Maria started her hairdressing career in her native Kilkenny before relocating to London and then Dubai where she established her self-titled salon.
In late 2024, she was awarded an illustrious Lifetime Achievement Award at the BeautyWorld Middle East Awards for her enormous contribution to the hair industry.
As an expert in the hair industry, talk to us about your own haircare routine.
I have curly hair and not all curly hair is the same – patterns and textures vary – so it’s a case of having to experiment to find a routine and products that work for each individual. First of all, I personally make sure I use a moisturising shampoo and conditioner as the more moisture my curls have, the better they sit. Usually I find that on day one or two post-shampoo my curls will be too soft, so I need to use texturizing spray to give them some body. I love the Schwarzkopf Texture Spray and use it on my roots. I also use the Mariadowling Hair and Scalp Spray once every two weeks to detox my hair and remove product buildup.
What’s the biggest haircare mistake people are making?
Buying products online. It’s always a better idea to buy your products from a salon as they can advise you on whether these products suit your hair type and how to use them correctly. While it may be a little bit more expensive, it’s well worth investing in in-salon purchases as usually the stylists have tried the products so they know what they’re going to do, how they are going to work and which hair type they’ll suit.
Do you follow beauty/hair trends, if so, what’s your favourite at the moment?
The hair trend I am loving right now is mocha mousse. For once, there is a great trend for brunettes and this is it! This is a natural chocolate colour but with dimension, which requires the use of multiple tones, not one flat brown shade. For instance, use some golden, some copper and some beige but always keeping the root colour uniform.
Beauty Heroes…
Kerastase Premiere Decalcifiant
“I love this sulphate-free shampoo. It cleanses the scalp but also removes calcium, which can weaken treated hair”
Kerastase Premiere Bain Decalcifiant
“This leave-in hair oil works as a pre-cleanse to detangle, as a pre-blow dry oil to provide heat protection, as a finishing oil to minimise frizz, or as a touch-up for adding instant shine”
Kerastase Elixir Ultime
“This pre-shampoo treatment acts to neutralise dullness and stiffness, as well as rebuild broken keratin bonds. Basically, it repairs persistent damage from heat styling, over-processing, colour treatment, bleaching, and even water in your shower”
MariaDowling Hair & Scalp Clay
“This cleansing and revitalising mask is full of all-natural ingredients and offers a multitude of benefits in just 20 minutes. Peppermint, jojoba and lemongrass help rebalance the hair, while bergamot, sesame, vitamin B5 and honey soothe and heal the scalp. I like to use this a few days before I have my colour done and also as a detox treatment every fortnight”