Michael's Salon & Spa is excited to announce our new skin care collection. This new age management system helps to rejuvenate and regenerate skin's natural process of aging, while making your skin look fresh and fabulous sunrise to sunset.
Each product, sold exclusively at Michael's Salon & Spa, has different features and benefits that will enhance your appearance for a younger, healthier and more radiant glow.

These 8 products include:

• Intensive Eye and Lip Treatment
• Oil Control Moisturizer
  
• Radiance Face Lift
  
• Eternal Beauty Serum
• Ultra Soothing Eye Gel
• Soothing Serum
• Peptide Cream
• Lash Enhancing Serum.

 

Feather Hair Extensions at Michael's Salon & Spa

This morning, Good Morning America featured a segment on new hair trends for the summer, featuring feather hair extensions. This new fad has taken the beauty industry and our nation by storm with celebrities and socialites sporting this new look. Michael's Salon & Spa has been selling hundreds of this latest accessory to its clients (See our billboard along Interstate 75).

Michael's Salon & Spa in Centerville, Ohio is the Dayton area's premiere Salon & Spa locatin with more than 30 years of experience in the beauty and hair industry. Known for staying up to date on the latest hair trends and high-fashion tresses, Michael's Salon is dedicated to creating cutting edge styles for its clients.

Want the latest hair fashion and fads? Visit Michael's Salon at its Centerville location or 'Like' us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter.

For questions on feather hair extensions of information on Michael's Salon & Spa please call 937-435-4701.

This week's How-To Video includes Jodi from Michael's Salon & Spa's beauty team demonstrating how to create a fuller look with short hair. For those of our clients sporting a shorter 'do, it's always important to know how to achieve a flawless look in order to avoid flat and undefined hair.

What you will need:

• Michael's Designer Shaping Hair Spray
• Michael's Texture Taffy
• Velcro Rollers
• Blow Dryer
• Round Brush

Below is a step-by-step guide on learning the basics of styling short hair and achieving this salon inspired look.

Video: Hair How-To Video: Fullness in short hair

Did you know Michael's offers Spray Tan services? Using the Norvell airbrush tanning system, a licensed professional applies the spray tan solution to deliver that sun-kissed color, without sun damage. Our estheticians have years of experience in delivering streak-free, even spray tans.

One Hour Spray Tan
Michael’s has offered the Norvell Sunless Spray Tan for years and our clients have raved about the results. With the original Norvell solution, it is recommended that you do not shower for 16 hours after your service.

For those who may want to get a spray tan the day of a big event, we have a new option. The Norvell One Hour Spray Tan offers great results, but you can rinse off within an hour after your service. Rinsing after one hour will leave your skin with a light tan. For a medium tan, wait two hours, and for the darkest tan wait three hours to rinse.

Get the best results from your spray tan follow these guidelines:
    Shave 24 hours prior to your service; do not shave the day of the service.
    Do not apply lotions, perfumes or deodorant prior to arrival.
    Do not wear makeup.
    It is recommended that dark loose clothing be worn immediately after application.
    Avoid excessive sweating after your service. Exercising afterwards is not recommended

Special spray tan offer!
Michael's is offering $5 off all of our spray tan services through April 30, 2011. Just print the coupon below and schedule your appointment before the end of April!


Have you tried a sunless spray tan from Michael's?

The balayage highlighting technique is referred to in many different ways and many designers claim to know the technique.  But at Michael's Salon and Spa, our designers are trained by a Balayage expert, Master Designer and Hair Colorist Jodi Schuh.  Jodi mastered the balayage technique at the Jacques Dessange Training Salon in Paris. Jodi says she loves the balayage hair color technique because it is natural-looking and very different  from traditional foil highlights.  With Balayage your colorist will actually "paint" the highlights into your hair. This gives your designer more creative control over the intensity and amount of highlights  in your style.    An added benefit, as your hair grows out the roots are more subtle than with foils.




