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.

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 love the new hair cut I got by one of your new designers, Emily. I needed a new look and she had great suggestions and did a great job. I have had so many compliments on my new 'do'. They ask, and I tell them... I got it at Michael's... from Emily!" -Jill

Emily is a new designer - so new, that we don't have a headshot of her yet :) She is one of our talented interns who is still in training. Let me clarify what I mean by "still in training." She has graduated from cosmetology school and has her cosmetology license. But when we hire new designers at Michael's, we have a comprehensive training program that lasts 1-2 years, depending on the individual designer's experience.

In this training program, we build upon the skills learned in cosmetology school by having each trainee complete internships with our master designers. In their internships, the master designers teach interns advance cut and color skills, as well as business tips - such as how to grow your clientele and how to treat clients.

Jill, thanks for taking the time to leave us feedback on your experience with Emily! We really appreciate client feedback, and we love to hear that our new designers are on the right track! 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 Jill 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 (@michaelssalon)
  

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.

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."