Everyone remembers the moment they realized their passion. For Matthew Collins, it started at 12. Not with glamour, but with necessity. His dad told him if he wanted to cut his hair every week, he had to learn to do it himself. So he watched the barber, learned the craft, and began cutting his friends’ hair in return for beers.
By 22 Matthew knew he wanted to be a professional hairdresser. University wasn’t for him, but his mom’s advice stayed with him: The aura around you changes with a good haircut. A good cut makes you feel good. With that philosophy in mind, he started at the bottom by sweeping floors, but by the second day he knew he wanted to be styling celebrities in Los Angeles.
His break came through word-of-mouth. Starting with a friend in the newsroom, his name quickly spread. He began doing hair for network talent, awards shows, and eventually landed his first celebrity client: Gigi Hadid. From there, a snowball effect took over.
Matthew’s approach to hair is grounded in both skill and humility. He notes, “There is no one best look. You find faults in all of your work afterward. That’s what makes a good dresser a good dresser.”
Essentials for his styling? He starts with the hairdryer as the foundation, adds volumizing mousse, texture sprays, and always feels the hair before moving forward.
Award shows bring their own mix of pre-show rush and pressure of precision. Matthew’s kit weighs 75 pounds, packed with extensions, ribbons, pearls, and every hair accessory imaginable. He explains how some people plan, some don’t communicate so you have to come prepared for all.
One of Matthew’s standout roles is as a Dyson Global Styling Ambassador. He recalls the first time he saw the mockup Supersonic Dyson: a 3D-printed prototype with cables and a huge battery pack, years before it hit the market. Working closely with Dyson’s engineers, he helped refine tools like the Corrale and the new Supersonic R. The engineers are not there to stroke egos. They want to know what’s wrong, and they fix it. They love constructive criticism. He notes how technology is evolving and how stylists must adapt old habits to match these better-engineered tools.
Matthew also collaborated on The Scrungee, a smaller, innovative hair accessory brand. Designed for durability and style, the scrunchies feature infinite stretch and surface area, ensuring no dents in the hair. The launch party consisted of about 20 influencers in a spin class trying out the new product. Handmade by Ukrainian mothers working from home, Matthew helped refine the product for both functionality and aesthetics. It is hard navigating challenges like price point and distribution while balancing the debate between selling to a bigger brand or maintaining its boutique appeal.
For Matthew, hair is more than a career. It’s a craft, a science, and a way to make people feel confident. From cutting hair at 12 to running award-show rushes, creating a brand, and collaborating on cutting-edge tools, his journey is a reminder that passion, dedication, and adaptability are the ultimate keys to success.
