Saturday with hairstylist Michael Douglas: 'Davina has been a big inspiration and influence'

Irish Examiner

26-07-2025

07.30
Even on weekends I get up at around 7.30am or 8am – I can't help it. The first thing I do is look at my phone.
For work, mostly, but also to see if anyone has sent me something funny. If we have posted something on Friday @mdlondon on Instagram I'll check the comments and get back to any questions.
People think that I have someone do all my social media but I do about 75% of the replies myself and often send people video messages as it's easier than typing.
08.00
I eat breakfast four times a week and fast on the other days.
On a Saturday I'll relax outdoors with my first coffee of the day and then work out on an empty stomach.
I'll usually try to get in a 5km run, some kind of yoga or stretching and weight training.
09.00
After my workout I'll have a breakfast of a mackerel fillet, two eggs and another coffee.
As I've gotten older I've become more keen on looking after myself.
I haven't eaten a McDonald's for two years and I loved a Big Mac!
I'm just trying to be realistic about my body and what's good for it. I'm slowly dying – I think that's a good way to look at it. I'd like to be as fit and healthy as possible until the final minute.
Davina [McCall, wife] has been a big inspiration and influence.
She's a very healthy eater and I really wanted to sync up our lives so that we were both eating similar things.
10.00
I'll call my mum and brother and do a few chores – I love a bit of DIY around the house.
12.30
I'll have a a piece of salmon and some salad and drink plenty of water.
I'll head into Tunbridge Wells, have a little mooch around and pick up any bits and pieces we need.
I'll play a bit of piano. I began learning it when I was about 30. I'm not particularly good at it but I really enjoy it.
If we have a party I'll often play for people – it gives me the motivation to learn new songs and to learn to play better.
I do a lot of talking all week with work so I enjoy not talking much at the weekend.
We live near a woodland so we always go walking at the weekend.
It's becoming more important as we get older to appreciate the majesty of nature, plants and animals.
15.00
Mid-afternoon we'll usually have some mates over. We'll open a bottle of red wine or rosé and enjoy a bit of a catch up.
We don't usually do much visiting – friends and family tend to come to ours.
We also love our own company, and, as work is already very sociable, my social battery can run down a bit so having time to myself is a real treat.
17.00
In the early evening the kids might come around to visit, well, they're not really kids anymore – they're 19 and 21.
We'll have a bite to eat together at home. I might make a risotto with mushrooms and chicken and whatever else is in the fridge.
I eat out a lot during the week. We love Pho and I also love the spaghetti alle vongole at Randall & Aubin in Soho – it's my favourite meal.
19.00
At around 7pm we will usually stick on a movie to watch.
An ideal Saturday would be spent in Ibiza. Over the past five years we have met new friends who have homes there and have created some fantastic memories and experiences there.
We both love dancing, we'll dance anywhere really, but Pikes is a fab place as is the night of ELROW at UNVRS.
We love it when one of our friends hosts a party at their house and books a DJ – our favourite is GALLiVANTER.
We love meeting people out and about but dancing with just your mates sometimes feels more free.
21.00
Generally, I like to keep things low-key on the weekends because mid-week is always so busy for me.
Mid-week I'm busy with making content, seeing clients, seeing my kids, going out for dinner with various people that might be important to me and my business.
Generally keeping the machine of life moving forwards and upwards.
The networking part of my job mid-week is pretty relentless – keeping people engaged with the business is what makes it tick so sometimes it's really fine and sometimes it's quite hard work. I take the rough with the smooth.
If I'm going out on Saturday night, I love to go to a gig. All my partying is done mid-week so the weekends are generally about recovering.
Celebrity hairstylist and OGX brand ambassador Michael Douglas recently visited Dublin to launch the brand's newest haircare range Rescue Fusions.
The new OGX Rescue Fusions range is designed to revive stressed hair and includes a Hyaluronic Acid Shampoo and Conditioner as well as targeted treatments including a pre-shampoo and an overnight mask formulated to strengthen, hydrate and protect your hair without weighing it down.
ogxbeauty.com