Lauren McMurray · Creative Director, Iron + Ivy · Queenstown

Sweet talk is cheap. Straight talk is priceless.

Colourist, educator and Creative Director of Iron + Ivy. Twenty-five years of blondes, balayage and extensions, and an honest answer every time.

Book a consultation Education for stylists
Lauren McMurray in a green suit and leopard-print earrings, hand on hip, smiling in the salon
25+years behind the chair
22her age when she started teaching cutting
1stMoroccanoil flagship salon in New Zealand
5.0Google rating, 690+ Iron + Ivy reviews

01 · Straight talk, in practice

Honest advice is the most valuable thing I'll put on your hair.

The truth before the colour

New colour clients start with a free, in-person consultation. You'll hear what's realistic for your hair, how long it takes, and what it'll cost to keep.

The price quoted is the price paid

Every colour price includes the bond treatment, toner and cut. No surprise add-ons at the desk.

Hair that works on a Tuesday

Not just on the day you leave the salon. Lauren designs blondes and extensions around how you actually live.

02 · About Lauren

Manchester-trained. Queenstown-made.

Lauren graduated with distinction from the Toni & Guy Academy in Manchester and was teaching specialised cutting techniques by 22. A residency at the award-winning Reuben Wood salon in Manchester's Northern Quarter put her on editorial shoots and fashion shows.

She arrived in Queenstown in 2014, co-founded Iron + Ivy in May 2019 to put Queenstown hair on the map, and later founded Revolver Hair Studio in Arrowtown.

“For me, hairdressing is more than a career. It's my life.”

Lauren McMurray
Lauren in a teal jumpsuit and leopard belt at the Moroccanoil Atelier backdrop
  1. UKToni & Guy Academy, Manchester: graduated with distinction
  2. UKReuben Wood, Northern Quarter: residency, editorial and fashion shows
  3. 2014Moves to Queenstown
  4. 2019Opens Iron + Ivy. Six months later: joint Best Salon Design, The Industry Awards
  5. 2022Finalist, Top Performing Stylist of the Year
  6. 2023/25Represents New Zealand at Moroccanoil's The Collective, Las Vegas
  7. 2026Guest panel speaker, Moroccanoil Atelier, Sydney

03 · In Lauren's chair

Blondes. Balayage. Extensions that look like yours.

Lauren cutting a client's copper hair, scissors and comb in hand Lauren in a green suit finishing a client's style at Iron + Ivy

Lauren takes guests at Iron + Ivy, Queenstown Central. She specialises in blondes and balayage, colour corrections, precision cutting, and Great Lengths and Bellami extensions, particularly on fine hair.

Creative Director prices (NZD)
Cut and finish$120
Half head of foils$165
Full head of foils$213
Balayage$218

Colour prices include bond treatment, toner and cut. Extensions by consultation.

Book online Call 03 428 2595

Where to find me

Find me in the chair at Iron + Ivy.

New Zealand's first Moroccanoil flagship salon, in Queenstown Central. Five minutes from the airport, with free parking at the door.

Book with Lauren Visit Iron + Ivy Get directions →
Studio
D1-02A/19 Grant Road
Queenstown Central, Queenstown 9300
Opening hours
Tuesday9am to 5pm
Wednesday9am to 6pm
Thursday9am to 7pm
Friday9am to 5pm
Saturday9am to 4pm
Sunday and MondayClosed

Over the hill in Arrowtown? Lauren also founded Revolver Hair Studio.

Lauren completely transformed my fine, medium-length hair into beautiful long extensions that look so natural and seamless.
Kristina Saunders · Google review
Lauren and Stevee have created such a warm, inviting space.
Erika Todi · Google review

04 · For stylists

Modern Blonde / Modern Client

Lauren's education series travels New Zealand, teaching stylists the blonde work, and the honest client conversations, behind a fully booked column.

Modern Blonde

The blonde work: how Lauren gets her results in the chair, taught to your team. Ask for the full outline.

Modern Client

The client side: honest consultations and the conversations that keep a column booked. Ask for the full outline.

Iron + Ivy Academy

Lauren's in-salon apprenticeship. Four apprentices trained and mentored into working stylists so far.

Bring Lauren to your salon Next dates on request. Ask and she’ll tell you straight.

05 · For salon owners

Know your numbers. No fluff.

13 calculators for New Zealand hair salons and stylists: price your menu, cost your colour, check your team, set aside tax, quote extensions. Plain English, NZ rates built in, and your numbers never leave your browser.

Price Rise $1,441 Extra after GST and card fees, a month, sample numbers Each service at today's price and a new one, side by side: what you gain, and how many visits you could lose before the rise stops paying. Team Scorecard $2.47 Team sales per $1 of wages, sample numbers Every person on the team measured against the target for their role, with what to say to each of them. GST and Tax Set-Aside $730 Move to your tax account each week, rounded up, sample numbers The exact amount to move into a tax account every week, so GST, income tax and ACC are sitting there when the bill comes.
  • Tools from $59, buy once
  • NZ rates kept up to date
  • Your numbers stay on your device
  • Save a report as a PDF
See all 13 tools Already bought? My tools

06 · Speaking & stage

Representing New Zealand hair on the world stage.

Lauren on the guest panel at Moroccanoil Atelier in Sydney
Moroccanoil Atelier · Sydney 2026
Lauren speaking into a microphone on the Moroccanoil Atelier panel
2026 · Sydney

Moroccanoil Atelier

Invited guest panel speaker.

2023 & 2025 · Las Vegas

Moroccanoil The Collective

Represented New Zealand.

Topics

Panels, keynotes, brand events

Tell Lauren about your event and she’ll tell you straight what she’d bring to it.

Awards

  • Joint winner, Best Salon Design: The Industry Awards 2019
  • Finalist, Excellence in Marketing: The Industry Awards 2019
  • Finalist, Top Performing Stylist of the Year: The Industry Awards 2022

As seen in

  • The Lakes WeeklyJune 2025
  • INSTYLE MagazineNov to Dec 2023
  • Together JournalJune 2022
  • Images MagazineNov 2019