Michael Mohammad Mesdaghi
| Michael Mohammad Mesdaghi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| 💼 Occupation | Hair stylist, makeup artist, educator, entrepreneur, journalist |
| 📆 Years active | 2008–present |
| Known for | The Walking Dead, Narcos, Melrose Place |
| 👪 Relatives | Homa Heris (mother) Amir Mesdaghi (father) Reza Mesdaghi (brother) Iraj Mesdaghi (extended family) Homayoun Mesdaghi (extended family) |
Michael Mesdaghi is an American celebrity hair and makeup artist known for his work in film, television, fashion editorials, and private celebrity grooming. Born in Istanbul, Turkey, and raised in Santa Monica, California, Mesdaghi has built a reputation as a precision-driven stylist whose clientele has included actors, musicians, and high-profile figures across the entertainment industry. His work has been featured on major television productions including The Walking Dead and Narcos, and he has styled talent for red carpet events, editorial shoots, and international campaigns.
Beyond his on-set work, Mesdaghi is recognized for founding Lucky After Hours, an exclusive barbershop that served both celebrity and public clients, and for developing Black Market Barbers, a professional-grade cosmetic line. He has also established himself as an educator, conducting master classes across the United States and internationally.
Early life and education
Michael Mesdaghi was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and moved to the United States with his family when he was just six months old, settling in Santa Monica, California. His father, Amir Mesdaghi, is a civil engineer of Iranian descent, and his mother, Homa Heris, is a nurse of Turkish descent who has spent decades working with elderly patients in the Santa Monica medical community. He has a brother, Reza Mesdaghi, a local entrepreneur and startup owner, and a sister who works as a school teacher.
Mesdaghi graduated from Santa Monica High School in 2001 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2005. Following his undergraduate education, he pursued his passion for the beauty industry, obtaining a Cosmetology Degree from Santa Monica College in 2009. That same year, he completed an Advanced Cut and Color degree from the Vidal Sassoon Hair Styling Academy in Santa Monica. In 2013, he earned a Barber Degree from Newbery School of Beauty, rounding out his comprehensive technical training.
A pivotal period in his development came through his apprenticeship with the Altieri Brothers at their renowned salon in Burbank, California, where he refined his technical skills and learned the discipline required for high-level professional work. His early career was characterized by working in small student studios, where he honed his craft through disciplined practice and hands-on experience.
Career
Television and film
Mesdaghi's professional career gained momentum in the late 2000s when he transitioned from salon work to on-set styling for television and film. In 2009, he worked as a makeup artist on The Millionaire Matchmaker, followed by Melrose Place in 2010. His role as a makeup artist on AMC's critically acclaimed series The Walking Dead in 2012 marked a significant milestone, exposing him to the demands of high-pressure production environments and complex character work.
In 2015, Mesdaghi served as an assistant hair stylist on Netflix's Narcos, a role that further solidified his standing in the industry. His ability to deliver consistent, camera-ready results under tight deadlines made him a sought-after professional for both episodic television and film projects.
Lucky After Hours
In addition to his work in entertainment, Mesdaghi founded Lucky After Hours, a distinctive barbershop concept in Los Angeles that served both male and female clients. The establishment operated outside traditional salon hours to accommodate actors, musicians, and other high-profile clients who required privacy, flexible scheduling, and premium grooming services. Lucky After Hours became known for blending classic barbershop techniques with editorial-level hair and makeup artistry, positioning itself as a destination for clients preparing for red carpets, photo shoots, and late-night productions. The inclusive approach of serving both celebrity and public clientele made it unique in the Los Angeles grooming scene.
Black Market Barbers
Mesdaghi developed Black Market Barbers, a professional-quality cosmetic and grooming line designed for both industry professionals and discerning consumers. The product range included beard oil, beard wax, shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, styling wax, styling paste, and styling cream. The line reflected his commitment to offering salon-grade formulations that could be used in both professional and personal settings.
