Tyla Murray

Based at the Toi Ohomai Tauranga campus, Tyla Murray teaches the New Zealand Certificate in Hairdressing (Level 3) programme. She joined Toi Ohomai in 2025 with more than a decade of experience across two highly respected Tauranga salons. Her industry background also includes contracted work at high-profile events such as NZ Fashion Week and the Aotearoa Music Awards, and she also runs her own independent at-home salon business.

Tyla’s career began early. She was part of a gateway work experience programme during secondary school which led to her first role in-industry. She says she always knew she wanted to be a hairdresser. 

“I told my parents when I was 10 that I wanted to be a hairdresser. After a haircut that didn’t go quite how I’d hoped, I realised how much hair can impact the way people feel about themselves. That experience inspired me to pursue hairdressing. From then on, I was laser-focused and started working full-time at 16.”

Tyla says hairdressing is a rewarding career that offers a variety of opportunities for creative, hardworking and customer-centric people.

“You learn communication, retail skills, the science behind hairdressing, and business principles. Hairdressing is a form of fashion, so styling, trends and techniques evolve. It’s important to have a broad set of hairdressing skills.”

“Customer service is equally as important as technical abilities so being a people-person is essential; listening to your clients, understanding their needs, and helping them feel their best. You get to be there on some of the best days of people’s lives… weddings, graduations, milestone birthdays. But sometimes you’re there on the hardest days too. Empathy is so important.”

At Toi Ohomai, New Zealand Certificate in Hairdressing ākonga (students) learn cutting, colouring, styling, client care and professional practice.

Tyla says she aims to create a fun, engaging learning environment where students feel safe and supported.

“I demonstrate techniques, relate them to real salon experiences, and then give students the space to try things themselves. Mistakes are part of learning. I’m there to guide, not take over. I want the classroom to be a positive place where students feel confident and excited to learn.”

During their second year, all hairdressing ākonga complete a 40-hour work placement in a local salon, which often leads directly to employment.

As the industry evolves, Tyla says the opportunities continue to grow and change for hairdressers.

“There are so many different avenues to pursue alongside salon work. Session styling, weddings, fashion events, product sales, owning your own business, or teaching. You can work anywhere in the world and it’s one of those careers AI can’t replace.”

Tyla says the most rewarding part of teaching is seeing her students succeed, especially if they found the task or assignment difficult to begin with.

“Watching them cross the stage at graduation is such a proud moment. Our graduates often pop into campus to say how much they loved their time at Toi Ohomai. Seeing them take on roles in the industry and realise ‘I can do this’, that’s the best part of being a tutor.”