We absolutely LOVE it when clients take time to offer us feedback on their experiences at Michael's. Good or bad, we want to know what you think (of course we love the good, but if we can make your experience better in some way, please let us know). On the left side of Michael's website is a 'Share your experience' box that goes to our general manager. It's like having her direct phone extension.

We recently received a comment from one of our Over 40 Makeover winners, Digma, about her experience:

I started to go to Michael's Salon in 2007. I won a facial at a fundraiser from church. My first experience at Michael's was awesome. I love the massages a lot and like all the beauty products.

I was sooo excited when I won the 40+ make over. Jodi did an excellent job with me. Paula did the perfect job in my makeup. I really look like a model. My friends at work are really impressed.

I recommend all personnel from the salon. They are all good. I love you girls! Thanks,
Digma

Thank YOU Digma for taking the time to send us a message! Check out Digma's before and after photos here - she was a great model. Another interesting fact, our makeovers - including Digma's - have already been featured on Modern Salon! After the success of our first Looking for Faces call for submissions, we will be doing another call for submissions soon! Keep an eye here on our blog for more details as they are available.

In the meantime, don't be shy and let us know how we are doing at Michael's!

We absolutely LOVE it when clients take time to offer us feedback on their experiences at Michael's. Good or bad, we want to know what you think (of course we love the good, but if we can make your experience better in some way, please let us know). On the left side of Michael's website is a 'Share your experience' box that goes to our general manager. It's like having her direct phone extension.

Here is a recent comment from an out-of-town visitor:

Not from Dayton, but was there this weekend and decided, on a whim, that I wanted a haircut...called in to make an appt and said that my only requirement was awesome bangs.  I was scheduled w/ Tasha and I can honestly say I don't think I've had a better haircut ever before.  My bangs were spot on and she was incredibly friendly and down to earth...seriously bummed that I live 2 hours away!! 
-Name withheld

We love it when our clients take the time to offer us feedback! Here is another comment that was submitted yesterday in the 'Share your experience' box on our website:

"I had a great experience. I cut 11 inches off to donate to locks of love. I was a little nervous but Myka did such a great job. I get compliments every day on my cut and color. Everything was great and I love my new do for summer!
-Kristyn

We love it when our clients take the time to offer us feedback! Here is a comment that was submitted yesterday in the 'Share your experience' box on our website:

I promised Laura I would give an update, so here it is. Laura gave me the Keratin treatment on Wednesday. She did an excellent job. I loved my hair walking out of the salon. I had to wait three days to wash it. Saturday was the big test. Would I be able to cut my styling time in half??

I am so excited to say that it only took me about ten minutes to style my hair and walk out the door the way I like it. I was absolutely amazed. On top of that, my hair stayed completely straight without any frizz or curl. I am so excited about this treatment, and will do it again next year, just in time for the humid weather to start. Thank you so much to Laura for doing such an amazing job. You rock!!!!!  :) :)
-Name withheld for privacy

Are you noticing that your hair isn't as shiny and healthy as it was ten years ago? It's true, with age comes hair that is drier, breaks easily and lacks body and shine.
The recent issue (May 2010) of More magazine tackled this problem in an article titled "Ch-Ch-Changes!" More offered up a six week plan to bring back the silky texture we all love. Here are some highlights from the article, with tips from Michael's included (direct quotes from More in italics). Update (5/26/10) More's article on tips for aging hair is now available on their website. Disclosure: All product recommendations in this blog are by Michael's professionals:

Trim, then tame
Visit your stylist to get rid of damaged ends, then explore conditioning treatments. "Nearly every stylist we spoke to said for the most dramatic results, you can't beat an in-salon keratin treatment."

We've blogged about keratin treatments several times, but the treatment infuses keratin into your hair follicles to promote healing, block humidity, and prevent environmental toxins from entering the hair. It leaves hair smooth, frizz-free and manageable.

Give your do some downtime
After a keratin treatment, you should not wash your hair for 72 hours to allow the treatment to soak in. When you do wash your hair, use a sodium-free shampoo like Keratin Care. Salt will strip your hair of chemical treatments, which means your keratin, or color process for that matter, won't last as long.

Also, skip a day or two from shampoo. Your hair produces natural oils which help keep it moisturized. If you must, rinse your hair in luke warm water, and use a small amount of conditioner just on the ends.
**Personal note: Jodi talked me into shampooing every other day, and I'm finally able to keep red color in my hair, after many attempts that faded quickly. And as an added bonus, my shampoo and conditioner last twice as long!