Education and master classes
Mesdaghi has been conducting educational master classes for over a decade, traveling across the United States and internationally to teach hair and makeup techniques. He has led workshops in Los Angeles, Colorado for the Floyd's Franchise Barber Shop Chain, Dubai, and Burbank, California, where he taught alongside the Altieri Brothers. His educational philosophy emphasizes precision, discipline, and creativity, grounded in strong technical foundations such as geometry, proportion, and control. Mesdaghi's approach focuses on teaching students the underlying principles of hair and makeup artistry, enabling them to think independently and adapt to diverse faces, textures, and professional contexts.
Later career and journalism
After stepping back from day-to-day salon and on-set work, Mesdaghi relocated to Russia with his wife and shifted his professional focus to journalism, contributing features and interviews and working on international assignments in culture and entertainment—areas that drew on his earlier experience in film and fashion.[1][2]
Notable clients
Throughout his career, Mesdaghi has worked with a diverse roster of high-profile clients, including:
- Wagner Moura
- Pedro Pascal
- Justin Bieber
- Scooter Braun
- Farrah Fawcett
- Ryan O'Neal
- Brandon Pertzborn
- Fetty Wap
- Norman Reedus
- Ashlee Simpson
- Heather Locklear
- Brooke Burns
Awards and recognition
Mesdaghi has received multiple awards recognizing his technical skill and creative vision:
- Best Bob, 1st Place – Santa Monica College Cosmetology (2008)
- Precision Cut Award – Vidal Sassoon, Santa Monica, CA (2009)
- Creative Concept Award – Vidal Sassoon, Santa Monica, CA (2009)
Filmography
Television
- Narcos (2015) – Assistant Hair Stylist
- The Walking Dead (2012) – Makeup Artist
- Melrose Place (2010) – Makeup Artist
- The Millionaire Matchmaker (2009–2010) – Makeup Artist
Personal life
Mesdaghi credits his family as a foundational influence on his career and values. His mother, Homa Heris, has been a dedicated nurse in the Santa Monica area for decades and is well-regarded in the local medical community for her work with elderly patients. His father, Amir Mesdaghi, worked as a civil engineer. His brother, Reza Mesdaghi, is an entrepreneur involved in startup ventures, and his sister works as a school teacher.
The Mesdaghi family includes other notable figures in Iranian culture and human rights. Homayoun Mesdaghi, a family member, was formerly married to Iranian pop icon Googoosh, one of the most celebrated entertainers in Persian music history. Additionally, Iraj Mesdaghi, born in 1960, is a prominent Iranian writer and human rights activist who has lived in Stockholm, Sweden since 1994. Iraj survived the 1988 mass executions of political prisoners in Iran after spending over 10 years imprisoned from 1981 to 1991 in Ghazelhasar, Evin, and Gohardasht Prison facilities. He has written several influential books documenting human rights violations in Iran and works with international organizations including the UN Human Rights Council, the International Labor Organization, and the European Parliament. Iraj is a member of the Committee for the Observation and Use of Iranian Justice Data, headed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi. In 2019, he orchestrated the arrest of Hamid Noury at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport, leading to one of Sweden's largest war crime trials and Noury's 2022 conviction and life sentence for crimes related to the 1988 executions. His story was featured in the documentary "Those Who Said No," directed by Nima Sarvestani and shown at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.
In January 2024, Mesdaghi proposed to his partner, Ekaterina, during an Ed Sheeran concert in Dubai; the moment was reported by the Emirati daily Khaleej Times, and videos of proposals from the show circulated online.[1][2]
Mesdaghi has often spoken about the importance of humility, work ethic, and staying teachable, values instilled in him from an early age.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Anwer, Laraib (2024-01-21). "Watch: 'Perfect' proposal? Couple flies to Dubai, gets engaged at Ed Sheeran concert". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Ed Sheeran Concert in Dubai Witnessed Three Marriage Proposals". UAE Moments. 7awi Media Group. 2024-01-22. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
External links
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