Jodi recently conducted a balayage training class to certify more of Michael's talented hair colorists on this exciting technique. Designers go though several classes performing the technique on mannequins and actual models before they can provide the service  to  Michael's clients. This ensures that our stylists have practiced and mastered the technique, to provide the best possible hair color results every time.

This training is just one part of Michael's continuing education program for our staff. We offer many classes throughout the year to ensure that all of our stylists  stay up-to-date on current fashions and trends.

Michael's Salon recently received a letter from one of our decade-long clients. Here's what she had to say:

"I am a client of a more than ten years. I started going to Michael's Salon when I was eleven years old at its previous location. My father used to take me there; he was all about spoiling me and thought I deserved the best haircut in town. I can remember being a thirteen year old girl and getting my first foil highlight by Dennis. I loved it, just as much as I have loved every haircut or hairdo I've gotten at Michael's. In the beginning I wasn't always able to go to Michael's considering it was an hour from my hometown (Piqua, Ohio). Although, I insisted that for any big occasion such as a prom or homecoming, we went to Michael's.

When I went away to college, I was living in Toledo, Ohio and I tried a couple of places out but nothing could compare. So i decided that every time I went home I would go back to Michael's since I knew I wouldn't have to worry about the awful feeling of a bad haircut. I was a client of Bethany's throughout my first three years of college and she was amazing! I am the type of person that is very spontaneous about my hair color and hairstyle and she always found a way to make it perfect. So many people would always ask me where I was getting my hair done and she started to have many friends of mine become clients too.

This past year Bethany had a baby and is no longer working at Michael's. Although I was sad she wasn't going to be around any longer, I wasn't one bit concerned about finding another good stylist. At Michael's literally everyone does an amazing job! I currently go to Kristen or Stacey whomever is available and they are both really good! Last year Stacey did a star pattern of a dark brown in my blonde hair that was the cutest thing ever! Also Kristen did my hair for a wedding I went to this year and i loved it! I can honestly say that I have never left there and been disappointed. If you were looking for a great experience at a place where they care about their clients then I would recommend Michael's Salon and Spa!"

-Megan Frost

In case you missed it, last night Michael's Salon and Spa employees were at the University of Dayton Men's Basketball game advertising for their upcoming drawing for a FREE iPad!




Did not make it to the game? Don't worry! You still have a chance, just text the word "FLYERS" to the number 69302 by Friday January 14. The drawing will be on Friday. Good luck!

At last - the long-awaited makeover photos of Shana, our Young Professional makeover winner!

With the help of Generation Dayton, the dynamic networking group for Young Professionals in the Dayton region, Michael's sought out young professionals who would be willing to put their trust in the hands of our talented beauty professionals for a beauty makeover. We had a great response, but one nomination really stood out.

By day Shana Douglas is Marketing Director at Sunbelt of Miami Valley, by night, she is a social media extraordinaire, volunteering her time and expertise to such organizations as the March of Dimes, Dayton AMA, Greater Dayton Advertising Association, and more. She is very active and involved in the Dayton community and online (she's @ShanaDouglas if you're on Twitter).

"I nominate myself... solely because I don't have time to take care of myself like I'd like to! Between a full-time job, consulting and numerous volunteer roles, there's little time left for beauty."

Hairstyle Info:
Tonya worked with Shana to find a hairstyle that suits Shana's professional-by-day/"rowdy chucks and heels wearing diva by night" personality.


If you want to see more photos of Shana's makeover, there are more on Michael's Facebook page. What do you think of Shana's new look? Are you ready to make a change?

Have you tried the Axxium manicure by OPI yet? Michael's first introduced this non-chip manicure to the Dayton area about a year ago. Through the month of September, we are offering a special price so you can try this revolutionary manicure!

Cherice, Alana, Samantha and Jenny have all been trained on the Axxium process.

Have you tried Axxium yet? How did you like this manicure?

We all want long thick eyelashes, but unfortunately, some of us aren't blessed to look like we could be in a mascara commercial (FYI: the women in the commercials are probably wearing fake lashes). So what's a girl to do? You could stick to the time-tested regimen of eyelash curler + loads of mascara, but if you're not getting the results you desire, check out these options Michael's is offering women in the Dayton area.

