About

Michel Mercier discovered his attraction to hair styling when he was a young man. When he had completed his studies in hair design at Vidal Sasson's Academy in 1981, he began working with hair designer Claude Maxime Mondial in Paris. Later on, Michel joined the department of artistic design at Vidal Sasson's Academy in London, later returning to Paris to work with hair designer Jean Louis David.

Michel Mercier began his own independent path when he opened a hair salon bearing his name on Dizengoff St. in Tel Aviv. Many clients passed under his scissors, and along with styling their hair, while ensuring flattering lines to suit the appearance and special character of each client, he also gave them attentive, personal treatment. "I believe in the art of listening. That's the key to success", Michel Mercier is quoted in a remark that reflects his world of values, and which is expressed in his work and that of his managers and staff in the chain of hair salons bearing his name.

The success of Michel Mercier's first hair salon in Tel Aviv led to the opening of additional salons across the country and rendered the brand a household name. Over the years, salons were opened in Tel Aviv, Herzeliya, Ramat Hasharon, Ashdod and Ra'anana. Today the Ra'anana and Tel-Aviv salons operate under the name of Michel Mercier, with the Tel Aviv salon being the flagship salon in the chain. All of the salons in the Michel Mercier chain specialize in hair and complete look solutions, and have been defined as one of the prominent players in the market of hair products and services, thanks to technological and marketing innovation and leadership.

The College of Hair Design was established by Michel Mercier with the objective of training a new generation of hair stylists in Israel according to the highest international standards in the field. The college was characterized by its unique design and pleasant, modern learning environment, while ensuring the use of advanced equipment and innovative technologies. Along with the college students' professional training and creative development, other professional tools were also provided, with the understanding of the need for stylists who comprehend the importance of attractive appearance along with a high level of service awareness. In 2009, Erez Ivan, a hair stylist with 20 years of experience in the field, was appointed as facilities manager. With the school's operation, Michel Mercier has been active in promoting formal legislation by the Council for Higher Education; however, as the legislation has not yet been approved, the school has had to stop its operation.

The Alternative Hair Show is an event bringing together all the key figures in hair styling, who come to observe the best stylists from across the globe in the presentation of their vision, creativity and innovation. At the event taking place in 1998 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Michel Mercier presented his collection "Cyborg Woman", where models came down the runway with their hair completely shaved, wearing wigs that were so natural looking that one couldn't distinguish them as being wigs. During the show, the models switched wigs for a particularly dramatic impact, both visually and due to the innovative concept.

Michel Mercier's extensive professional experience over the years of his activities as a hair stylist has been mobilized by leading global companies in hair care. Michel Mercier has served as a professional consultant in the testing and direction processes of hair care product development at international companies including Walla, Procter & Gamble, L'Oreal, etc. In 2005, he was selected by international company L'Oreal to be a leading presenter in public relation activities for the brand L'Oreal Professional with hair stylists across the globe.

At the beginning of this century, Michel Mercier came up with an original, groundbreaking idea: a system radiating light on the hair in nanometers: the light absorption and reflection provides data on the condition of the hair, its quality and color. Determining the original condition of the hair and the pigmental structure within it, whether natural or colored, enables one to obtain accurate data on how to attain the desired hair color. In 2002, following this innovative idea, Michel Mercier established the startup company See Through (today known as Coloright) and recruited technological experts who converted his vision into reality. The system was registered as a patent under Michel Mercier's name, and in 2014, the company was acquired by L'Oreal. The system conceived by Michel Mercier, which changes the professional perception by observing the health of the hair and the world of hair color, is a true revolution in the world of hair styling.

The first series of products was launched under the brand name Michel Mercier and included over 20 different products, all the fruits of extensive labor by Michel in research and development in hair care, while working as a hair stylist who listened to his clients and understood their needs. The innovative differentiation between this series of products and other products in the market at that time lay simply in their not being greasy. The products in the series are rich in moisture but devoid of oiliness, providing a response to the problems of "dirty" hair caused by use of oily hair care products that absorb dust and dirt. For ideological reasons, Michel Mercier's hair care products are not tested on animals.

The innovative product, Dry Clean, a shampoo without washing, is intended to provide a solution for women who regularly dry and straighten their hair, but who do not want to wash their hair every day. A simple spray of the shampoo triggers the activity of cleaning and disinfecting the hair. The shampoo has a fresh fragrance that neutralizes unpleasant odors absorbed by the hair, such as cigarette smoke and frying and cooking smells. The development of this product constituted a precedent in hair care products in Israel, and was inspired by Michel Mercier's beliefs, which grant major significance to the adapting of hair care products to the lifestyle of the Israeli consumer. For ideological reasons, Michel Mercier's hair care products are not tested on animals.

