A Baby, a Puppy and a Few New Faces June 22, 2026 14:43
WE’RE HAVING A BABY!
Well, when we say we, what we actually mean is that our fabulous Alex and her husband Sam are having a baby. The rest of us are simply taking collective ownership of the excitement.
Baby is due in August, making this the first Morgan & Morgan salon baby we’ve had for a while, and we are all completely thrilled for them.
Alex will begin her maternity leave on 1 August, but because she is Alex, she already has a plan. A very thorough plan. Quite possibly a plan with several plans inside it.
She cares deeply about her clients and wants everyone to feel completely comfortable and beautifully looked after while she is away. Over the next few weeks, Alex will be speaking personally with each of her regular clients about their upcoming appointments, what their hair needs, and which carefully chosen member of the team will be the best fit for them.
Nobody will simply be “passed on.” Every recommendation will be made thoughtfully, based on the stylist’s skills, approach and personality, along with everything Alex knows about you and your hair. Your formulas, preferences, maintenance plans and non-negotiables are all safely documented. Yes, even no warmth, absolutely no layers and your regular drink order.
Alex will be back behind the chair on 22 February, and in the meantime, she will remain involved behind the scenes should the team need to consult her about anything.
There is still plenty of time to see Alex before she finishes, so we recommend booking your appointments through to the end of July now. She will talk you through everything else when she sees you.
For now, we are concentrating on the important things: celebrating Alex and Sam, wondering who the baby will look like, and resisting the urge to purchase an entire tiny wardrobe before August.
AND THEN THERE’S THE OTHER BABY…
As if one new arrival wasn’t enough, we are also getting a baby of the fur variety.
On 9 July, Teddy is getting a little brother called Percy. Another Yorkie, cute as a button, and very likely to believe the entire salon exists purely for his personal entertainment.
You can expect to see him at your next appointment as we begin the delicate process of introducing the two boys and teaching Percy the important things: where the treats are kept, which laps are available and who is actually in charge.
Everyone keeps asking, “How does Teddy feel about all this?”
Honestly, we have no idea.
Those who know Teddy will understand. He is a shy little soul, not terribly interested in other dogs and quite comfortable with the current arrangement where he is the centre of the universe.
So, while Little Man arrives full of puppy confidence and chaos, our main job will be making sure Mr Man still feels like the most important puppy in the world.
We are expecting equal parts adorable, ridiculous and mildly complicated. In other words, very on brand.
MEET JAMES
From 2 July, there will be another new face in the salon.
James has been hairdressing since 2010, after training at Servilles, and brings with him the kind of experience that makes you feel very comfortable putting your hair in his hands.
His style is natural, timeless and elegant, with just enough quirkiness to keep things interesting. He loves precision cutting, beautiful colour, expert brushwork and creating hair that feels polished without looking as though it has tried too hard.
He is also a firm believer that less is more. Which, in hairdressing terms, means he is not going to give you six inches of layers, a fringe and a completely new identity unless that is actually what you came in for.
Originally from Seoul, James has spent more than half his life in New Zealand, and there is something very calm and considered about the way he works. He listens properly, notices the details and genuinely cares about creating hair that suits the person wearing it, not just the photograph they brought with them.
And when he is not cutting, colouring or creating a spectacular updo, James is usually thinking about fashion. He designs his own genderless clothing label, JUNHUN, which probably explains his brilliant eye for shape, proportion and the small details that make something feel special.
We think James is going to fit into Morgan & Morgan beautifully. He is talented, thoughtful, quietly stylish and, most importantly, someone we trust completely with our clients.
We cannot wait for you to meet him.
BACK WHERE SHE BELONGS
And then, next but absolutely by no means last, we have Madison Walsh joining our front-of-house team.
Although “joining” is not technically accurate.
Madison first came to Morgan & Morgan as a seven-year-old client with her mum, who has been coming to me for more than 20 years. Her grandmother was also a client, making Madison the third generation of her family to find a home in the salon. We are calling it a family tradition.
At 15, Madison became one of our after-school assistants, working Saturdays alongside Alex. She later completed her apprenticeship with us, became a senior stylist and spent many years behind the chair before a spinal injury took her in a different direction.
There was some travelling, some exploring and a few years away, but apparently she couldn’t quite get rid of us.
Madison is now back where she belongs, this time as part of our front-of-house team. While she may no longer be doing hair, she understands the salon, our clients and what happens behind the chair in a way that very few receptionists ever could.
Many of you will already know her. For everyone else, she is warm, funny, highly capable and has been part of Morgan & Morgan for such a long time that she describes herself as practically part of the furniture.
We will leave you to ask her exactly how long that has been. And, therefore, how old she is.
