Michael Beel

What country are you from, and where do you reside? 

I’m from and live in the beautiful country of New Zealand.

Title of what you do, and if you are aligned with a brand or company. 

I’m the Creative Director/Co-owner of Salute Hair Spa, Dyson Beauty Ambassador for Australia/NZ and a Moroccan Oil Artist.

Education background (school, salons, self-taught)? 

After leaving high school, I attended university for three years to study Marketing and Psychology. However, in my final year, I took on a part-time job in a salon to earn some extra money. I loved the salon environment, the energy and making people feel better about themselves, so I dropped out of uni to start a classic apprenticeship. The parents at the time were not too thrilled, but after nearly 25 years, I think I’ve made the right decision.

What is the first creative project that you remember? 

The first one that made my heart race was when I had the opportunity to work backstage at my first-ever NZ Fashion Week in the early 2000s. The hair lead for this show had flown in from New York. The hair look was all about wigs, and it’s where my love of show and editorial hair was cemented in my psyche… the creativity, with all the different elements like clothes, models, music, makeup, and, of course, hair, working in harmony, and the impact and transformations absolutely blew my mind.

What is your signature style/artistic expression of your work? 

Editorially, I’m known for the big glam hair moments. Like Dolly Parton once said, “The higher the hair, the closer to God!” and in my salon life, I’m known for a great precision cut bob. 

What is the most fulfilling job you’ve worked on or someone you have worked with? 

Every job is fulfilling in some way, whether it’s the team around you all vibing to get the perfect result, the person in the chair in front of me, or the editorial hair I’ve created. I’m very lucky in that I’ve worked all around the world just doing hair. However, having worked with Rita Ora on several occasions has definitely opened up some opportunities, such as an editorial shoot in Vogue.

Do you have a career turning point, a big break, or a person who has helped your career? 

Winning NZ Hairdresser of the Year 4 times has helped propel my career. Still, personally, for me, it was when I got my first magazine cover. I felt like I had arrived in the editorial world. Walking into a magazine store and seeing it staring back at me from the shelves was very surreal. I wanted to grab people in the shop and go, ‘I did that!’

What was the scariest and proudest moment in your career? 

The scariest happened to me in the first week of working in a salon. I was asked to go blast off a client’s wet hair so the senior stylist could colour it! I picked up a hairdryer, turned it on and then proceeded to flick hair around and dry it off. Unbeknownst to me, the hairdryer did not have a guard over the back where the motor was. This client’s beautiful, long hair ended up getting caught and wrapped around the motor and the hairdryer got stuck in the hair… it had to be cut out, and the client went from long shoulder blade length hair to a jaw-length bob! EEEEEEEK!!! 

My proudest moment is training and educating hairdressers to be the best versions of themselves. Mentoring and growing our industry is a true passion of mine, and being a part of a hairdresser’s growth and success makes me incredibly proud.

What is next for your career goals? 

My next career goal is to carry on the path I’m on, never say no to opportunities that come my way and create pathways for the next hairdresser based at the bottom of the world.

What advice would you give to someone starting in your business? 

Work with someone who knows more than you! I’m very lucky my business partners are the $$$ brain, as spreadsheets, wage percentages, and stock levels do not excite me. It allows me to focus on the creativity of our space and the team education and dynamics. We all support and guide each other, but it also allows us to stick to our strengths and passions.

Instagram: @michaelbeelhair

Website: www.michaelbeel.co.nz

Facebook: MichaelBeelHairdresser