Finally, go easy on the heat. When you do rinse or shampoo, use luke warm water, not hot water. When you blow dry or flat iron, use a thermal protectant like Iron It by Michael's, Aquage Beyond Shine or Trilliant by Sebastian.

Color Care
After taking great care of your hair, you might want to amp up the color a bit. The More article recommends 'Ask your colorist if (s)he can use an oil-based bleach, which processes hair more gently than a traditional bleach." Michael's uses Wella color processes, which are oil-based, and condition your hair as they color.

More magazine is a great resource for 'women of style & substance.' They celebrate women over 40, and offer tips on fashion, beauty, love, careers and more.

What do you think of these tips? Do you have other tips to share? Let us know in the comments!

Have you noticed how many celebrities have been wearing their locks in wavy curls? Have you tried to style your hair like this at home, just to end up with a tangled, half-curled, half-frizzy, doesn't-look-good-at-all mess? Here comes Myka to the rescue! She wears her hair in curly waves every day, so she took some time to show us exactly how to make your hair look naturally wavy, when it's not:

To style, Myka used products from Aquage and TIGI.

• While her hair was still wet, she used Sea Salt Texturizing Spray from Aquage to add volume, texture and separation to her locks.
  
• Once her hair is dry, she preps her strands with Bed Head Masterpiece shine spray by TIGI.
  
• When curling, Myka takes vertical sections of her hair, and curls by starting mid-shaft,  and working her way down
• She makes sure not to curl the ends, to keep the look loose and natural
• Once she curls the top front sections, she works on the bottom layers around her face, then curls sections in the back
  
• You don't have to curl every strand
• To finish, use a pea-size dollop of Bed Head AfterParty by TIGI to separate strands and add a smooth shine
• Flip head upside down and shake out curls, then use your fingers to separate and shape

What do you think - can you get this look at home? Is there a style or beauty tip you would like to see featured? Let us know, leave a comment here, on Michael's Facebook, or @michaelssalon on Twitter!

We've established that professional products are better than store brand products. Now, I would like to tell you about Michael's "Brown Label" products.

This is the only full line of all-natural, gluten free products available in the Dayton area. Not only are the products gluten free, but they are also free of parabens, preservatives and salt, ingredients that can damage your hair follicles, and that are commonly used to dilute products. Michael's line of products are highly concentrated - it takes less product for each use, so one bottle will last much longer!

What's the big deal about gluten-free?
For those who suffer from celiac disease or gluten allergies, ingesting gluten can lead to reactions that range from uncomfortable to downright dangerous. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and it absorbs everything you put on it - even hair products that touch your scalp.  Although it's not very common, severe reactions of gluten allergies have included hair thinning or falling out at an alarming rate. A good rule of thumb is if you can't put gluten IN your body, you shouldn't put gluten ON your body either.

Even if you don't suffer from gluten allergies, Michael's line of products is specially formulated by cosmetic chemist Irma Jobst to protect your hair from damage caused by environmental factors - it protects against sun damage and fading - and from over-styling. Irma (right) was here this morning training our staff on product chemistry.



Are you ready to try our new line of products yet? I understand if you're a little hesitant, so ask your designer at your next appointment. She or he will be able to recommend the products that are best for your individual type of hair. And, here's a good deal to sweeten the pot a little more:

Our short answer: YES

 

Yes salon products are better, and here’s why. Look at the ingredients on your shampoo that you purchase at any retail store. I’m willing to bet that one or more of the following will be the top ingredients: water, salt (sodium chloride or ammonium chloride) or a sulfate.

 

What are these ingredients?

While water is a necessary ingredient, most store brands are highly diluted – to the point that it takes much more product to get the job done. For products that are diluted with high quantities of water, there will be lots of salt. Salt is a thickening agent, so that your product will seem to be of a good consistency. Sulfates, often listed as ammonium laurel sulfate, sodium laurel sulfate, or sodium laureth sulfate, are lathering agents. They make your shampoos or foaming products get bubbly to make you think they’re working. Salon products include these as well, but in smaller amounts, and at gentler doses. Sulfates at high doses are harsh on your hair, especially your hair color.

 

Why are they bad?

If your product is diluted, it will take more of the product to achieve your desired result. Which means that one professional bottle might last longer than 3 or 4 bottles of store products. Multiply the cost of a store product by 4, is it still cheaper than a professional product? Still, why are you spending so much on salt and water?

Salt is very hard on your hair, especially if your hair has been processed. If you are willing to pay 70, 100 or 150 dollars on a process, why would you strip it with cheap products?