Michel Mercier's values are also expressed in a continuing dialogue with the fashion world. In the hair collection for the summer of 2008, the Michel Mercier chain presented haute couture fashion for the hair in a presentation of dramatic, creative and daring hairstyles. The collection, under the artistic direction of Yossi Moyal, was characterized by the complex play in design: clear and defined cutting lines that are also free of conventions, accompanied by rich, classic colors of golden blond, metallic brown, chocolate brown, strawberry red, cherry red, and intense carrot red. Photographs of the colorful collection express the innovative concept created from the use of leading characteristics of elite fashion: non-commercial, impractical, wonderfully imaginative and creative, always above everything else – unapproachable, unattainable and always breathtaking.

The series of argan oil-enriched products developed by Michel Mercier constituted real news for Israeli consumers, who were offered a unique response providing nutrients and care for hair as a protection from summer hazards. The products were developed according to a unique formula preventing dust and dirt from sticking to hair, and thus neutralizing the familiar sense of greasiness. For ideological reasons, Michel Mercier's hair care products are not tested on animals.

Michel Mercier's passion for using products to improve the love-hate relationships of women with their hair led to the launching of a successful series of products that included a range of products for four different types of hair: For regular to dry hair – enriched with grape seed extract. For dry and damaged hair – enriched with argan oil. For thin and colored hair – enriched with buckthorn plant extract. For thick, colored hair – enriched with jojoba extract. In addition, supplementary products from the grape seed series were also launched, including silicon spray and curl definers. The products, which acted to create a perfect look focusing on a solution for common problems daily encountered by many women, became a rousing success among Israeli women. For ideological reasons, Michel Mercier's hair care products are not tested on animals.

MAX is an advanced, innovative cosmetic product that comes in a powder that is distributed on thinning areas of hair; it sticks to the scalp to create a fuller hair look. MAX is a system of microscopic "hair fibers" that integrate naturally with the hair on one's head. The fibers are composed of organic material identical to human head hair (keratin and protein). The hair fibers, charged with static electricity, blend perfectly and strongly with the existing hair and will therefore withstand various weather conditions (wind, rain, etc.), during the day and night. MAX does not soil clothing and one can go to sleep after using it without fear that the fibers will remain on the pillow. MAX stays safely in place and grants a look of full and natural hair until the next time the hair is washed. This is a cosmetic solution for those suffering from thinning hair or hair loss with a tendency for baldness, with the attainment of a look of full and healthy hair within seconds. For ideological reasons, Michel Mercier's hair care products are not tested on animals.

Three years of in-depth research and comprehensive tests in collaboration with an expert team of international chemists preceded the launch of Michel Mercier's series of professional products – Nano System. The principal concept that guided Michel Mercier in his development of the series was that there is no need for a multitude of products to attain hair that looks healthy and cared for. The product series is directed towards granting the home consumer a look of healthy, shiny hair; the series is divided into 3 sub-series, each directed to a different type of hair: Repair – for rehabilitation of the hair follicle, for dyed and damaged hair. Intense Care - for intensive treatment, to nurture and rehabilitate hair that has undergone a chemical process, such as straightening or opening of curls. For Curly Hair – to treat and style curly and frizzy hair, adding moisture and shine to the hair. For ideological reasons, Michel Mercier's hair care products are not tested on animals.

It's hard to believe, but the idea of inventing a hairbrush that would ease the pain of brushing popped into Michel Mercier's head while he was combing his 12-year-old daughter's hair. Like many girls, Michel's daughter hated to brush her hair, and the request became a constant focal point for arguments and anger. As a father and one who has dedicated his life to improving the relationship between women and their hair, Michel decided to do something to make the experience for children having their hair brushed, and for parents, an enjoyable, painless one. Michel Mercier's detangling hairbrush has been planned and designed to suit the scalp structure and density of different types of hair. The detangling hairbrush has an ergonomic structure and anti-static capabilities, for women who know how to appreciate the quality and health of their hair. Due to its unique geometric structure, which combines 428 brushing bristles at 32 varying heights and 16 thicknesses at various locations, the pressure induced on the hair is distributed throughout the brushing and the result is detangling without pain or pulling out of hair, and a much more pleasant brushing experience. Michel Mercier's detangling hairbrush is offered in three colors and is suited to the brushing of hair at three different levels of difficulty – thin, regular and thick. The detangling hairbrush and the technology as a whole were registered as an international patent and have become a stunning global success, now being marketed in 42 countries across the world. Michel Mercier's detangling hairbrush has won many international prices, including the Victoires de la Beaut? competition in 2012.

