to evolve, you have to keep learning,” he pauses. “Someone once said to me ‘The only way you’ll learn is if you put yourself out there and you feel vulnerable’.”
Another mantra Desmond lives by? “Where you put your focus is where you get your results. For example, if I wanted to be a better photographer, I would look at people’s work and go and assist them, stalk them, do whatever to learn from them. Because whoever you learn from, you basically become.” Speaking on the younger generation, he adds: “Go to Salon International, see what’s out there, look at what the big names are doing like Guido, Eugene, and Sam McKnight. When I first started, the industry was very centred on working behind a chair but now you can do so many different things and there’s a lot of money to be made.”
He may have kept off the streets in Walsall, but it’s clear that Desmond’s been round the block in the hair world! And while he may not reveal any concrete plans for what’s coming up, he talks deeply about his love for the industry and feeling like he’s not done a day’s work for the entire time he’s been doing hair and photography. “I’m at a stage now where I don’t have to impress anyone,” he admits. “It’s not necessarily about money, it’s not necessarily about trying to break boundaries, I’m just enjoying what I do, and if I can do lovely work and learn from it, then that’s what it’s all about.”
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