 

Professional Recommendations

Of course, not ALL store brand products contain harsh elements, and some professional products do. One of the most important reasons to use professional products is because you can get specific recommendations from a licensed professional. Michael’s designers train with cosmetic chemists and understand what ingredients are in the products we offer. They will recommend the products you need to get the style you are looking for. And the best part – Michael’s guarantees the products we sell. If a product you purchase doesn’t work out for you, bring it back within 30 days and we will be happy to find another product better suited for your needs.

What do you think? Do you use professional products or store brand products? Are you satisfied with your hair's texture? Does your color last as long as you think it should? Let's get a discussion going.

Do you suffer from thinning hair? If so, you are not alone. 30 million women in the United States suffer from thinning hair. Laser hair treatments, available here at Michael's in Dayton Ohio, provide hope. This is not just another false claim saying "we can re-grow hair instantly!" For laser hair treatments to be effective, it takes patience and time. The FDA approves this treatment, and studies have shown a 97% success rate in increased hair count after 18 weeks of treatment.  It typically takes one year to achieve ideal results.

The Doctors television show featured this treatment on a segment about thinning hair. This video explains how the laser works:

We've had a lot of questions from clients asking about Axxium manicures. We have written blogs about it, but we thought the best way to explain it would be to show you in a video!

Here is a video featuring Samantha, one of our newest nail technicians, demonstrating the Axxium manicure:


Some key points from the video:

• Plan an hour for this manicure - the process is the same as our regular half-hour manicure, but the polish application takes extra time
• Each coat of polish is cured under a UV light - drying the polish instantly
• At present, Michael's has 14 colors to choose from for an Axxium manicure, as the service becomes more popular, we (and OPI) keep adding more
• Removal of the Axxium gel lacquer polish doesn't damage your nails like other nail enhancements
• Axxium is available for pedicures also!
  

Have you tried the Axxium manicure? What do you think?

Our website has a "Share your experience" box for clients to leave feedback on their Michael's experiences. Here is a recent comment we received:

I always get my hair cut styled and colored by Amanda, she is great and always listens and gives you exactly what you ask for. Always satisfied with Amanda.  Thanks Amanda!!

Amanda

Thank YOU for taking the time to leave us a comment. We encourage client feedback, and have several places online where you can let us know how we're doing at Michael's:

• First is the feedback box that Mary used - which is located on the left of every page of our website - www.michaelssalon.com
• Also, please feel free to leave a comment here, on our blog (www.michaelssalon.com/blog)
• We also have a Facebook page: facebook.com/MichaelsSalon
• And you can send us an @ message or direct message on Twitter: twitter.com/michaelssalon
  

This week's How To video is a little different. First, we're showing a spa treatment instead of a hairstyle. Paula is demonstrating what the MD Express peel is. Many people are confused and don't know exactly what a chemical peel is - an episode of Sex and the City comes to mind. Paula shows you exactly what to expect - it's a quick and easy treatment that makes a big difference! Also, you can use this video for follow-up at home with the MD Skincare Alpha/Beta Daily Face Peel. Use the same strokes around the face that Paula uses on Mary to exfoliate your skin and leave it fresh and luminous!

An MD Alpha/Beta peel is a recommended treatment for several skin disorders, including acne, rosacea, hyper pigmentation, fine lines and more.


I asked Mary how her skin felt a few hours after the treatment, and she said "it feels really clean - comparable to how your mouth feels clean and fresh after going to the dentist."

To follow up at home, Paula recommends using the All-In-One Facial Cleanser with Toner at morning and night to wash your face. At night, follow with the Daily Face Peel Two-step system, and finish with a good moisturizer.

We love it when our clients take the time to offer us feedback! Here is another comment that was submitted yesterday in the 'Share your experience' box on our website:

My daughter is a freshman in high school and wanted bright red hair. I reluctantly agreed. I took her to Lisa for the new look. Not only did Lisa give my daughter the red she was looking for, she did it so beautifully that I like it too. She added some black to frame her face. The color looks great with her skin tone.

My daughter loves her new look and I love it too. Lisa gave us a win-win situation which is hard to do for a head-strong teen and her mother!
Thanks Lisa!

Michael's is looking for real women over 40 to be a part of our upcoming makeover photoshoot. We're asking you to nominate yourself, or a woman you know who would be willing to make a major change. Selected winners will receive a free makeover from Michael's Salon including haircut & color, Jane Iredale makeover, manicure and photoshoot with the Media Group @ Michael's. The winners will each receive digital copies of their photographs, and will be featured here on our blog. Photographs will also be submitted to industry publications.

