Michelle Forst’s ­first salon job as an assistant turned into a life-changing opportunity. There she met her current employer, celebrity hairdresser George Gonzalez, who was impressed with her cutting and styling skills and hired her for the opening of his George the Salon in Chicago. The best part? She got to split her time between the salon and Oprah Winfrey’s HARPO Productions where she is now Rosie O’Donnell’s stylist for The Rosie Show. 

Personal Style: Michelle Forst

ABOUT ME

BORN AND RAISED: Elmhurst, Illinois

MY STYLE NOW: Anything black.

MY FAVORITE TREND EVER: The high ballerina bun.

THE BEST SONGS ON MY IPOD: The new Rihanna song, Cheers.

MY BEST VACATION: St. John’s, it was amazing to share a beautiful place with family—and fun to be an “adult” having pina coladas with my parents. OMG wish I was there now!

MY PERFECT DAY: A good night’s rest, a hot, hot cup of coffee, 90210, a long run and workout, and a beach.

THE BEST THING ABOUT MY JOB: The clients I get to see every day. They have watched me and grown with me, and have taught me so much.

THE TOUGHEST PART OF MY JOB: My feet tingling at the end of each day—but it feels good knowing I have worked hard!

IF I HADN’T BECOME A HAIRDRESSER: I would have been a doctor or in some sort of medical sales—maybe a nurse because you still get one-on-one interaction.

MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN: I am a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

I BECAME A HAIRDRESSER: Because nothing else made sense. I just love hair.

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