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SEARCHOne of those stylists who, as a child, styled his sister’s Barbie dolls, Morris was recognized as Editorial Stylist of the Year by the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) in 2005; in 2010, he was third runner-up on Bravo’s Shear Genius 3. He’s also had his work appear in Allure and Elle magazines. The foundation that boosted his artistry before beauty school, he says, was learning proportion and structure from metal sculpting and extending his vision doing make-up: “The face is a 3D canvas that you contour and highlight.”
PHOTO-B-matthew-morris
Ever the Winner: In high school, Morris
built hot rods and drove a souped-up
'62 Ford Falcon that always beat his rich
friends' Mercedes and BMWs. "My dad
collected cars for junk yards; it was like
growing up on Sanford and Son-fun!"
Matthew's Surprising Secrets
Backstory: Morris was confined to
a plastic bubble for 16 months from
the age of five, due to a non-existent
immune system. He thought it was
fun."I never get sick now."
Guilty Pleasure: Listening to Golden
Oldies when no one is around.
Predominant Personality Trait:
"I never get angry. I don't know why
and don't want to know."
Reading Right Now:Me Talk Pretty
One Day by David Sedaris-for the
fourth time.
Matthew Morris has a passion for profession that devours the hours.
A metal sculptor, make-up artist, editorial
hairdresser and salon owner, he's
done it all-almost simultaneously. The
Colorado native and self-professed "outdoor
type" is so present-focused that he
even refuses to set goals because doing
so could jinx what may evolve. He does
yoga, too, and his favorite photo shoot
was based on Tarot cards.
But lest you think he's just new-agey,
know that he's also incredibly focused
on his business, clients and career, and
he's media-savvy enough to feel free
to not answer certain questions. An
enigma? More like a balance of the
many forces that attract success.
Winning Ways
One of those stylists who, as a child,
styled his sister's Barbie
dolls, Morris
was recognized as Editorial Stylist of
the Year by the North American Hairstyling
Awards (NAHA) in 2005; in 2010,
he was third runner-up on
Bravo's Shear
Genius 3. He's also had his work appear
in Allure and Elle magazines.
The foundation that boosted
his artistry before beauty
school, he says, was learning
proportion and structure from
metal sculpting and extending
his vision
doing make-up:
"The face is
a 3D canvas that
you contour and highlight."
Noting that you build a
hairdo in 3D,
Morris adds, "I
won a NAHA
because it was a
very hair-centric shoot that was
approachable but not too freaky.
Shear Genius put a big exclamation
point on everything I'd been
doing; I entered because I knew it
would be one gigantic commercial
for my salon."
Plentiful Payoffs
What's different post-reality TV, he says,
is that he's finally getting paid for all the
things he volunteered to do just to get
his foot in the door. And, his entire staff
is swamped with the business that name fame
brings. They're more than ready:
Morris says it's "massively important" that
anyone he hires proves willing to continually
evolve: "It drives me nuts when people
get complacent."
Since he considers himself the "King
of the Consultation," his staff is also well-versed
in doing the right thing, which is
advising on a total image but, in the end,
giving clients what they want. The most
satisfying part of his job, says Morris, is
styling everyday people.
Photo-C-Matthew-Morris-the-
The Beast: Morris' favorite photo shoot was Fortune, from 2007. "It's pre-Twilight, dark and mysterious."
PHOTO-D-Matthew-Morris-shoo
Sunny Side Up: The Sun,
from the Fortune shoot. "I
love and hate something
about all I do; I pick my
work apart to evolve it."
PHOTO-A-Matthew-Morrisbw
Making the Grade: Morris says he made a name for himself by volunteering at every photo shoot he could. "I'd still do it if I didn't get paid, but it's nice to be recognized."
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