How to enter:
To nominate yourself or someone you know, send an email to cindy@mediagrouponline.com with the following information:

1. A recent photograph of nominee
   
2. Nominee's name and daytime contact information

Rules and Details:

1. Nominations must be received by Monday, April 12, 2010.
2. Winners will be notified Tuesday, April 13, 2010.
3. A consultation will be scheduled with each winner and her designer prior to the makeover and photoshoot.
4. Makeover and photoshoot will take place on Monday, April 26, 2010.
   
5. Winners must be willing to allow their pictures to be used on our blog and for submission to industry publications.

If you have any questions, please email cindy@mediagrouponline.com.

UPDATE: This contest is closed. Click the following link to see our Real Women Over 40 Makeovers.

We aren't the only ones talking about Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy - our designers have found articles about it in US Weekly, and a quick search on Keratin by Coppola's website features many articles highlighting Keratin treatments!

Visit keratincomplex.com to check out all of the attention this amazing process is getting. And if you look closely, you'll see that our price point (starting at $220) is much lower than many other salons:

It's How To Tuesday again at Michael's! Do you have problems recreating your salon look at home? Michael's Salon is putting together a new how to video each week to teach you how to look fresh from the salon everyday.

This week is part 2 of Debbie's Jane Iredale makeup application. Last week she showed how to apply makeup for a classic day look. This week, she's showing you how you can quickly and easily dress up that look for a night out. She turns the basic eye makeup into a smokey eye and adds some shimmer to the look.


Debbie added Jane Iredale's Cream to Powder Eyeliner in Black Plus and used the Eyeliner/Brow brush to soften and smudge the look. She added some shimmer with the 24 Karat Gold Dust in Silver, and added some shine to Morgan's lips with Jane Iredale's PureGloss.


For more makeup tips, check out Jane Iredale's makeup blog and YouTube page. The great people at Jane have lots of videos and ideas on how to update your makeup look. And as always, let us know what you think of today's video! Leave a comment here, or on our Facebook or Twitter accounts. Also, let us know if you have any ideas for next week!

Remember back in January when Michael's Salon announced we were giving away a free Keratin treatment? For those with curly, frizzy, or hard to manage hair, a Keratin smoothing treatment can cut styling time in half! We asked our blog readers to send us a photo and a paragraph about why they would like a free Keratin treatment.

Jessica Burton of Centerville was selected, and here's her before and after photos from today's Keratin makeover:

Jessica is a stay at home mother to her son with special needs. Taking care of a child with autism and ADHD is a full time job; the only break she gets is when he goes to preschool for a couple hours in the morning. Jessica is very involved with her church, playing piano and volunteering several days a week.

"Between taking care of the house, my son, and doing things for church it leaves me with almost no time to try and tame my unruly hair," Burton said in her entry. It took almost an hour to apply product, blowdry then straighten her locks. "If I don't blow it dry and take the time to fix it, then it's just a frizzy wavy mess. I love wearing my hair down - and my husband loves it too - but with not having any time to fix it, it usually ends up in a ponytail."

Hopefully your ponytail days are over, Jessica! Today, Abby gave Jessica a Keratin smoothing treatment - and she loves the results. "It doesn't feel like my hair anymore, it's so smooth and soft!" After a Jane Iredale makeup application with Jill, Jessica was thrilled with her morning at Michael's. "I've never really had a makeover before. Jill and Abby were both so friendly and nice, they really made me comfortable throughout the whole process."

Jessica was very appreciative of today's makeover: "I'm so glad that I found Michael's Salon! I started coming here after a horrible experience at a discount haircut place. Caribeth fixed my cut and I've been a client ever since!" We're glad that you found us too! We're confident your Keratin treatment will cut down your styling time so you can spend more time with your husband and son - or pampering yourself!

We'll check in with Jessica in a few weeks to see how big a difference the Keratin treatment made on her daily beauty routine. If you want more information about the Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy, www.keratincomplex.com or ask your designer here at Michael's Salon.

It's How To Tuesday again at Michael's! Do you have problems recreating your salon look at home? Michael's Salon is putting together a new how to video each week to teach you how to look fresh from the salon everyday.

This week Debbie is showing you a basic daytime makeup look. She is using Jane Iredale products, which are all available here at Michael's. Jane Iredale has created an awesome line of products that are great for your skin. For more info, check out this previous blog post.


