More Than Colour: My Colour.KEY Journey at Kevin Murphy Headquarters
As hairstylists, we never truly stop learning. Every class, every conversation, and every experience shapes the way we care for the people who trust us in our chairs. Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to attend Kevin Murphy’s Colour.KEY training at the company’s North American headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. While I expected to leave with a deeper understanding of the colour line, I came home with so much more.
Walking Into Inspiration
From the moment I arrived at headquarters, I knew this experience would be unlike any educational experience or training I’d attended before.
The headquarters itself was absolutely stunning. Every detail, from the thoughtfully designed interiors to the product displays, it felt like stepping into the pages of a luxury fashion magazine. It perfectly reflected everything the Kevin Murphy brand stands for: fashion, performance, and environmental responsibility.
What impressed me even more than the space, were the people.
Every person I met welcomed me with genuine kindness. Walking through the doors and being greeted with a hug by North American Education Director Sarah Lund immediately set the tone for the week. It didn’t feel like entering a corporate office. It felt like coming home to a community.
Chosen for Who We Already Are
One of the very first messages shared with our group has stayed with me ever since.
We weren’t selected because Kevin Murphy wanted to change us into something else. We were chosen because of who we already are. Our passion, creativity, thoughtfulness, and love for education were enough.
That emphasis on authenticity made me feel seen and valued as a stylist and what I have to share with others. Rather than teaching us to fit into a mold, we were encouraged to embrace our individuality and bring our own personalities into education. As educators, we’re not expected to become someone else, we’re encouraged to become the best versions of ourselves.
That message alone made me feel like I belonged.
More Than Technical Education
While we spent the week diving into colour theory, formulation, consultation, and education techniques, one of my biggest takeaways wasn’t technical at all.
It was the community.
Every morning before class, I had the opportunity to connect with stylists from across North America. We all came from different backgrounds, different salons, and different experiences, yet we shared the same goal: to educate, inspire, and make a meaningful impact on other stylists.
I’ll admit I was a little nervous introducing myself on the first day. Even knowing we were all there for the same purpose, those first-day jitters were still there. It didn’t take long for those nerves to disappear. Conversations turned into friendships, and by the end of the week, I felt like I had gained a second family.
Throughout the training, everyone openly supported one another. Questions were welcomed, ideas were shared freely, and every success was celebrated. There was no competition, only collaboration.
One quote shared during the week has stayed with me:
“Both optimism and anxiety require us to imagine something that hasn’t happened yet. If we have the ability to worry about the future, it also means that we have the ability to imagine a better one.”
— Jess Ekstrom
As someone stepping into an educator role, those words resonated deeply. Growth requires vulnerability, and imagining what’s possible is often the first step toward achieving it.
A Brand That Truly Listens
One of the things that surprised me most during my time at headquarters was seeing how collaborative the Kevin Murphy culture really is.
It never felt like a large corporate company where decisions are simply made behind closed doors and passed down. Instead, every person I met, from educators to team members behind the scenes everyone was genuinely valued and encouraged to contribute ideas. There was an incredible sense that everyone’s voice mattered.
I also learned that many of the brand’s innovations are influenced by feedback from stylists working behind the chair every day. The people creating formulas, developing education, and planning future launches actively listen to the professionals using these products with real clients.
One example that stood out to me was learning about the development of the Grey Coverage education. Rather than creating education based solely on what the company thought stylists wanted, the class came about because there was an overwhelming demand from stylists looking for more support with grey coverage services.
Carmen Waltz helped develop that education in response to those needs, and to me, that perfectly illustrates the Kevin Murphy philosophy: listen first, then create meaningful solutions that empower stylists behind the chair.
For the first time, I didn’t feel like I was simply representing a brand; I felt like I was becoming part of a community that grows because it listens.
Looking Toward the Future
One of the most exciting moments during the week was getting a glimpse into what’s ahead for Kevin Murphy.
