I have been a hairdresser since 1997 and I don’t look at it as my job, it’s my life. If you were to ask any of my clients, they will tell you I live and breathe it.
I am a Northern girl and did my hairdressing training in my hometown of Hartlepool with SAKS Hair and Beauty. After relocating to Birmingham in 2004, I started working for Umberto Giannini in the iconic Selfridges building. This opened so many doors for me, from becoming part of their art team, working on photo shoots, writing hair advice columns for a National Magazine and working backstage on the models at The Clothes Show Live, I have had many exciting opportunities.
In 2008, I opened my own salon in Birmingham's exclusive Mailbox District with two business partners which gave me experience of managing stock, staff and the opportunity to work with a wide range of products. In 2019, we decided to close the doors on the salon just after our 11 year anniversary and I then set up my own business - Michelle Usher Hair. Working for myself in a beautiful, independent salon in Birmingham's busy Business District has enabled me to focus purely on my hairdressing and my clients. It has also given me more time to focus on my passion which is Hair Products. Again, speak with anyone who knows me and they will tell you how excited I get when introducing them to a new product, to the buzz I get when my clients give me their feedback after recommending a product and hearing how it has made their hair routine easier, and their hair feel amazing!
Moving to Birmingham was a game changer for my career as working in a city salon widened my skill set no end. I was working with hair types I just wouldn’t have had the opportunity to in my hometown and so I needed to learn new skills and new knowledge so that I could do my job the best that I could. Birmingham is vibrant and multicultural so I had to retrain and learn about so many new hair types.
Along the years I have trained to be a Kérastase consultant, worked with Loreal, Tigi, Umberto Giannini products, Sexy Hair, Morccanoil and Olaplex. I am constantly doing as many training courses as I can to better myself and pass on my knowledge to my clients.
I am so excited to be opening Michelle Usher Hair Shop! This is giving me a platform to sell my favourite products and what I think are some of the best products available. My goal is to make hair care an easy and enjoyable experience at home for everyone. Regular visits to the salon are an investment, but if hair care at home is not up to scratch, then this work can be easily undone.
My first line of products have been hand-picked by me, and please believe me when I say that anything I sell on Michelle Usher Hair Shop is products that I believe in and use myself. I won’t sell anything I in in my shop.