Next week, Debbie will show you how to dress up this makeup look for a night out. She will give Morgan the smoky-eye look that is always popular.

Do you want more makeup tips? You can get a complimentary Jane Iredale makeover with Debbie next time you come in to Michael's! It's a great way to try different shades and colors - we do recommend scheduling an appointment to ensure that she's available.

We posted some information about Michael's PhotoArt in our Culture Shift post last week, but we've had many questions about our involvement with the American Heart Association Go Red for Women campaign, so we wanted to give you more information.

We want to share a couple of mentions Michael's Salon has received in local and national media in the past week!

First, the local Centerville-Washington Township Times featured Michael's team with the University of Dayton Cheerleaders. We are proud to be the Official Salon of the UD Flyer Cheerleaders - and there's only a few more games left! Go Flyers!

Next, in the coming issue of Sophisticate's Hairstyle Guide, Michael's Salon is listed in Sophisiticate's Exclusive Salon Guide: "Where to go to get the hottest looks and the freshest styles in a town near you." Michael's was selected as THE salon to go to in Ohio:

"Transform yourself inside or out at this Dayton-area salon and spa. In addition to a full menu of hair services, Michael's also offers a full range of spa services, spray tanning, pampering packages and laser hair treatments. For a new 'do, opt for a design cut, starting at $27. If you're looking for a sleeker silhouette, try an anti-curl treatment, starting at $74. For those concerned with hair thinning, Michael's offers Laser Hair Therapy, which uses non-thermal, cool lasers to bathe the scalp and hair in a therapeutic red light for a fuller feeling of hair. Treatments start at $250 per month."

As Michael's Salon enters into a new decade, a Culture Shift is under way to ensure that we give our clients 110%. This Culture Shift encompasses many things, including the recent renovation of the salon including all new PhotoArt by Michael, a renewed focus on customer service, and increased involvement in the community.

Along with a fresh coat of paint, the walls at Michael's Salon were revamped with new artwork - all photographs taken by Michael himself on his travels around the world. Limited edition reproductions of Michael's PhotoArt are available for purchase, with all proceeds being donated to the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Campaign. See the video below for more information:



Some of Michael's renewed focus on customer service can be seen here on our blog. Our weekly "How To" videos have been a big hit, as well as our monthly Designer Spotlights, and we have been successful in reaching out to many women in the community through social media. But none of these efforts mean anything if we can't keep our clients happy in the salon. We have a client survey in the works so that you can all leave us feedback and tell us what we're doing right - as well as what we can improve on. This survey is coming soon - probably with a giveaway, so look for it in the coming weeks!

Michael's has reached out to the community recently, and we've got more planned! We are proud to be the Official Salon of the UD Flyer Cheerleaders. Also, as mentioned above, we are working with the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Campaign, and have several events planned with them over the course of this year.

This past Saturday, the corporate team took a moment to recognize the outstanding staff that we have here at Michael's with a celebration of the changes we've made and that are yet to come. At this celebration, Michael recognized several employees that were selected by their peers to receive awards.

It's How To Tuesday again at Michael's! Do you have problems recreating your salon look at home? Michael's is putting together a new how to video each week to teach you how to style your hair at home. But here's the difference: our designers are demonstrating the styles on themselves!

This week Ali is demonstrating something that is usually very hard to do on yourself - a long hair updo. Once the steps are broken down, she shows that this style is actually pretty easy and quick!

One thing you need to keep this look in place is great hairspray. Ali used two different hairsprays by Aquage - the Freezing Spray to smooth and hold the look while styling, and the Finishing Spray to set it in place.

Michael's Salon is proud to carry the Jane Iredale makeup line. Why is Jane Iredale so great? We'll let Jane tell you, from her website:

Known as The Skin Care Makeup, the jane iredale line is so safe and beneficial to use that it is recommended by plastic surgeons and dermatologists throughout the world.

Jane Iredale's Skin Care Makeup combines the most up-to-date colors with skin-care benefits that conventional makeups can only envy:

• Non-comedogenic, will not block pores.
• Virtually no allergy risk.
• All products have been sensitivity tested.
• Broad-spectrum UVB and UVA protection - up to SPF 30.  UVA tested at High.
• Anti-inflammatory, helps to calm and soothe irritated skin.
• Very water resistant rating by an FDA-approved lab.
• Complete coverage for skin conditions like acne, rosacea and redness following treatments like chemical peels and laser resurfacing.
• Contains no talc or parabens.
• Composed of inert minerals that cannot support bacteria.
• No products have been tested on animals.  Vegans click here for product information.

