Tom Branna, Editorial Director08.09.20
Michelle Cleveland is a celebrity hairstylist and owner of Hair Addict Salon. She has worked on numerous celebrities, such as Christina Milian, as well as reality stars from Jersey Shore, Real Housewives of Jersey Shore, and Mob Wives. She recently discussed the state of the professional hair care industry, what to expect for Holiday 2020 and what she'd like to see from hair care manufacturers and their suppliers.
How would you describe 2020 and what it has done to the hair care industry? Consumers couldn't get their hair cut for months and it really devastated the professional hair care industry. How is the recovery going?
The salon industry took a huge blow once the Coronavirus pandemic forced us to close. Both stylists and their clients were devastated to learn that hair care was not considered an "essential" business and deemed unsafe to practice even though we cannot earn a license without months of education on cross contamination prevention, sanitation and disinfection.
In the earliest phases of quarantine, salons did their part and closed their doors to help "flatten the curve" however as weeks turned into months, our industry felt abandoned in that our states' licensing boards did not step up to validate our licensing requirements and speak up for the industry as a whole.
Hair stylists have been preventing the spread of sickness and disease for centuries and one of the longest and hardest parts of the tests we take to obtain a license is the theory of disease and how to prevent cross contamination within the confines of a salon.
What impact did the pandemic have on hairstyles? The simpler the better?
Simply put, unless you had long pin straight hair or a long-layered haircut, you lost your hairstyle over quarantine. Short hairstyles such as pixie cuts, and most, if not all, men’s short haircuts would have started to lose their style by week 6 of salon/barber shop closures. They definitely were gone by the time we reopened, which was on average about three months in most states.
What is in store for Holiday 2020? Do you think consumers will want to forget the past and try some glamorous hair styles for the end-of-year celebrations?
Typically, I'm able to predict where styles are going based upon several different global events such as fashion week, awards shows, and pop culture. But 2020 has seen most of these events cancelled, so it's really difficult to say what the holiday season will bring; however, if I had to guess I would think most consumers will want to put the past year behind them and most likely their hairstyles as well. We all need a fresh start for 2021 so I'm going to say it will start with going hard on the glam for the holidays...that is if New Year’s Eve isn't cancelled too!!!
How will they accomplish those looks; i.e., what products will be in demand by November/December?
Considering the uncertainty of our world, I'm going to say that the DIY glam will be very popular this holiday season. Most consumers will want to be sure that even if their salon is closed, they can give themselves a polished look for an intimate get together with friends. This will call for an increase of hot rollers, flat irons and curling wands, all of which are staple appliances when creating the perfect glam look.
Are there ingredients/products that you can't do without? If so, what are they and why?
I always say if I were stuck on an island and could only have two hair products it would be leave-in conditioner and dry shampoo. One adds moisture (leave-in conditioner) to the midshaft and ends to give it a "drink" when dehydrated, and the other (dry shampoo) absorbs the excess oils that can puddle up on the scalp in between washes. They are the dynamic duo in my book!
What would you like to see from hair care companies? What can they do to make products better? Similarly, what ingredients work and what don't and what should raw material suppliers keep in mind when developing new ingredients?
I would love to see full transparency from hair care companies when it comes to the ingredients list. A lot of products make your hair smell and feel great but aren't focused on the long-term health of your hair. I would suggest using more natural ingredients and less sulfates and synthetic chemicals when possible. For example: peppermint is a natural cleanser and can replace higher volumes of alcohol which can be found in clarifying shampoos. Similarly, coconut and jojoba oils are naturally hydrating to the hair and provide the same level of shine as ingredients such as dimethicone.
How would you describe 2020 and what it has done to the hair care industry? Consumers couldn't get their hair cut for months and it really devastated the professional hair care industry. How is the recovery going?
The salon industry took a huge blow once the Coronavirus pandemic forced us to close. Both stylists and their clients were devastated to learn that hair care was not considered an "essential" business and deemed unsafe to practice even though we cannot earn a license without months of education on cross contamination prevention, sanitation and disinfection.
In the earliest phases of quarantine, salons did their part and closed their doors to help "flatten the curve" however as weeks turned into months, our industry felt abandoned in that our states' licensing boards did not step up to validate our licensing requirements and speak up for the industry as a whole.
Hair stylists have been preventing the spread of sickness and disease for centuries and one of the longest and hardest parts of the tests we take to obtain a license is the theory of disease and how to prevent cross contamination within the confines of a salon.
What impact did the pandemic have on hairstyles? The simpler the better?
Simply put, unless you had long pin straight hair or a long-layered haircut, you lost your hairstyle over quarantine. Short hairstyles such as pixie cuts, and most, if not all, men’s short haircuts would have started to lose their style by week 6 of salon/barber shop closures. They definitely were gone by the time we reopened, which was on average about three months in most states.
What is in store for Holiday 2020? Do you think consumers will want to forget the past and try some glamorous hair styles for the end-of-year celebrations?
Typically, I'm able to predict where styles are going based upon several different global events such as fashion week, awards shows, and pop culture. But 2020 has seen most of these events cancelled, so it's really difficult to say what the holiday season will bring; however, if I had to guess I would think most consumers will want to put the past year behind them and most likely their hairstyles as well. We all need a fresh start for 2021 so I'm going to say it will start with going hard on the glam for the holidays...that is if New Year’s Eve isn't cancelled too!!!
How will they accomplish those looks; i.e., what products will be in demand by November/December?
Considering the uncertainty of our world, I'm going to say that the DIY glam will be very popular this holiday season. Most consumers will want to be sure that even if their salon is closed, they can give themselves a polished look for an intimate get together with friends. This will call for an increase of hot rollers, flat irons and curling wands, all of which are staple appliances when creating the perfect glam look.
Are there ingredients/products that you can't do without? If so, what are they and why?
I always say if I were stuck on an island and could only have two hair products it would be leave-in conditioner and dry shampoo. One adds moisture (leave-in conditioner) to the midshaft and ends to give it a "drink" when dehydrated, and the other (dry shampoo) absorbs the excess oils that can puddle up on the scalp in between washes. They are the dynamic duo in my book!
What would you like to see from hair care companies? What can they do to make products better? Similarly, what ingredients work and what don't and what should raw material suppliers keep in mind when developing new ingredients?
I would love to see full transparency from hair care companies when it comes to the ingredients list. A lot of products make your hair smell and feel great but aren't focused on the long-term health of your hair. I would suggest using more natural ingredients and less sulfates and synthetic chemicals when possible. For example: peppermint is a natural cleanser and can replace higher volumes of alcohol which can be found in clarifying shampoos. Similarly, coconut and jojoba oils are naturally hydrating to the hair and provide the same level of shine as ingredients such as dimethicone.
