If you know Michael O'Rourke or have caught his crowd-attracting presentations at shows around the country, you know that he is nothing if not passionate about the salon industry. Having left Sexy Hair (the company he founded) at the end of 2009, he is already knee-deep in another venture-Love Your Hair, a new professional product and appliance company. I talked to Michael yesterday, anxious to hear what this styling icon, educator and entrepreneur is up to.

"Why on earth do we need another new product line?" Michael asked that question himself, possibly anticipating that others may be wondering the same thing. As it turns out, there are very good reasons.

The need for innovation is one. "Why do people keep spending money on the same thing?" he wonders. "Do we need a new tool?" Yes, if it is innovative and allows stylists to exercise their creativity.
Love Your Hair's first product, the Tower of Power, is a totally new twist on hot rollers-- a venerable styling tool, but one that Michael points out has not really changed in decades.  The Tower of Power has cone-shaped rollers and a patented vertical heating unit with three temperature settings for fine medium or coarse hair. The Tower of Power was two and a half years in the making and will hit salons February 1 in selected markets. Get ready for a whole new way to make waves. Michael promises that you will be able to achieve styles that were impossible with the old hot rollers.

"We need new products to create a difference and remind us that we are all about creativity and art. People are insecure today and are afraid to take chances, afraid of loosing their jobs or afraid that something won't work. We can outsource many things, but what America is best at is creativity. Newness and fun never dies," he says.

Love Your Hair will roll out styling products, the first installment in its liquid line, at America's Beauty Show in Chicago at the end of March, and look for innovation here, too.  

"The finishing spray has a rotating nozzle that can deliver three different holding strengths-light, medium or firm hold", explains Michael.
He describes the conditioner as a leave-in product but, unlike many leave-ins, which tend to be heavy and weigh hair down, Love Your Hair Conditioner (another triple-use product) also adds hold and volume-almost a contradiction in terms for this product category.  

Love Your Hair shampoo will come out in July at Cosmoprof North America in Las Vegas.  Styling products were intended to debut first, Michael says because they are the most connected to creativity and the art of hairstyling that is so important to him.

Michael likes to take his products to the streets himself working tirelessly at shows and events. Presenting technique and product knowledge is important, but he is more intent on reaching stylists and inspiring them to success.
"I tell them that an artist can survive or starve according to the amount of study, work and dedication they devote to their profession. "

"I'll be everywhere," he says as he prepares to meet with stylists and distributors at shows across the country. But, he will not be alone. He has again teamed up with his former marketing expert Donna Federici to help him build the brand and is preparing to train "an army" of artists at his gorgeous educational academy and retreat, the Institute of Courage in Topanga, California.


"I don't need the money," he says  "I want to be remembered for a product line that will be dedicated to bringing back the love and caring that we need to have in this world.  Love Your Hair is the new symbol of what really drives our industry: the love of beauty and the love of the people who are responsible for making this happen every hour of every day-stylists and salon owners. All of our offerings will mirror he spirit of this love by creating new education and styling possibilities that enhance the work being done in the salon, the salon culture and the owner's bottom line."

Look for Love Your Hair products during this upcoming show season. They won't be hard to find-Michael's messages always attract a crowd.

Michael O'Rourke is launching a new professional  product and appliance line called Love Your Hair

Love Your Hair products is launching with the Tower of Power, an innovative take on hot rollers.