Check out the Jane Iredale Makeup Blog for videos, tips and news from Jane!

Michael's Salon and Spa has been selected as a finalist for Active Dayton's Best Salon/Day Spa! We are honored to have been selected for the contest - and now we want to win it!

Could you please show your support for Michael's by clicking THIS LINK! and voting for us? We can't win without the support of our community - and we want to thank YOU for being a part of our community!

Voting is open today (Jan 25) around noon until Monday, Feb 1 around noon. Here are the contest rules.

Thanks!

We love it when our clients take the time to offer us feedback! Here is another comment that was left on Tuesday in the 'Share your experience' box on our website:

"Had a GREAT session this morning with Caribeth! This is my second appt. with her and I would recommend her to anyone! We're moving out of state next month and I dread having to find another stylist since Caribeth does such a wonderful job!"

Abby began her career in the beauty industry by attending the Aveda Institute in Cincinnati and became a licensed hair designer in 2006. Abby says she has always loved doing hair from the time she was a little girl. Actually, one of her fondest memories is playing in the beauty shop where her grandmother worked. Yes, her grandmother was also a hair dresser.

Abby loves everything about the beauty industry. She enjoys creative color, highlighting and styling, but her favorite service is hair cutting. She says with so many new styles every cut is different and this keeps her skills fresh. Abby is a very visual person and gets her inspiration from fashion magazines as well as television and films. She’s always seeking out new trends and feels that the media seems to direct the way styles are going.

Abby truly loves being a hair designer and she finds it extremely rewarding. She’s been very successful in her career and her clients love her. She was even chosen to be the on location hair stylist for movie being filmed here in Dayton, Ohio. The movie titled ‘True Nature’ is currently in the final stages of editing and expected to be released in the very near future. The movie stars Carolyn McCormick of ‘Law and Order’ as the leading actress. Abby was the only stylists on the set for 5 straight weeks of filming.

Abby said working on the movie set was a wonderful experience. She was honored and happy about the opportunity. However, she would never consider it as a permanent career because she would miss her friends and clients at Michael’s Salon and Spa.

For more information on the movie 'True Nature' visit www.truenaturethefilm.com

Have you ever wished that your hair was more manageable? Softer? Smoother? Shinier? Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy by COPPOLA is the answer - and it's available in Dayton, Ohio at Michael's Salon & Spa.

The above picture is of Michael's designer Brooke, who was frustrated with her frizzy, hard to manage hair. Here's what she had to say after receiving the Keratin Smoothing Treatment:

"I will get this done for the rest of my life! I love how smooth it makes my hair, and it takes me less than half the time to style my hair. I barely flat iron at all now - just to shape the ends."

This revolutionary smoothing system infuses Keratin deep into the hair cuticle, eliminating up to 95% of frizz and curl, leaving hair smooth, shiny and luxurious. Results typically last 3 to 5 months depending on hair type.

Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy is gentle enough to use on all hair types: color treated, chemically processed, bleached or highlighted. It is available at Michael's Salon - Call 435-4701 to schedule your consultation today.

Here are more before and after photos taken by our designers at their Keratin training class:

Grab the current issue of Sophisticate's Hairstyle Guide and flip back to the 'Clip & Snip' section. Look closely, and you'll see that Sophisticate's selected several - actually 9 - photos that were submitted by Michael's Salon. Some are older and have been published before, but there are some that haven't been published!

New in 2010 at Michael's Salon, we will feature How-To Tuesdays. Women in Dayton - heck women around the world - are frustrated when they can't reproduce their salon look at home. So to combat this problem, we will produce a weekly video starring one of our designers demonstrating how they style their OWN hair! Sure, it's easy to understand what your stylist is teaching you when you're in a chair in front of them and they have two free hands... but it gets a little more difficult when you're solo in front of the mirror.

Our first brave designer is Tonya Verhoff, who has been at Michael's for many years and is known for her cute and stylish short hair. In this video, Tonya will show you how she gets her short hair just right:

Ladies, don't be intimidated by the steps to achieve this look! If you pay attention to the clock behind her, you see that it took Tonya less than 20 minutes from wet to set.

To recap, here are some of Tonya's Tips:

• Tonya uses Styling Creme by Michael's when her hair is wet, applying from root to tip.
  
• When blow drying, begin by finger-drying your hair until it's 80% dry and then use a round brush to add body.
  
• If you use good products and a good flat-iron, you should only have to pass it through your hair once. More than once and you will burn and damage your hair.
• Tonya uses Beyond Shine by Aquage to protect her hair from heat damage.
  
