Meet Seamus McCrory of McCrory Hair Manchester

Hi, I'm Alison, Creative Director at McCrory Hair, and I've been asked to introduce you to Seamus, the founder of the salon. He calls himself "the old sage of the house", and after years working alongside him I can confirm the nickname sticks for a reason. He has been cutting hair since 1978, he is still on the floor every week, and he is the reason our standards are what they are.

Working with Seamus

Seamus started in the trade in 1978, which means he has been cutting hair for 48 years. You notice it the first time you watch him consult. He reads a head of hair from across the salon. Growth patterns, cowlicks, the shape someone actually has versus the shape they think they have. He clocks it all before he has picked up a comb.

What I have learned from him is mostly about restraint. He does not chase fashion. He cuts for shape, he checks twice, and he does not rush a finish. When I joined McCrory Hair and started leading our colour work, I had to slow my own pace to his. Looking back, that was the best thing that could have happened to me as a colourist.

The team he has built

People sometimes assume a 48-year veteran runs a salon like a drill sergeant. Seamus is not that. He is exacting about craft, not about process. You will not be shouted at for a technical disagreement. You will be asked to show your work.

That attitude is why our team is what it is. Kalaya Steadman came up through the salon from her earliest days in hairdressing and is now one of our most booked senior stylists, across every hair type we serve. Grace Shaw followed the same route: intensive, consistent training, until Seamus was happy to sign off her chair. When you book a junior at McCrory Hair, you are booking someone Seamus has watched develop for years. That is not marketing. That is how it actually works here.

The McCrory ethos

If you ask Seamus what the salon stands for, you will get the same answer he has given for decades. Hair that looks good now, grows out beautifully, and does not ask too much of your morning routine. Everything else flows from that.

It shapes my colour work too. I will not put a balayage on a client that is going to look hard and regrown in six weeks. I plan for how it will wear, how often they can realistically come in, and what their curl or texture is going to do between appointments. We talk all of that through properly before I touch the colour. That consultation culture came straight from Seamus, and it is why people stay with us. You can meet the rest of the team and read about each stylist's specialisms on the McCrory Hair team page.

Frequently asked questions

When did Seamus McCrory start hairdressing?

Seamus began his hairdressing career in 1978 and has been working behind the chair for 48 years. He is still hands on at McCrory Hair on Oxford Road in Manchester, and he takes clients by appointment through the salon.

Where is McCrory Hair based in Manchester?

We are on Oxford Road in Manchester city centre, a short walk from the universities and easy to reach by bus, tram, or train. Clients travel to us from right across Greater Manchester for cutting, colour, and specialist curly and textured hair services.

Can I book an appointment directly with Seamus?

Yes. Seamus is still very much on the floor and sees clients by appointment. You can book him online or give the salon a call, and we will talk you through the options if you are not sure which service to go for.

Who else works at McCrory Hair?

I am Alison Bell, the Creative Director, and I lead the colour side of the business. Kalaya Steadman is our Senior Stylist, and Grace Shaw is one of our rising stylists. Seamus sits at the head of the team and still trains everyone who comes through the door.

What makes McCrory Hair different from other Manchester salons?

Two things, really. The consultation is treated as the most important part of the appointment, not a formality before we reach for the scissors. And the standard is set by someone with 48 years of experience and no interest in cutting corners. Everything else we do follows from those two things.

Come in and meet the team

If you are looking for a precision cut, a proper colour plan, or a specialist curl appointment, there is someone on our team for it. Find your stylist at McCrory Hair and book a consultation when you are ready. Seamus, me, and the rest of the team look forward to meeting you.

Alison Bell, Creative Director, McCrory Hair