Michel Mercier set himself the objective of promoting the status of hair designers in Israel and bringing regulation into the field – an objective that led him to establish the Union of Hair Designers in Israel – a non-profit organization in which he serves as chairman. The organization leads professional and social processes in the field of hair design in Israel. First and foremost, the organization strives to professionalize and regulate the field, similar to the accepted standards in the field in most countries in the western world. The structure of the Union's proposal includes granting a certificate from the State subject to proof of professional status and a requirement of two years of experience in work at a hair salon as a condition for approval for opening an independent hair salon. One of the union's battles concerned the rate of property tax set by the Tel Aviv municipality for hairdressers. According to the municipality's definition, hair salons are considered to be commercial buildings and not industrial spaces and workshops, and therefore are required to pay a particularly high property tax. Michel Mercier began his battle in a private claim in 2009 that reached the Supreme Court. The decision came down that hair salons are not commercial buildings and the municipality was obligated to refund the differences in payment to hair designers. Nevertheless, the struggle has not yet been completed and Michel continues to lead under the framework of his position as association chairman. Another battle led by Michel Mercier involved the supervision over use by hair designers of hazardous and prohibited materials. In light of the fact that in Israel, the law doesn't require hair designers to undergo training, and as there is no supervision by the Ministry of Health over the field of hair styling, most hair salons use hazardous materials, such as formaldehyde, which is used to straighten hair and is known with certainty to be carcinogenic. In November, 2014, Michel Mercier met for discussion on the matter with the Public Petitions Committee headed by Knesset member Adi Koll. In the committee's summary, Knesset Member Koll stated that she would apply to the Ministry of Health with a request to consolidate a list of hazardous materials used in hair salons, and to the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Economy to request supervision over the field of hair design.

Michel Mercier, Erez Ivan – manager of the Tel-Aviv branch; Yossi and Avi Moyal – managers of the Ra'anana branch, and a team of hair designers from the Michel Mercier chain of hair salons were responsible for the hair styling of contestants in the Israeli Supermodel Competition. The hair designers adapted a unique hairstyle for each contestant for an urban disheveled look. Hair color was also augmented with natural shades and portions of longer hair in the spirit of the times.

The detangling hairbrush conceived and developed by Michel Mercier won first prize in the hairbrush category of the Victoires de la Beaute Competition in France. This competition is one of the most important events for consumer products in the field of beauty care in France, summing up a process that usually takes a number of months, during which a great number of products in the field of consumer beauty care are tested and evaluated and only the best in each category are awarded the coveted prize. The product's testing process includes the submission of 70 different experimenters over several months, who constitute a representational sample of the French market. At the end of the testing period, grades ranging from 0 to 20 are awarded, where 15 constitutes a passing grade. Few products attain a much higher grade than this. Mercier's green hairbrush, adapted for regular hair, was submitted for evaluation and after only two weeks it obtained a grade of 18. Evaluations referred to its good grip, swift results and feeling of scalp massage. The detangling hairbrush attained immediate global recognition and success for its proven efficiency and its innovation, and has won the hearts and loyalty of many consumers in 42 countries across the world.

The innovative product conceived and developed by Michel Mercier generated a real revolution in the field of hair coloring. The product provides a solution to the problem arising with women who color their hair to cover up the grey: exposure of the grey roots within a week to ten days after coloring. S.O.S. Color is a spray product equipped with a built-in scalp protector, enabling an easy, accurate spray of color on the roots of the hair without soiling the scalp. Thus, in only a few seconds, the grey roots disappear and the hair attains its shine and vibrancy again. The series includes seven families of color, suited to about 40 shades of hair, beginning from black, through to copper, to dark brown, fiery brown, blond, light brown and red. The spray enables multiple self applications and is suitable as a supplement to users of every hair color by any manufacturer. The color in the product is based on a compound that doesn't contain peroxide, ammonia or MEA (monoethanolamine), making it environmentally friendly, healthy, and safe for the hair and scalp. S.O.S. Color has been registered as a patent, and was presented at the Cosmoprof Exhibition in Bologna, which is the most prestigious competition in Europe in the field of cosmetics, toiletries, medical treatments and packaging. In 2014 the product was awarded the IF Product Design Award.

Within the framework of his position as chairman of the Union of Hair Stylists in Israel, Michel Mercier met for discussion with the Public Petitions Committee headed by Knesset member Adi Koll. The discussion addressed supervision on the use of prohibited and hazardous materials by hair stylists. In light of the fact that in Israel, the law doesn't require hair designers to undergo training, and as there is no supervision by the Ministry of Health over the field of hair styling, most hair salons use hazardous materials, such as formaline, which is used to straighten hair and is known with certainty to be carcinogenic. In the committee's summary, Knesset Member Koll stated that she would apply to the Ministry of Health with a request to consolidate a list of hazardous materials used in hair salons, and to the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Economy to request supervision over the field of hair design.

The Michel Mercier chain of hair salons doesn't stop for a moment. A team of employees at the chain's salons is energetically working to suit each client with the appropriate treatment for her, and the results speak for themselves. The haircuts, the shades of color and the smiles light up Michel Mercier's popular Instagram page, starring the happiest clients who visit the salons in Tel Aviv and Ra'anana. The great demand from consumers in Israel and across the world for new hair products from the House of Michel Mercier will also be satisfied in 2015, when the unique, innovative new product series that Michel Mercier has been working on for the last three years will be launched.