Snip! Snip! Cut & Conversation With Lara Murray

 

Creative Direction By Kai M Huntoon, Lucille Roelle, Emma Lutz & Mia Kawamitsu

Editorial By Ben Demarais

Hair By Lara Murray 

Photo By Lydia Grizzle 

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In the midst of life’s chaos, self-expression and identity remain the few aspects of our lives in which we truly maintain full autonomy. It shapes the way we live and how others perceive us. It influences our sense of belonging and aids in self-understanding.

 

For hairstylist Lara Murray, identity is a concept they have championed, as their occupation extends far beyond just their work with scissors. 

 

“I always struggled with my own identity and I spent years and years trying to figure out who I was,” Murray said. “I knew I wanted to pursue a career helping others in pursuit of themselves. I think that that's what ultimately led me to cosmetology school.”

 

Murray quickly blossomed into a budding creative mind, growing up in their family of five. A talented musician, Murray learned to play the violin at 5 years old and the clarinet at 10. They drew inspiration from nature and quickly fell in love with the arts. 

 

Beyond their fascination with art, Murray developed a passion for linguistics, absorbing anything and everything they could pick up, from German to Spanish. 16-year-old Murray spent a year as an exchange student in Spain, living with host families, attending school and further developing their linguistic skills.

 

Though tremendously talented and creatively gifted, Murray continuously battled with their own self-image throughout childhood and adolescence.

 

“I grew up very unsure of my identity and where I fit in in the world. I spent the first 18 years of my life masking and trying to fit into a mold,” Murray said.

 

Murray continually grappled with mental health, spending time in and out of hospitals at age 19. However, this period of Murray’s life would serve as a time of self-discovery and the beginning of something truly beautiful.

 

“When I was released the first time, I came back vowing to myself to make a positive change. I shaved my head and shocked everyone,” Murray said. “It saved my life at the time by forcing myself to become comfortable and honor my appearance.” 

 

Murray soon found beauty within their personal identity as they experimented with different looks and aesthetics. Around the same time, they discovered they were non-binary and embraced their gender identity. This period of change sparked a flame of self-discovery through Murray’s physical appearance. 

 

Murray, however, soon began receiving backlash for their radical changes in appearance. After shaving their head, Murray said they were looked upon differently by coworkers, peers and even some close friends and family. While this often made for unpleasant situations, Murray learned to accept the stares, questions and confusion surrounding their changes. 

 

“It was very fascinating to see the way that people will treat you completely differently just based off of your appearance, which obviously we've been known, but I think it's cool that you can change your appearance and then walk a mile in somebody else's shoes,” Murray said.

 

Change has been a common theme throughout Murray’s life – a concept they have come to advocate for over time.

 

“I'm very good at convincing people to change their appearance; I think that's one of the best things that you can do,” Murray said. “There's so much change constantly happening, so to have control over one big thing, it gives you so much power and it makes you feel in charge of your life… even if it's something like getting a piercing, a tattoo, changing your hair, doing a new makeup routine or even trying a new outfit.”

 

After stepping away from their studies in Iowa State’s apparel, merchandising and design program, Murray decided it was time to pursue another change. 

 

Murray enrolled in PCI Academy and soon found their calling as a hairstylist.

 

“It was as if the planets aligned, being able to be in an industry where my appearance is not only accepted, but celebrated, has meant everything to me,” Murray said. “I will never be told to tone down my appearance again by a job. The hair industry has allowed me to play around with my identity with no judgment.”

 

Murray had finally found an occupation in which they felt comfortable expressing themselves while helping their clients gain confidence in their appearances.

 

“Our appearances are always on our mind and to be able to put that into somebody else's hands for just like an hour and just trust and feel like you're gonna walk out of there feeling better, I love that I can be that outlet for other people,” Murray said.

 

As their clientele and skills as a stylist have grown, Murray has found a new home in Studio Groove Salon, located in Bakersfield, California, where they will be relocating and starting as a full time stylist in May.

 

“I feel like this is what I've been waiting for,” Murray said. “I just had a gut feeling that something was gonna happen and I was gonna find a salon home and then it kind of just fell into my lap.”

 

Before their departure from Iowa, Murray had the opportunity to lend their creative efforts to TREND Magazine’s latest issue.

 

During their time at Iowa State, Murray participated in TREND – years later, they have had the opportunity to come back and offer their many talents to the organization as a featured artist. Throughout the past few issues, Murray has contributed to hair, makeup and even included some of their own designs in the magazine’s many projects.

 

For RADAR, Murray had the opportunity to create a haircut for one of the editorial photoshoots and was given complete creative freedom.

 

“It was a huge honor to have been trusted with Kai’s [Huntoon] hair. I love creating unique haircuts to suit each individual client and their hair types,” Murray said. “One of my favorite hairstyling tools is a razor which I used for Kai’s hair. I love the freeform creativity that comes with it. Sculpting hair to facial features is such a favorite of mine.”

 

Murray’s belief in self-expression and personal identity is evident in their work for RADAR. As they open the next chapter of their life, Murray continues to shed a positive light on individuality as they help individuals discover their own true selves. 

 

“I would like to see more people looking like themselves and walking around with confidence on their shoulders, and I'd like to help inspire others to be a little bit unique, a little bit weird,” Murray said. 

 

“Identity to me is simply just feeling at home with yourself.”

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