We were lucky to catch up with KC Murray recently and have shared our conversation below.
KC, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I knew I wanted to become a cosmetologist at the grand age of 6. Yes, I said 6 years old. Of course over the years there were many other interests that tried to veer me away from that. Evenmore so were the daunting and dominating opinions of others telling me I was too smart, too quiet, and that that career did not suit my personality. To be honest, as I got older I almost began to believe those lies but I could never shake the declaration I had made as a 6 year old girl who had dressed up as a cosmetologist for Career Day. The high school I attended also had a dual enrollment tech program that students could enroll in alongside the standard curriculum. Long story short, I was accepted into the cosmetology program and loved the class and I even started excelling in my other classes all because I had discovered and was pursuing my purpose. After graduating high school with my cosmetology license in hand I knew I enjoyed being a hairstylist and I wanted to see where it would lead. So I got a job at a walk-in salon where I began to establish clientele and get more hands-on experience as a stylist. After committing to become the best hairstylist I could possibly be, I realized that fashion was still a great part of who I was but I was uncertain of how I would be able to merge my passion for fashion and hair into my perfect job. Shortly thereafter I was introduced to Charleston Fashion Week. Charleston Fashion Week was the key that unlocked the door of my imagination. I was elated because I got to be a part of the team that collaborated with and created hairstyles for fashion designers; to be a part of a team that created such beautiful wearable artistic expressions with hair! I was able to learn and grow from some of the best hairstylists on the east coast! Immediately upon becoming a part of the Charleston Fashion Week Team, my next goal was to become a part of the New York Fashion Week Team. And yes, I accomplished that mission as well. Of course being a part of either of those opportunities have not been easy to come by but they definitely have been worth it. And soon I aspire to be a part of Paris and Milan and Tokyo, the list goes on and on. Every day, every week, every month, every year is an opportunity to do something beyond where you are. While it is great to smell the roses and appreciate the past accomplishments it is just as important to reach for higher goals. No one says “I breathed enough yesterday, I can take a break today”. No, we keep breathing! Just like I keep breathing, I keep learning and reaching for higher goals. As a result of being a part of those great shows I am now able to incorporate the enhanced skills and knowledge garnered from those experiences into the work I now produce on a consistent basis for commercials and magazine photoshoots. Working at a walk-in salon began to present many challenges as I was being presented more opportunities to work outside of the salon; so when I was offered an unbelievable opportunity to take over an already established salon I took it. As a result of that business acquisition I am able to create my own schedule and continue to grow in my purpose without limitations. I am quite proud to become the person the 6 year old me always wanted to become and I keep evolving into a greater version of her with every opportunity I seize.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I knew I wanted to become a cosmetologist at the grand age of 6. Yes, I said 6 years old. Of course over the years there were many other interests that tried to veer me away from that. Evenmore so were the daunting and dominating opinions of others telling me I was too smart, too quiet, and that that career did not suit my personality. To be honest, as I got older I almost began to believe those lies but I could never shake the declaration I had made as a 6 year old girl who had dressed up as a cosmetologist for Career Day. The high school I attended also had a dual enrollment tech program that students could enroll in alongside the standard curriculum. Long story short, I was accepted into the cosmetology program and loved the class and I even started excelling in my other classes all because I had discovered and was pursuing my purpose. After graduating high school with my cosmetology license in hand I knew I enjoyed being a hairstylist and I wanted to see where it would lead. So I got a job at a walk-in salon where I began to establish clientele and get more hands-on experience as a stylist. After committing to become the best hairstylist I could possibly be, I realized that fashion was still a great part of who I was but I was uncertain of how I would be able to merge my passion for fashion and hair into my perfect job. Shortly thereafter I was introduced to Charleston Fashion Week. Charleston Fashion Week was the key that unlocked the door of my imagination. I was elated because I got to be a part of the team that collaborated with and created hairstyles for fashion designers; to be a part of a team that created such beautiful wearable artistic expressions with hair! I was able to learn and grow from some of the best hairstylists on the east coast! Immediately upon becoming a part of the Charleston Fashion Week Team, my next goal was to become a part of the New York Fashion Week Team. And yes, I accomplished that mission as well. Of course being a part of either of those opportunities have not been easy to come by but they definitely have been worth it. And soon I aspire to be a part of Paris and Milan and Tokyo, the list goes on and on. Every day, every week, every month, every year is an opportunity to do something beyond where you are. While it is great to smell the roses and appreciate the past accomplishments it is just as important to reach for higher goals. No one says “I breathed enough yesterday, I can take a break today”. No, we keep breathing! Just like I keep breathing, I keep learning and reaching for higher goals. As a result of being a part of those great shows I am now able to incorporate the enhanced skills and knowledge garnered from those experiences into the work I now produce on a consistent basis for commercials and magazine photoshoots. Working at a walk-in salon began to present many challenges as I was being presented more opportunities to work outside of the salon; so when I was offered an unbelievable opportunity to take over an already established salon I took it. As a result of that business acquisition I am able to create my own schedule and continue to grow in my purpose without limitations. I am quite proud to become the person the 6 year old me always wanted to become and I keep evolving into a greater version of her with every opportunity I seize. KC Murray can best be described as a young sensation in the world of cosmetology. Though often perceived as quiet and reserved, her resume boasts of her talent, drive, determination and pure passion for her craft. For the past 12 years KC has delved into educational experiences, fashion shows, and over 100 editorial & creative photo shoots with some of the biggest icons in the cosmetic and fashion industry. She puts a mandate on staying abreast of the latest trends and maintaining a level of mastery in her craft because of the ever evolving cosmetic industry. Art in various mediums, the beauty and wonder of nature, captivating historic photographs and the intricate details of architecture are the primary sources of inspiration KC credits for the masterpieces she creates upon the tresses of her clients. A striking beauty with a smile that is as radiant as her future, KC possesses the necessary skills, talent and drive to become a cosmetic industry icon of her generation.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
One of my favorite quotes is: “Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid”
-A Einstein
In essence if you take a fish and put it on land you have now taken the very thing away that it needs to live and succeed, the water.