We had the opportunity to preview an upcoming styling innovation and hear about future colour developments before they’re released. While I can’t share any details just yet, seeing the research and development process firsthand gave me an even greater appreciation for the thought and intention behind every launch.
Even spending a little time exploring these upcoming innovations helped me immediately connect the dots for my own clients. I found myself thinking about who would benefit from them, how they could elevate services behind my chair, and the possibilities they would create.
It’s exciting to watch a brand continue evolving while staying true to its core values.
Why I Believe in Kevin Murphy
One of the reasons I’ve been drawn to Kevin Murphy from the beginning is the commitment to creating products that perform exceptionally while utilizing naturally derived ingredients whenever possible. Seeing firsthand how much intention goes into developing plant proteins and innovative technologies to strengthen and care for the hair only reinforced why I believe in this line.
The brand’s philosophy is built around three pillars:
Fashion
Performance
Environmental responsibility
As I continue my own journey, I’d add a fourth.
People first.
Hair is about so much more than colour formulas and techniques. It’s about confidence, relationships, creativity, and making people feel seen.
Experiencing Utah
Education was the reason for my trip, but I also made time to experience a little of Utah along the way.
Before training began, I spent time exploring Park City, taking in the incredible mountain scenery and learning about the area’s rich history. Throughout the week, I made it a goal to visit local coffee shops each morning and experience a few of Salt Lake City’s restaurants.
One meal in particular still stands out: the spicy tuna hand rolls at Momomaru. They were easily some of the best I’ve ever had and became one of those unexpected memories that made the trip even more special.
Becoming a Colour.KEY
Becoming a Colour.KEY is an incredible responsibility, and one I don’t take lightly.
For now, my discipline is Kevin Murphy Colour. My role is to help educate stylists on how to confidently utilize a colour line built around fashion, performance, and sustainability.
More importantly, I hope to inspire other professionals to invest in themselves. Whether that’s trying the Kevin Murphy line for the first time, attending an education class, or beginning their own journey toward becoming a KEY, every step forward matters.
What This Means for My Clients
Education doesn’t end when the class does.
Every experience like this directly benefits the people who trust me with their hair.
My clients can feel confident knowing they’re working with a stylist committed to staying current with evolving techniques, upcoming trends, and innovative colour technology while always keeping fashion, performance, sustainability, and people at the center of every service.
Investing in education means investing in healthier hair, better consultations, more thoughtful colour decisions, and an elevated salon experience.
The Drive Home
The ten-hour drive back to California gave me something I hadn’t had all week: time to reflect.
Leaving Utah was bittersweet. While I couldn’t wait to bring everything I’d learned back to my clients and fellow stylists, it was difficult saying goodbye to people who, in just a few short days, had become trusted friends and colleagues.
Somewhere along that drive, I realized I wasn’t coming home with just new colour knowledge or teaching techniques.
I was bringing home renewed confidence, a stronger sense of purpose, and a support system that now stretches across North America.
That may be the greatest gift this experience gave me.
Thank You
None of this would have been possible without the incredible educators who poured so much of themselves into our class.
To Sarah Lund, Carmen Waltz, Brandi Holdaway, and Hailey Hodapp.Thank you for your encouragement, generosity, honesty, and unwavering belief in each of us. Thank you for creating and encouraging an environment where authenticity is celebrated, curiosity is encouraged, and education extends far beyond technical skills.
Your mentorship has already made a lasting impact on my career, and I look forward to carrying everything you’ve taught me into every class I teach, every stylist I mentor, and every client I serve.
To my fellow Colour.KEY class, thank you for welcoming me so quickly, for sharing your knowledge so openly, and for reminding me that the best education happens when we learn from one another.
And finally, thank you to my clients. Your trust and support make opportunities like this possible. Every class I attend, every educator I learn from, and every new experience ultimately comes back to you. Thank you for allowing me to continue growing so I can provide the very best experience behind my chair.
This journey is only just beginning, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.
Here’s to the next chapter as a Kevin Murphy Colour.KEY.