By Hope Ankney
Michael Canalé is an American hairstylist, colorist, and the creator of Canalé Hair Care Products. Yet, he’s mainly famous for being the most sought-after hair specialist in Hollywood.
Being a part of the entertainment industry for years, his hands have worked magic on the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Kate Hudson. In fact, Canalé is responsible for “The Rachel” look on Aniston that dominated the widely successful, early 2000s sitcom Friends. But, he’s recently decided to branch out and start his own line of hair care products to further help others outside of his grasp. On top of that, he has spoken out about the importance of self-care and how to maintain your color during this time of quarantine.
In our exclusive celebrity interview, we chat Michael on his rise in the industry, advice over safe hair coloring tips, tricks to try at home, and his new hair line Canalé.
How did all of this start for you? Was there a specific moment you remember that caused you to want to become a hair colorist?
I was a biology minor and have always been on the chemical side of the industry. Early in my career, the colorist where I worked did not show up to the salon. The makeup artist asked me if I wanted to learn how to color hair with him. So, he taught me how to identify the right color for each type of complexion. He also showed me 3 techniques that I have expanded over time, making my own numerous techniques while retaining those 3 main concepts.
You’ve worked with very well-known clientele over the years. Jennifer Aniston…. Kate Hudson…. Are there any stories you can tell us about your favorite experiences with some of them?
I am a colorist, and I work by myself. It was amazing to see Jennifer blow-dry her own hair as well as any stylist! Heidi Klum was the only person that ever made me blush just by her looking at me. I am honored to work with a lot of my actresses, trusting me to color their hair during their pregnancies, like Kate Hudson!
You’ve been voted 14 years in a row by Allure Magazine as being the “best of the best” and even received praise from Vogue. You have such a prolific career. What advice do you have for young children or even young stylists who want to get into the field?
Learn from the best, work with the best, and never let them down. Make the master stylist proud. Remember to keep the health of the hair, use what the client naturally has to achieve — what they desire. Work with their natural base color and their hair consistency to enhance their overall look.
With the state of the world right now and everyone being at home due to quarantine, what are some at-home hair coloring tips for our audience?
Between seeing your colorist and seeing them again, do not do anything that will ruin your hair. While quarantined, you can use concealers like spray and powders that cover grey. This lasts until you wash it out. Another option is demi or semi-permanent. Demi will last up to 2 weeks while semi can last up to 6 weeks when using the right hair products. Both will keep your hair color intact while waiting to see your hairdresser again. If you choose to dye your hair, remember hairlines grab darker, so try to stay lighter around the hairline. You will have to purchase 2 different boxes of color. For example, if you are doing your base medium brown use light brown around your hairline. Also for brunettes, try a color bath with the remainder of the hair color! Use a base color, you can add water and shampoo to the remaining color in the bottle and lather it into the ends of the hair to refresh it for the last 5 minutes of the process.
From your perspective, what are the hair color trends at the moment?
Roots are in! Try to preserve or prolong your hair color. I recommend using a color and shine-boosting gloss. All of my New SIGNATURE GLOSSES, can really refresh and enhance color for both highlights and base colors. The SUNKISSED GOLD for warmer skin tones and COOL BLUE for cooler skin tones will brighten up your blonde while MIDNIGHT BLUE cools down any brassy tones on blondes or brunettes. They last up to 2 weeks, the results are amazing! I am currently providing samples to my clients in my Canalé At Home Personalized Color Kits. The glosses will be made available in June for the Summer and can currently be pre-ordered on my website www.colorbycanale.com.
Self-care in any way can be something that makes someone feel great about how they look or feel inside. How important do you feel it is to practice self-care on your hair while being isolated during this pandemic?
Take care of yourself and your hair! Get up in the morning, take a shower, wash, and style your hair. Use boar bristles, not metal for your brushes, and avoid hot tools. Add oils to your conditioner. My new REPAIRING Hair Oil restores natural luster, hydrates, and deeply conditions dry, damaged, and color-treated hair. Just add 3-5 drops of oil to a tablespoon of Canalé SOFTEN or SOFTEN PLUS Conditioner for a deep conditioning treatment. I am also providing these samples to my clients in my Canalé At Home Personalized Color Kits. They will be made available in June and can currently be pre-ordered on my website www.colorbycanale.com.
Can you tell us a little bit more about your product line, Canalé?
People would come to me and ask, “How can I keep my hair looking fresh until I see you again?” So, I created a product line that is proven to maintain and restore the integrity of treated hair from the inside out and the outside in! Canalé CLEANSE Shampoo for all types of hair is the mildest shampoo that fully cleans the hair without fading color. SOFTEN Conditioner for finer hair, rebuilds the hair shaft and brings back the luster of the hair. SOFTEN PLUS Conditioner, rebuilds the hair shaft plus adds moisture, perfect for thick, unmanageable hair. Canalé hair products have two supplements, one topical and one ingestible. NOURISH topical vitamin foam is applied to the root of the hair and feeds the hair follicle with key nutrients. It is applied after Cleanse shampoo and expands the hair shaft adding volume. It is the most technologically advanced product in the line. The ingestible vitamin REPLENISH feeds the hair, skin, and nails all-natural, vegan, superfood, blue-green algae , and other key nutrients that help stimulate the hair with a patent on cellular absorption by Targeted Medical Pharma. Healthy, shiny hair that is what everyone wants!
How did the idea come about to create the products for Canalé? Was there a specific amount of time you waited before pursuing it?
In the past, I represented brands like Kerastase and Shu Uemura. Although I loved these products, I still felt something was missing. I made it my personal goal to develop the most holistic healthy hair care system. I partnered with Dr. David Silver and worked together to scientifically formulate a product line focusing on getting and keeping hair healthy while maintaining and extending hair color, improving the fullness of hair, and bringing out the natural shine.
What do you think is the greatest opportunity you’ve had while having the platform you do as such a renowned hair colorist?
I truly enjoy making people happy. Creating the trend, while working to bring out my client’s personal best. The right color is an accessory, use it to your advantage. People can always tell my work, enhancing a person’s natural complexion and eye color, this trend never goes out of style. I have appreciated the opportunity to share my work over the years with multiple generations of the most powerful woman, true icons, and inspirations.
The hairstyles we have can be so empowering. The way one plays with theirs can be such a creative outlet. Why do you think that is?
Hair is personal. It is an expression and extension of ourselves and our personality. It is who we are and who we inspire to be. With the latest hair color trends, individuals are empowered and encouraged to take risks. Using temporary dye or hair makeup is so fun!
Voted “Best-of-the-Best” by Allure Magazine 14 years in a row and touted by Vogue as “not only really good, he’s really fast,” Canalé personally travels between locations in Rancho Santa Fe, San Francisco, Dallas, New York, Washington DC and Beverly Hills, making sure that each of his clients gets the hands-on attention they need to look and feel their very best. With over 30 years’ experience, Michael Canalé is a rare talent and truly among the best in the industry; his work has been published in Allure, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Women’s Health, Elle, Marie Claire, Redbook, Glamour, and New Beauty, to name a few.
