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:

"This was my second time having Brooke cut, color, and style my hair. The first time I came with three different ideas that she morphed into one hair-style. I have received so many compliments from friends, family, co-workers, and fellow students. Coming back I wanted to get relatively the same hair-style and she did an equally amazing job, and I think I like it even better than the first time. 

Her talent as a stylist is complimented with great customer service and conversation. Sitting in her chair feels like I am talking with an old friend.  Great service and even better hair!!  Thanks!!"

-Holly

Photo: Holly's A-Line Bob Hairstyle

Brooke took a photo of Holly's cut and color. Brooke used a chocolate brown hair color on Holly's bottom layers and around her face, and lightened up the top layers with blonde highlights for spring. Holly's cut is an a-line bob, which is a very current look, and it's flattering on most face shapes. For styling tips, check out this recent How to video featuring Katie round brushing her a-line bob.

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.

You've been hearing about the "Bronde" hair color trend for awhile now in the big publications (Glamour, Cosmo, Stylelist, etc.) - think Jennifer Aniston, Gisele Bündchen and 90% of Victoria's Secret models - but do you know the best way to get the look?


Balayage is the highlighting technique used to "paint" on highlights to achieve the natural-looking, sun-kissed highlights of the bronde look. Michael's designers studied this technique from the masters at Jacques Dessange in Paris and brought it back here to Dayton to train the rest of Michael's talented stylists.

We love the balayage hair color technique because it's a natural-looking alternative to traditional foil highlights. The stylist has complete control of the placement and intensity of the highlights.

What do you think of the bronde look? Is balayage a highlight technique you would like to try?

Michael has been a member of Intercoiffure Mondial since 1972. Intercoiffure is an elite organization of the top hair salons and designers from around the world. Every fall the US/Canada group hosts the Fall Atelier in New York City. This year, Jodi Schuh-Keeley participated as part of the ICA Haircolor Council.

ICA Haircolor Council
The mission of the ICA Haircolor Council is to unite and raise the profile of color specialists of all levels through a network of creative energy, supported by the highest level of pure education and best practices. The group was created in 2007 by the Lois Christie, president of Intercoiffure America/Canada. " I saw a need for a forum uniting colorists throughout the industry - a forum that will help to identify and train the next generation of talented color artists."

The theme for the presentation was Soft and Strong Hair Color. Jodi designed her look with strong pieces of red and copper to accent the soft medium brown - auburn base color.

Video: Jodi Schuh-Keeley presenting her hair color design at the 2010 Fall Atelier in NYC


Jodi preparing her model for the ICA Haircolor Council

Continuing Education at Michael's Salon and Spa
Continuing education is a large part of what sets Michael's apart from the competition. While Jodi was teaching in New York, she was also taking notes and learning other trends in hair design to bring back to Michael's team here in Dayton. Esthetician Jill Luttrell also went to New York, where she visited several top-of-the-line spas to stay on top of the latest trends in skincare.

More pictures from the Intercoiffure Fall Atelier and Jodi and Jill's trip to NYC are posted in an album on Michael's Facebook Page.

What do you think of the hair styles at the show?

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?

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!

Master designer Jodi Schuh was trained in this technique in Paris at Jacques Dessange years ago, and she has trained the rest of Michael's staff through our comprehensive continuing education program.

Ask your designer about Balayage highlights at your next appointment!