Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Murray.
Richard, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Doing hair was never my plan, Managing a salon in college lead to a two years apprenticeship to become a color specialist. I studied Communications in Marketing and Advertising at UT San Antonio. After my apprenticeship, a good friend of mine moved to Atlanta. Helping in his move to midtown I never went back to TX. I had less than $500 to my name. A week later, I was hired by one of Atlanta’s top 10 salons, Three – 13 Salon Spa and Boutique, to further my knowledge of color as a color Specialist. Eight years pass and I was looking for something more than just color. I decided to learn how to cut and style as well. I had to make sure my cutting was up to par with my coloring skills. I joined the ever so talented Jessica Soler at her Brookhaven location. I took as many classes as possible traveling up to Manhattan to train with Bumble and Bumble, and Redken.
The next step in my career was to go out on my own. I went in blind. Without a career plan, or much money saved up to start a business, I just went for it. Having no fear and confidence of a rock star, I came across an ad for Mastered Hair Accelerator program. A ten months course based in the UK concentrating in Editorial, Runway, and Commercial work. 99% sure I wasn’t going to get accepted due to the lack of experience of styling hair (at this point I had only been blow drying hair for not quite two years and almost 0 knowledge of styling for events) I applied. An email was sent that a phone interview was requested. Figuring everyone got to speak with them, I scheduled the interview. Another email…a second phone interview. At the end of that phone call she would know if I was a fit or not. One statement that I made stood out to her, “One can never be over-educated and you have the ability to learn from anyone around you, it’s the effort that you put into it.”
At the end of that phone interview, I was chosen out of over 5,000 applicants worldwide to be 1 of the 250 stylists to take the course. Three months into the course, I was doing my first photoshoot on the beaches of the Mediterranean in Dubrovnik Croatia, getting advice from the fashion editors of Vogue Italia, Jane Magazine and Elle Croatia. I am now an ambassador for the program, hosting networking meetups for like-minded individuals in the southern region of the states. It’s been quite an amazing adventure thus far. An adventure of ups and downs, blood sweat and lots of tears, without the support of my family and friends, especially my parents, I wouldn’t be doing what I love. With over 15 years having a career that doesn’t seem like work, just something I do every day, I’m quite lucky. I’ve gathered knowledge throughout the years from previous bosses, co-workers, clients, and friends to be where I am today.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Shortly after leaving Three-13, I was carrying a mirror and it had detached itself from the frame, trying to stop the mirror from hitting the floor, it sliced my ankle like a guillotine. The mirror went through everything and fractured my bone. I was in a cast and with crutches for ten weeks, losing close to 75% of my clientele.
Every adventure has its rough patches, its how you smooth them out is what makes you grow. #lifelessons
A friend of mine once told me he admired my ability to bounce back. And I am always able to do so. That has stuck with me for years and I can’t thank him enough for sharing that with me.
Please tell us about Richard Murray Hair Studio.
My ability to bounce back through my ups and downs. My desire to learn and keep up with current trends. In 2017, I was nominated to be in the running for Atlanta’s Best Colorist. I didn’t win, but being recognized by the Atlanta was great. I don’t think of doing hair as a job, it’s just something I do everyday. What keeps me going is to know that I’m going to make a difference in someone’s life that day. To put a smile on a woman’s face. To make her feel beautiful. To tell her she’s beautiful. To give her self confidence, even if it’s for just that day or even an hour, it’s a feeling that words can’t describe, and to be able to do it with my bare hands…it’s awesome. I like to think of doing hair, not as a job but rather something I get to do every day. I have fun with my clients and I’m real with them. I have a conservative with an edge style ranging from the cooperate executive to the college student in a rock band.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Walt Disney World – Every year we would go visit my grandparents and go to Disney. My brother has started the tradition with my nieces and no matter how old you are, the magic still comes to life and never disappoints.
Pricing:
- Balayage from $120
- Single process color from $95
- Haircuts from $65
- Event Styling from $85
- Everyday styling from $45
- Styling lessons from $65
Contact Info:
- Address: 1745 Peachtree Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30309 - Website: https://RichardMurray.SalonStudios.com
- Phone: 404-788-2891
- Email: RichardMurrayHair@gmail.com
- Instagram: @richardmurray_hair
- Facebook: @richardmurrayhairstudio
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