• To finish her look, Tonya uses Michael's Shine It paste to give her hair flexible hold that's not too sticky.
  

Michael's is proud to be the Official Salon of the UD Cheerleaders. Our team was at the game last night to support the Flyers, and to give away a spa gift basket, with over $300 in services and products. Congratulations to Barb Wellmeier, our gift basket winner!

Here are some pictures of Michael's Team at the game:

Allison, Stacey, Alecia and Kinley with Rudy Flyer!


Michael's Team with the UD Cheerleaders

Michael's Salon is proud to support the University of Dayton Cheerleaders, and to be a part of the UD community!

Our website has a "Share your experience" box for clients to leave feedback on their Michael's experiences. Here is a recent comment we received:

"Tari Huber is the greatest stylist! In the 15+ years I have known her, she is ALWAYS right on target and knows just what I want! For a truly up-to-date, professional style plus perfect coloring with "PIZAZZ" see Tari!!"

-Mary from Tipp City, Ohio

Tari Huber, Master Designer and Color Specialist

Thanks Mary for taking the time to leave us a comment. We encourage client feedback, and have several places online where you can let us know how we're doing at Michael's:

• First is the feedback box that Mary used - which is located on the left of every page of our website (www.michaelssalon.com)
  
• Also, please feel free to leave a comment here, on our blog (www.michaelssalon.com/blog)
  
• We also have a Facebook page (facebook.com/MichaelsSalon)
  
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OPI has developed a revolutionary new manicure that changes everything you thought you knew about nails - and you can get it done at Michael's Salon & Spa in Dayton, Ohio! No more waiting for nails to dry, no more being extra careful with your nails so as not to smudge them after your manicure. No more chipping within a few days!

• Just tried the Axxium manicure with Jenny, think I might have a new favorite spa service. I love the look and the strength it gives my nails. Come try it and see.  

Tara Myers

• i got that on Sunday with Samantha..totally loved it!!!! i would for sure get it done again!!!!!!!!!!

Laura McKinney

Balayage is an advanced highlighting technique where your designer "paints" the highlights onto your hair. It is NOT traditional foil highlights that you might be accustomed to. Balayage gives your hair a natural "sunkissed" look and is an easy way to add dimension to all-over hair color.

Jodi highlighted Nikki's hair using the Balayage technique in the photos above. Notice that the difference is subtle, but just enough to make Nikki's hair stand out.

What is different about Balayage is that the color solution is "painted" on by your designer. This gives your stylist more control over how much of your hair receives the color. Why is this important? Because, if you weave a strand of hair and put it in a foil with the lightener, you are going to have the same amount of lightened hair throughout the strand.

This means if someone wants to have a lot of blonde color towards the ends, you are going to have a lot of blonde at the roots as well. If the hair ends are thinner you end up with lighter hair at your roots.

Balayage is also great because as it grows out, the roots are more subtle than with foil highlights - no more lines a few inches from your roots telling everyone that it has been a couple of months since your last color treatment!

The Balayage technique was developed by Siggers Hairdressers in Atlanta, GA. Master designers and color specialists Jodi Schuh, Tara Myers and Mary Schuh were trained in this technique years ago, and they recently taught this technique to about a dozen Michael's designers in a continuing education class. 

Ask your designer about Balayage highlights at your next appointment!

Michael's Salon worked with the Media Group at Michael's to develop an intensive, hour-long training video to address the problem of choppy, uneven bobs that Michael noticed everywhere on the street. The bob is currently one of the most popular haircuts, and Michael saw a need to develop this revolutionary cutting technique. Continuing education for all designers is at every level is a large part of why Michael's is the premiere salon in the Dayton region. Michael has used this video to train his staff in small groups and has noticed a vast improvement in cuts leaving the salon. "There is no excuse for not achieving the client's desired look. You have to take into consideration the texture and type of hair, thickness, etc. in order to make this or any look work." In this training video, Michael explains how using the right products allows you to overcome difficult or hard to manage hair.

For more information on this revolutionary training video please email kim@mediagrouponline.com or call 435-5478 ext. 200.

The December 2009 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine included The O Guide to Hair Extensions, which featured Great Lengths extensions. Michael's Salon is proud to offer Great Lengths extensions to the Dayton, Ohio community. These extensions are ideal for women with fine or thinning hair, or anyone who wants a drastic change without waiting for their natural hair to grow.




