The smouldering gaze of James Dean. The athleticism of Muhammad Ali. The daring of Evil Knievel. The gravity-defying dexterity of Bruce Lee. The musical prowess of Jimi Hendrix. The irrevocable cool of Clint Eastwood. Just about any man would give anything to possess a single one of these traits. But these iconic men all hold two particular things in common. First, there’s that quiet confidence; a seemingly unattainable sense of cool. Second, they have all been immortalised in technicolour glory on the awe-inspiring mural that forms the back wall of men’s grooming mecca, Pureman. For every man who strides into this Rat Pack-meets-rock-and-roll barbershop, that mural acts as a beacon of manliness – a yardstick of what they, too, can strive to be. At the helm of this locale is a sharply dressed yet softly spoken Scotsman who exudes that same quiet confidence behind his laconic smile, moving about his work with a certain ease and chewing gum with the nonchalance of a rockstar. It is this attitude, as well as an innate talent to fuse the traditional and the contemporary with a sharp attention to the finer details, that has gained Al McDonald a devoted following amongst the well-groomed gents of Brisbane.
For a young man coming of age in the rugged terrain of the Scottish Highlands, hairdressing was not a widely encouraged career. But employment opportunities were scarce for 17-year-old Al McDonald, who had grown up in the tiny Scottish fishing village of Wick. So when his mother informed him of the opportunity to work as an apprentice with her hairdresser (in an attempt to protect him from the perils of the construction industry), he somewhat reluctantly accepted. What first sprang to mind when he agreed to the job was that it was a golden opportunity to meet girls, but Al soon discovered an innate talent and great love for the craft and began to pursue his passion with vigour.
When the village of Wick found itself without a local barber two years later, Al seized opportunity, setting up a makeshift barbershop in the basement of his parents’ house with the help of a loan from his father. “My parents were undoubtedly an influence on my career,” Al affirms gratefully. “Choosing to be a hairdresser in the highlands of Scotland had its challenges. My parents were always encouraging me to follow my heart, whatever it took.”
After two years tending the grooming needs of the gentlemen of Wick, 21-year-old Al could no longer fight the urge within to explore the bounds of the world. Packing his bags and bidding the Highlands farewell, he embarked on a journey that would cement his destiny. When his travels finally brought him to Sydney, Al had a chance encounter in a backpacker hostel that changed his life. It was there that he met his future wife Riz and, united in their love for a country so far from their own, the two promised each other that they would return to Australia within a decade.
Following a successful career in the UK, which included Al opening two more barber salons, the pair stayed true to their word and finally packed their bags and moved to Australia for the long term. Upon arriving in Brisbane, Al decided to take some time off simply to be. “I had a part-time job cutting hair in the city, but it was more of a hobby job,” Al recalls. “My salons in the UK had done reasonably well, so I sold them and basically took some time off for a year and did some volunteer work with disabled kids.”
Two years later, Al returned to his passion full-time, opening a male-grooming concept salon ordained, Pureman. Tucked away on Albert Street in Brisbane’s CBD, Pureman is the perfect fusion of the beautiful traditions of old-school barbershops and cutting-edge contemporary elements. There’s not a candy-striped pole in sight here, and the stylishly clad individuals who masterfully work their scissor-wielding magic are far from the stereotypical barbers – nary a pot-bellied, ageing bald man exists at Pureman. But that’s not to say tradition has been eschewed, for the same genuine care and fine attention to detail associated with the barbers of old is ever-present in the salon, including the offering of the traditional ‘wet shave’ as part of its menu of services. “Pureman is a progression from my previous salons,” Al explains. “It’s an all-encompassing concept of not only what we do in the salon, but also what we do with every single element. In essence it’s an ordinary business, but I like to believe that we do it in an extraordinary way.”
Voted ‘Australia’s best hairdressing destination for men’ in GQ magazine’s Guide to Life and Chivalry 2009, the Pureman salon exudes an understated ambience of cool from the moment you step inside. The unmissable mural of pop culture’s most iconic men is prefaced by polished concrete floors and tobacco-hued Belmont Apollo barber chairs lining the side walls. The array of shoes peeking out from below Pureman’s barber capes reflects the miscellany of gents who frequent the salon’s chairs – shiny black corporate lace-ups, well-loved Chuck Taylors, white-leather brogues worn, European style, with bare ankles. “We have all types, from students to CEOs, and everything in between. Eighty percent of our monthly business is repeat business,” Al reveals with a laid-back pride. “There’s no denying that we could be perceived as being expensive in comparison to traditional barbershops. But aside from the quality of service we offer, there’s also a genuine rapport we build.”
On the subject of whether men are more well-groomed than they once were, Al speaks with great passion, particularly on the much- maligned topic of the metrosexual. “Metrosexual is not a word that I use, nor do I champion,” he clarifies firmly. “Guys have been taking care of themselves for a long time and ‘metrosexual’ is just a marketing tag. I certainly think there’s a higher awareness – guys know quality, whether it’s in the services they expect or the products that they’re using.”
Having gained a loyal following amongst Brisbane’s well-groomed males, this dapper Scot has come a long way in three years, building his team from just him and one other, to a talented roster of six. “The first six months I really did question my sanity and whether I was making the right choice with Brisbane as the location, and Australia as a choice to move my family out here,” Al reflects candidly. “But as the business slowly built up, it became a lot easier.”
When questioned about the differences between living in Scotland and Australia, Al responds with a cheeky grin. “The difference between living in the Scottish Highlands and Brisbane is like the difference between a Ford and a Ferrari,” he quips dryly. “My greatest challenge has been developing a business from scratch without having any client base. When we first opened, it was a brand-new concept and a brand-new brand. That type of salon was new at the time in that it was a full-service salon not just a barbershop or a hairdresser. It was a challenge to launch and continue a brand.”
Having put in the hard yards, Al, now 37, looks forward to watching the growth of another of his proudest creations – his eight-month-old son Gabriel. “Pureman is now in the position that we’ve got the right team in place and I’m able to step back and work only two days a week. I’m going to be a stay-at-home dad!” he announces with pride. “To be able to get to that position is probably one of my biggest achievements to date. I really want to see my son grow up. I think, traditionally, a lot of guys miss out on the first words and first steps, so hopefully I’ll be around for all of that.”
In spite of his cool inscrutability, Al’s love for his family shines through in every word he speaks, no more than when he speaks of his wife Riz, a solicitor who also works in the background taking care of the administration for Pureman. “My wife really inspires me – no question about that. She’s a rock and I firmly believe that had I not met her in my early twenties, I’d still be in the Highlands. She’s constantly there cracking the whip,” he grins impishly.
As for his other inspirations, they simply lie in the joy of living. “What inspires me in life is the pursuit of happiness, wherever happiness may lie – be it in Gabriel’s smile or anywhere else,” Al says sagely. “If you take care of the finer details, the rest fall in place.”
His dream now is to keep building his brand and to also focus on the national success of the Pureman website, which offers grooming advice and other manly tips (including ‘how to light a fire’, ‘how to fix a poker game’ and ‘how to land a fish’), as well as an online store selling some of the world’s best male-grooming products. But most of all, Al looks forward to spending time with his little boy. And as for the words of wisdom he will offer to Gabriel as he grows into his own man? “Believe – irrespective of what you’re doing,” Al opines, eyes shining with passion. “If you believe 100% in what you’re doing, you’re doing it right.”
Interview by Mikki Brammer