That being said, I believe the best way society can support artists/creatives in a thriving ecosystem is by creating a better educational system specifically geared towards artists/creatives. The entire purpose of education is to set all children up for success yet for the creatives/artist portion of those children there is an expectation to figure out paths to their own careers as opposed to teaching them how to thrive once their aspirations have been identified. For 13 years children are required to participate in an educational system that was created to teach them to be successful in more of a rigid well structured corporate/scientific arena. In essence if you take a fish and put it on land you have now taken the very thing away that it needs to live and succeed. That also applies to creative people because we have to have constant connectivity to the arts in order for us to succeed. Studies show that the majority of artists who reach a pinnacle of success are over the age of 40. Imagine how much earlier the road to success could begin for artists if their talents and gifts were cultivated at a younger age; not just as a hobby but if they wanted to pursue art/creativity as a career choice as opposed to the traditional careers of doctors, lawyers or professors. Imagine at the earliest possible point of their educational journey, artistically inclined children not only growing up embracing who they are as creatives/artists but also being provided the specific skills and training they would need to succeed in careers as artists/creatives. The best thing that happened to me in high school was the cosmetology program that was incorporated in my curriculum. It gave me a heightened sense of purpose to earn my diploma because I knew I could not fail in any of my “standard” courses because that would create a risk for me being kicked out of the cosmetology program. The entire purpose of the education system is to set ALL children up for a brighter and more successful future, yet for the creative/artistic percentage of those children there is an unexpressed and almost unrealistic expectation to figure out paths to their nontraditional career choices as opposed to teaching them how to thrive once their artistic/creative aspirations have been identified.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Everyday we live we take a risk be it big or small, calculated or spontaneous, moment changing or life changing yet the most detrimental thing we can do is not take a risk and risk regretting the risk not taken. For me, I would have to say one of the biggest, and best life changing risks I ever took was when I took the initiative of directing my own photo shoot. I will never forget, I was 21 years old and it was not too long after I had volunteered for Charleston Fashion Week (in front of the house), I saw an advertisement for an opportunity to become a Charleston Fashion Week Hair Stylist. Of course I wanted to know what steps I needed to take in order to become a part of the Charleston Fashion Week (CFW) Team. Well, the first step was for me to direct my own photo shoot and submit the photos I thought would exemplify my work. Becoming a part of the CFW Team was something I truly desired so I reached out to the Director of CFW and asked what it would take to conduct a successful photo shoot and she responded by telling me exactly what I needed to do and I did everything she told me to do. I conducted and directed my own photo shoot, submitted the samples of my work but was not selected to be a part of the CFW Hair Team. What a bummer right? But it was because I didn’t make the team on my first attempt that I took another risk by reaching out to the Creative Hair Director to ask what else I needed to do to become a part of the team. Reaching out to both Directors and wanting to improve my skills so I could become a part of the team actually landed me the opportunity of being an Assistant to The CFW Hair Styling Team which has ultimately completely shifted my career as a Hairstylist. I believe the most important thing to understand is that risks are inevitable in life. The question you have to ask yourself is are you willing to take the necessary risks to become successful or are you willing to live with the regret of having not taken any risks at all. I was (and am still) willing to take the risks that were necessary to accelerate and propel my career to the levels that provided me the opportunities I am constantly experiencing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @kc.m.styles
Image Credits
Laggy Gunn Magazine Shoot Photography/ Set Design: Niamh Falter @falterphoto Stylist/ Style Direction: Ayoka Lucas @ayokalu Stylist Assistant Dalia Dalili: @dalia_explains_it_all Hair & Make Up Key Creative: Ashley Brook Perryman @ashley_abpmakeup Make Up Artist: Alona Wesley @alonawesley Hair Stylist: K.C. Murray @kc.m.styles Model: Neicey Baxter @neiceylyn Studio Hed Hi Media(Chas, SC) @hed_hi_media Glamville: photographer: Michael Mulligan @mulliganphoto2 Makeup Artist: @therosamartinez Hairstylist: KC Murray @kc.m.styles Model: Karrington Stanfield @karriethegreat Wardrobe: KC Murray @kc.m.styles Makeup Assistant: Marley Simmon @marleyyymua @marleysimmonsmua Hair Assistant: Ty McFarland @tyb_hair Wardrobe assistant: Donnaire Murray @drochelle307 Wedding Mag: Film scans @richardphotolab Model: @a.celestial.body Styling: @the.edit.collective Hair and Makeup Creative: @ashley_abpmakeup Hair: @kc.m.styles Makeup: @lisabursonmakeup Gown: @elizabethdye Floral: @vero.designs Location: @johnrutledgehouseinn Photographer: @annerhettphotography