The article does a great job explaining exactly what the extensions are:

"Each one comes as a 100-strand lock of human hair secured at the top with a keratin protein polymer cap. In the salon, each cap is bonded to your own hair, near the scalp, with a tonglike tool. Depending on the length and thickness of your hair, you'll need 50 to 100 pieces."

Michael's offers Great Lengths extensions only after a designer consultation. At this free consultation, your designer will estimate how long the service will take and how much it will cost (based on the volume and thickness or your natural hair), and she will give you advice on how to maintain your extensions to keep them looking healthy.

Here are some maintenance tips offered in O:

• "Shampoo and condition with silicone-free products, because silicone can make extensions slip off"
• "Deep-condition the ends, but avoid getting conditioner on the bonds."
• "Extensions tangle easily; brush them gently at least twice a day with a boar-bristle paddle brush"
  

If you're interested in Great Lengths extensions, call us to schedule your free consultation!

Our website has a "Share your experience" box for clients to leave feedback on their Michael's experiences. Here are two recent comments we received:

• "I went to Myka for the first time on a friend's recommendation and am SO happy that I did. In one word, she is AMAZING! And I'll definitely be back to see her."

Since we started carrying MoroccanOil products earlier this year, all of the hair designers here at Michael's Salon have been going crazy over how great this product is for your hair. Designer Kat Bissonnette loves it because "it is great for all hair types. Moroccan Oil actually heals and repairs hair with every use, and adds shine to lifeless hair. I love it!!"

We love the product, and now we love the gift box set that MoroccanOil has put together for the holidays.

The box itself is a perfect makeup case, and inside it is stuffed with wonderful MoroccanOil products. The Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner is sulfate-phosphate paraben free and is designed to soothe and repair chemically damaged hair. The Oil Treatment has the unique quality of instant absorption into hair, creating an instant shine and long term conditioning without leaving residue. And the Restorative Hair Mask offers a therapeutic remedy that penetrates deep into the hair to help reconstruct and rebuild, undoing damage done by chemicals and other environmental elements like sun and wind.

We also have a box set for curly hair, which substitutes the Restorative Hair Mask for the Intense Curl Cream. With impressive antioxidant and intensive hydration capabilities, this breakthrough styling product is used to enhance and define curly hair. Repeated use will result in extraordinary hold, shine and protection.

This MoroccanOil gift set is available at Michael's Salon and Spa in Dayton, OH while supplies last.

The entire Michael's Team is excited to be able to support the UD Flyer Cheerleaders. The University of Dayton has a great community, and we are happy to be a part of it.

Along with providing services for the cheerleaders, Michael's staff will wear UD shirts on game days, and will get to attend some games as well.  Go Flyers!

As the premiere hair salon in Dayton Ohio, Michael's Salon is dedicated to continuing education for all designers. In October Michael took his Retail Team to New York City for the annual Intercoiffure Fall Altelier, where they were able to learn new hair trends and styles from the best of the best. Allison, Kristen, Megan, Michelle, and Nikki were impressed and almost overwhelmed by everything they learned over the weekend.

Michael's is proud to be a member of Intercoiffure, which is an exclusive international organization for the best salons and hair stylists. Michael Schuh Jr., owner of Michael's Salon and Spa, has been a member since 1978, and Master Designer Jodi Schuh has been a member since 1993. 

Below is a slideshow of photographs taken by the Retail Team with pictures of them seeing the sights in New York, along with photos of daring hairstyles presented at the show. In addition, there are photographs by Rob Brinson featuring Scott Cole's collection "Post-Modern Jazz." Music by Jay Z feat. Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind."

Hair designer, Alecia colored Stacy’s hair, using a double-process to achieve the two-toned look. Michael cut Stacy’s hair into a swingline bob using thinning shears. In cutting this type of bob, Michael stresses the importance of cutting the design line from short to long, starting in the center of the back of the head, and working around to the front. Also, when tapering the hair with thinning shears, you want to take the bulk out of the hair at the nape. The sides should be pinned out of the way because the hairline at the ear is shorter than the back, and there is less hair here. To style this trendy do, Michael used a combination of elixir and gel. He then finger dried Stacy’s hair to lift hair away from the scalp. Once her hair was about 50% dry, he used a Denman brush to straighten hair at the roots brushing the hair from the roots from one side to the other. To complete the style, Michael used a round brush bending the hair into a full bob shape and used a finishing spray to hold the look. Model: Stacy Hair color and Makeup: Alecia Mann Hair cut and style: Michael Schuh Photographer: Cynthia DeVelvis