About us

There are people who choose a profession, and there are professions that choose people. To say that hairdressing chose Matjaž Cej (1973) might be a bit of a stretch. It is certainly true that he has lived with it ever since he was a child because he spent many hours in his mother's hair salon which they had in their home, absorbing the events and observing with fascination the magic of ‘hands that transform people’. While perhaps he didn't realise it at the time, deep inside he knew what he would do in life.

 
He acquired the basics and a solid foundation in the salon and through formal education. He did not, however, stay within the classic templates, but looked to carve his own path from the outset, to breathe his own character and expression into his creations. It's no surprise that as a young punk rocker who played bass guitar in a band called Scuffy Dogs he was inspired by the style of punk while creating his hairstyles in the early days. Since 1995, when he opened a salon that he has successfully run for 30 years, he has established himself as a cutting-edge hairdresser. Not only because he was a fresh name on the scene and was in step with the times, but chiefly because he was constantly acquiring new knowledge. Both at fashion events around Slovenia and abroad, where he followed and observed how masters on the European and global level do it, and at the Toni & Guy Academy (1993) where he refined his talent with valuable knowledge and experience. Since then, he has undertaken training every year in London, the capital of hairdressing, where he presents innovations, techniques, trends, and where one can learn from the greatest and the best.

 
Encountering the work and creations of English legend Vidal Sassoon, who sparked a revolution in the 1960s with geometric haircuts and a "cut is everything" approach based on the "wash and wear" principle, was love at first sight. There was no way back. Matjaž's view of hair design, styling, and the entire philosophy around it changed, and Sassoon-style hair cutting became his inspiration. Refined minimalism, simple yet technically perfect lines, the ‘less is more’ principle , and precise cuts have become a creative framework that today still characterises him, one that leaves him the freedom to add his personal touch, an individual approach, and to experiment.

 
He draws inspiration for creating collections from the surrounding world: from architecture, people on the streets, from the time and society we are living in, sometimes from the diverse shapes and colours of nature, which helps him maintain inner balance and focus, sometimes from its opposite, the urban jungle of big cities, which beats to the rhythm of modern times. Sometimes both simultaneously.

 
A passion to create and improve is his credo. There is always a new challenge somewhere, a move that has not yet been tried, a boundary worth crossing, a path worth taking. With one key feature: Matjaž's collections are not merely theoretical endeavours, but for people to wear them in everyday life, not just on stage or in front of a camera. While the creator's vision is clear, it only carries true weight when in harmony with the personality of the model or client. 

That's why he doesn't create collections specifically for competitions, but only when he gets inspired. And it shows. It is no coincidence that he regularly ranks very high in international competitions (Precision Cutting Championship, Fellowship for British Hairdressing Awards, Trophee HCF Paris, The IBI Awards, Bangstyle, International Visionary Awards, Booksy Fashion Awards, Beauty Awards...), often reaching the finals, and being among the top places. His collections are regularly presented at fashion events, in magazines and publications at home and around the world, from England, Italy, Spain, Greece, to Russia, the USA.... Of course, it's great when his creations are praised and awarded by reputable experts. But for Matjaž, competitions are not a race for recognition, but confirmation that he is on the right path, an encouragement to further improve, broaden his horizons, and work on himself and his technique. Every competition makes you better. This is his guiding principle.

 
Hairdressing is not Matjaž's only passion. There are at least two others that form an inseparable part of his life: yoga and music. Yoga, which he has been practising for over 25 years, gives him perseverance, discipline and focus, while music, which has accompanied him since his youth (as a musician and active listener), gives him freedom, creativity and innovation. And all of this is evident in his hairdressing work.

The Matjaž Salon opened in 1995 on the backdrop of a long-standing family tradition ranging back to the Sixties. The world of fashion attracted me ever since I can remember and I cannot refrain from following the latest trends in fashion. Although drawing on a rich family tradition, we want to ensure all our employees are involved in on-going professional upskilling, while also caring for the training of young hairdressers. After moving to the city centre in 2008, we became an unmissable part of the urban landscape.