in the news ....................................................................................................................................................................................
 The killer cool re-emergence of a salon After an extensive renovation, Michael Christopher Designs begins a new phase of bringing the cutting edge to fashion  By Richard L. Gaw
Special Sections Editor
Greenville Community News, November 7, 2006
Invent something that's never been done before and you are a genius. Re-invent what you have invented all over again and turn it into something altogether
new and you are practically knighted. Though Michael Hemphill of Michael Christopher owns no crowns, his Michael Christopher Designs has, for the last thirty years, served as the one salon in our community that takes the gold standard of what it means to be bold and cutting edge and moves it here, there
and everywhere.
Over the course of a two-week span that began in late June and ended in early July, Hemphill took his studio on Pennsylvania Avenue and had it gutted practically to its core. The nail, mortar and plywood evidence of the work going on inside the salon had, in fact, been conceived one year ago, when Hemphill began studying the effect that a new splash of light and sound could have on the space. He also began asking his clientele what they wanted from
his salon.
"It was quite natural that our clients would have a huge impact on where we were going to take this," Hemphill says. "People should come to a salon and have an outstanding experience that will last for the next six weeks of their life."
The finished product - 6,000 square-feet of re-designed space at a cost of $300,000 - is the combined result of Hemphill's creativity and the needs of his clientele. Six rooms were re-created, infusing a kaleidescope of new lighting, leather chairs imported from Italy, cloudand-sky ceilings from Los Angeles,
and over 20 individual work station pods to promote privacy. In addition,
clients now have the ability to access the internet or communicate
with their office through the use of laptop computers stationed throughout
the salon.
"I wanted to sew a common thread through the whole experience of being at Michael Christopher Designs," Hemphill says. "When you're ripe, you're rotten, but when you're green, you grow."
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 Style maven gets new look of his own Delaware business pioneer rethinks salon
By LULADEY B. TADESSE, The News Journal
Posted Thursday, September 14, 2006
Michael Christopher Designs Salon & Day Spa is accustomed to giving people a new look, but on the eve of its 31st anniversary, the Wilmington salon is getting a new look of its own.
Michael Christopher Hemphill, the salon's owner and creative force behind the improvements, has invested more than $300,000 to modernize the 6,000-square-foot salon and better equip it to meet the needs of his clients and 80 employees.
"It was beautiful before," said Alexis Tweddell, 40, of Middletown, who has been going to Michael Christopher for nearly eight years. "The fact that he wanted to remodel and update and make it cutting edge is always Michael."
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helpful hints ....................................................................................................................................................................................
Chemical Texturing - Perming
Chemical texturizing (perming) is creating a resurgence in the hair fashion industry. Te mentality of a perm lasting three months will be expanded to many options.
Chemical Texturizing can be worn as a style, not solely for support of a style.
Chemical Texturizing Targets: The crown, bangs, ends of the hair can be specifically targeted to give curl or relax the curl. A smooth overall look with curl on the ends can be achieved.
Products to texturize hair are more conditioning and less damaging.
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Haircolor
Gray hair: Gray hair can be worn today it is not exclusive to seniors. Hair sometimes grays beautifully and should be left alone. A great cut on Gray hair can look dynamic.
Translucency: Haircolor can have a translucent watercolor effect which has a reflective quality. Translucent haircolor is a natural mix of darks and lights.
Fear of haircolor: Opaque haircolor will age you quicker than any other haircolor.
Clients think that their hair doesn't belong to their body.
"This is not my natural haircolor..."
"My hair did not use to be like this..."
Hair does change as the rest of the body changes: color, thickness, curl, volume, etc.
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Image Transformations - 2007 Version of the Makeover
The impression of a makeover is that something is added to the final look of a person, most often it is a matter of taking something away.
The best makeovers are given with the most education. Makeovers are only as good as the next day. The true test of a good makeover is if it can be put together again.
Comfort Zone: Makeover failures can occur when you take the person beyond their comfort zone. A specific personality might not be able to accept the added attention of a new look.
Lifestyle Makeover: We can create image transformations, however, a person might need to change habits in skin care, health, exercise, etc.
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Special Occasion Beauty - Weddings, Class Reunions, etc.
Special Occasions: When a special occasion arises most women feel the need to wear their hair upswept. The myth that wearing the hair up makes one more feminine is outdated.
Overdone Hair Can Overpower a Woman: Hair is an accessory and should be styled to enhance your fashion statement.
Simplicity: A great hairstyle finished with simple combing techniques - hair smoothed behind the ears with great earrings...Simplicity can be the best fashion statement a woman can make.
Wedding Day: Women want to look their "most beautiful" on their wedding day. Sometimes wearing a hairstyle that they have never worn before. "I want to grow my hair out for my wedding..."
A woman should consult her stylist before purchasing a headpiece to discuss face shape, wedding day hairstyle, etc.
Hair lightly accessorized is an alternative to a headpiece.
Class Reunion: Reunions give us the opportunity to "take inventory", to see where you have come from and where you are going. We tend to find a "look" that we are comfortable with, what we perceive is our best might not work anymore, it might age and date you.
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Conditioning
A conditioner is a simple, straightforward product that often is misused and can cause the hair to become dry and lifeless, creating a "conditioning cycle" nightmare and product over usage.
During the hair's natural growth, the scalp will nourish the hair as it grows from the root continually for approximately 3 inches. It is the ends of the hair that take the beating of everyday living, chemical treatments and styling.
Conditioner - is used to coat the outer cuticle of the hair, provides a detangler and adds sheen.
Reconstructor - because of a smaller molecular structure a reconstructor can penetrate the interior shaft with proteins to strengthen and moisture to remoisturize.
Fun Ways to Condition
Long hair - pull hair back into a fabric covered elastic band condition from the band to the ends. Form conditioned hair into a fun shape braid/twist/chignon/wrap around and go.
Short hair - leave conditioner in and use it as a styling aid to create a textured look. Fun hair accessories can be used for a great finished look.
Over conditioned hair can be as bad as under conditioned hair.
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Essence of a Woman
Nothing is more beautiful than an Afro-American Woman with graying hair.
Haircolor: For those who choose to color, all levels of haircolor can be attained, blonde-brown-red, as long as the tonal base value is correct.
Hair Design Choices: At one time the only choices were straighten, oil and press. Now perming, relaxing, coloring, going Gray, adding extensions are among the choices available.
Relaxers should be applied by a professional: Since the hairline is extremely fragile, professionals have products to help prevent damage.
Condition, Condition, Condition
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Putting it Together
Most people want to spend as little time as possible on their hair. Quickest way to accomplish is to:- Cut it short enough - towel dry and go.
- Natural curl - good haircut/proper styling products - diffuse and go.
- Pull it up - ponytail it and forget it - top off with stylish accessory
- Chemical Texturize - to wear as style instead of support
- Don't wash it everyday - some hair is more manageable the second time around
- Don't fry it as you dry it - hair does not need to be blown bone dry in order to style. Hand scrunching with product - shaping with clips and products
- Styled by your pillow - dampen ends of hair - create three large pincurls around hairline - next morning brush and go
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Aging Hair
As your body ages, so does your hair. Aging hair can thin out or become dry. On average, you lose up to 125 hairs a day.
Shedding: Seasonal shedding of hair, medication, diet and trauma will affect hair loss.
Alopecia Areota: Baldness either partial or complete.
Hair is our body's dumping ground: Tested for drugs and health problems.
The body is made up of carrotin proteins: Different recipes make up eyes, skin, hair, etc.
Aging depletes our body's nutrients: Many products available on the market for the body and hair. |
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