NovaLash® Eyelash Extensions
For celebrity-approved lashes, check out NovaLash eyelash extensions. You've probably read about NovaLash in popular magazines (O, the Oprah magazine, Lucky, OK! Magazine, In Touch Weekly, Modern Salon and more) but did you know you can get NovaLash extensions here at Michael's Salon?

The physician and cosmetic chemist formulated lash extension system developed for your health and safety... the educated choice.

NovaLash is one of the safest options for women looking to boost their lashes. There's no need to worry about adhesives tearing your lashes out or damaging them. At Michael's, a licensed esthetician will apply NovaLash lashes on your natural lashes. You won't have an adhesive line to cover up, because they attach to your lashes, not your eyelid. You won't have to worry about a line of lashes separating at the end of your wedding day or night out! NovaLash starts at $202 and will last for the growth cycle of the individual eyelashes - approximately 1-2 months. Touch-ups are recommended as your lashes have a natural life cycle.


To keep your extensions healthy and looking great, here are some tips:

• Avoid rubbing your eyes and lashes - this causes you to lose lashes!
• If you wear mascara, DO NOT USE WATERPROOF MASCARA. Waterproof formulas will dissolve the adhesive on your NovaLash lashes
• Avoid eye makeup cleansers containing glycol or carbonates - they can loosen the bond of your NovaLash extensions
• When using eye creams, try to avoid your lashes and eyelids. And again, don't use creams containing glycol or carbonates.

Revitalash® Eyelash Conditioner
If you're not crazy about the thought of extensions, we also offer Revitalash Eyelash Conditioner. Again, you've probably seen Revitalash in the press (In Style, Elle, O, the Oprah magazine, and many more). Revitalash is a unique eyelash conditioner that will help you achieve the natural beauty of longer, thicker, fuller looking eyelashes.


A very small amount of Revitalash is applied once a day. No matter how brittle, short, fragile, thin or sparse your eyelashes are, Revitalash can help you achieve your very own long, beautiful, healthy looking lashes. You can purchase Revitalash at Michael's for $135.


Jane Iredale False Lashes
Jane Iredale just released their new Professional Faux Lashes. These lashes are great because instead of strips that you have to cut to fit your eyelid, they are individual pieces you can apply where you want your lashes to be fuller. You can apply just to the outer lids, or across your entire lash line.


If you have a special event and want longer lashes just for one night, schedule a makeover with one of Michael's talented makeup artists. They will apply all of your makeup, and can add as many Jane Iredale faux lashes as you desire, for a minimal add-on.

Take care of your lashes
Whether you try false lashes or not, always always ALWAYS wash off your makeup at night. Sleeping in your makeup is not only bad for your skin, but also bad for your lashes. Wearing mascara overnight can cause your eyelashes to become fragile and break or fall out prematurely.

Have you tried eyelash extensions or conditioners? What was your experience?

As we prepared for our quarterly photo shoot, our team discussed what works and what doesn't. The fashion magazines all display images of young, beautiful models with hair that is NOT wearable for the average woman. Could you imagine getting ready to drop your kids off at school, or heading to the office - but first taking hours and hours to style your hair like this?

Image by Intercoiffure

This is a fantastic image, but it doesn't fit the lifestyles of most of our clientele. We want to inspire our guests to try new looks, but each person needs to be able to envision the look on him/herself.

For our May photo shoot, instead of having our designers or Michael select models, we asked our clientele. We sent out emails and asked for submissions on Facebook and Twitter:

Michael's is looking for real women over 40 to be a part of our upcoming makeover photo shoot. We're asking you to nominate yourself, or a woman you know who would be willing to make a major change.

We received more feedback from this online contest than any previous online contest. It was very difficult to select the winners, but we narrowed the field down to six. These brave women put their trust in Michael's talented staff to design their new look. 

Before and After Photos:

Our designers went above and beyond just cut and color to empower each woman to discover the best version of herself. Click the names below to see more pictures and to learn about each makeover:

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 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?