Let's stay together

A hairdresser’s bread and butter is built around on their regular clients. The ones who come back every four to six weeks like clockwork, who rave about you to their friends, who trust you completely. Those relationships don’t just happen, they’re created.

The stylist

Kate Murphy
Stephen Marr, Takapuna
Auckland

The client

Kate Megaw
Owner and designer, Penny Sage clothing line

Kate Murphy and Kate Megaw’s relationship has been going strong for five years. When Murphy moved from Ponsonby to Takapuna, Megaw followed. Despite being away overseas for a year, when Megaw returned to New Zealand, she went straight back to Murphy. Now Megaw comes in about once a month for a cut and colour.

Kate Megaw says …

“I needed a fringe trim and she was just awesome and I kept coming back.

“She was the first hairdresser I’d had who knew what I wanted without me having to explain. She knows what looks good on people and she’s always honest so if I want something won’t look good then she’ll tell me and steer me in another direction. She thinks about everything, including your lifestyle, and helps with inspirations.

“I don’t like when you try to talk to a hairdresser about what you want, but they don’t listen and do something different that you don’t understand. Kate’s always really professional.”

“I always wanted to have long hair but many hairdressers always want to just cut it and have their own fun.

“When I went away for a year I ruined my hair and had to cut it all off. It was pretty mangy. But Kate fixed it and now for the first time I have healthy long hair.

“Lots of hairdressers that still do the same thing and the staff at Stephen Marr try new things. I feel really safe here.”

Kate Murphy says …

“She [Megaw] didn’t have a choice about coming back! If I like a client I won’t give them a choice because I know that I can do great things for them.

“I want a clientele that inspires and challenges me so I try to get clients like that. I cultivate and create my client list myself through my social circles, or if I see someone on the street I will go up to chat with them – even if I offer them a complementary blow wave just to get them in here. I want to create an addiction to me – a feeling that no one else can do their hair like I can.

“Your clientele will reflect you and the other way around. It’s really important that you inspire each other. You’re going to get the most out of your day if you’re dealing with people you like. I have clients ranging in age from 16 to people in their 70s … mums, uni students … because that’s the shit I love.

“Never say ‘so what are we doing today?’ Ask them questions about different things – my one at the moment is what’s your favourite city. Because right there it gives you a picture of the kinds of things they’re inspired by at the moment – you can imagine the trends associated with the music, fashion, style, and celebrities. To pull this off you need to research so you know about what’s going on.

“It’s also really important you know what you’re style is and what values you have as a hairdresser. It’s about being confident enough to know what your style is and being bold enough to try new things.

“As Kate’s been coming in to see me, she’s built up relationships with others in the salon, so I’m confident that if she can’t see me then she could see someone else in the salon. It’s funny how that happens, and it’s really important.”

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