We are thrilled to partner with the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) to promote all the amazing artists who are finalists for the 2015 NAHAs (North American Hairstyling Awards), the most prestigious hair and beauty award in the country. Bangstyle had the pleasure of getting to know the awesome team from Van Michael Salon, one of this year’s finalists in the “Salon Design” category. Check out our exclusive interview to learn a bit more about the salon and how its aesthetic influences the team's creativity.
Tell us a bit about Van Michael Salon. Where/what inspired the design?
Van Michael Salon was established in 1984 by brothers Van & Michael Council. Our latest salon at Avalon in Alpharetta, GA is a culmination of over 30 years of experimentation focusing on enhancing the client experience. We have always gravitated toward clean, modern lines and elegant, timeless designs. Eurisko Design crafted a custom look based on Italian salon design aesthetics.
Were there collections in other categories that you found inspiring or particularly appealing?
Anything modern & sleek tends to be in our wheelhouse. Van Michael strives to create trends within the salon world so we find inspiration from catalogs and collections but tend to create more custom looks that are unique to us.
What do you look for in your stylists?
Our stylist recruitment process spans the entire country so that we find the very best graduates. While skills are very important, our recruiters are mostly looking for the right attitude and values it takes to be a successful hairdresser.
What’s your favorite funny/memorable story that happened in the salon?
We had such a high demand for blow outs one day that we had to come up with a complex system of receipt stamps to work everyone in.
How did you know that this space was “the one”?
Avalon infuses resort-level hospitality throughout a walkable, seamlessly connected community of shopping, dining, entertainment, living and working. It’s more than just another place to go, it’s a place to be—a hub of local art and activity that delivers the luxury of the modern South. Van Michael Salon was a natural fit!
What are some of your favorite requests you’ve overhead in the salon?
We're always asked who is the best stylist or best colorist. The beauty of our award winning education program is that virtually all of our hairdressers could be described as the best!
How do you feel that the aesthetic of the salon influences the mood and general vibe inside?
The aesthetic of Van Michael Avalon is elegant yet simplified. Sometimes salons can be overwhelming for clients. The design of Avalon insures that it's both easy to navigate and visually soothing so that the client feels relaxed during their visit.
What’s on the salon’s playlist?
Van Michael Salon is focused on the client's experience so we keep the music in the background rather than the foreground. Our shampoo room is isolated and quiet so we tend to play very soothing spa type music. The salon is where the energy is focused so we amplify the music a bit more with styles that are more upbeat.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Is there one the entire salon shares together?
Our salons love the aroma of Aveda products. It's funny how a new salon suddenly feels like home once the retail products are delivered!
Be sure to Stalk Van Michael Salon to see some of their stunning hair art and wish them luck at the upcoming awards!
