“It was a dream to stand on the stage where they hold the Oscars and perform in front of five thousand people.”
Michael Polsinelli
What country are you from and where do you live?
I was born in the amazing city of Toronto, Canada. I was transferred to Los Angeles in 2000 to work for Sebastian Professional and currently reside in Thousand Oaks, CA.
Title of what you do and the company you work with?
I am a Global Artist for Davines which originates from Parma, Italy. I also have my education company called Fusion Methodology which is a system that explores hair cutting, hair design and avant-garde.
Education background (Hair school, art school, no school)?
I attended Humber College in Toronto for two years completing the apprentice program to become a hairdresser.
What is your signature style/artistic expression?
I am an eclectic hairdresser that is somewhat unconventional with the approach of how I work with hair. I believe that you should be able to do a little or a lot of everything technically. I’ve been also recognized for my Avante Garde/Creative pieces.
What was your career turning point/your big break?
My career turning point happened when I met Robert Lobetta. He took me under his wing and gave me a chance to prove myself and grow into the creative artist I’ve become. He trained my eye to recognize that less is more and that there is beauty in the art of being perfectly imperfect! We worked together for the better part of a decade and created countless amounts of collections and imagery.
What was your scariest and proudest moment in your career?
One of the scariest moments was when we were working with snakes on a photoshoot and the snake wasn’t having it and became well lets just say…very irritated. Another scary moment was when I was on stage and my model passed out and fell out of my chair. She forgot to mention a small detail, that she had narcolepsy. It is pretty funny looking back but not at the time.
One of my proudest moments was creating thirty eight looks for one of the most creative and theatrical hair shows ever for Robert Lobetta at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It was a dream to stand on the stage where they hold the Oscars and perform in front of five thousand people.
What is next for your career goals?
To keep learning and pushing my creative limits for sure. I want to keep giving back to the industry any way I can because it has given me so much. I would like to keep expanding my education globally and touch as many great artists as possible. One day I would love to have a professional exhibit and showcase all my avant-garde pieces that I’ve created over the years and donate the proceeds to charity.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in your business?
I would say to stay the course because it’s a long road to becoming a good hairdresser and truly understanding the craft. Having said that, passion and commitment will get you to where you want to be. Be hungry to learn and take as many hands on classes as you can that is financially possible. Online learning is good but there is nothing better than one on one education. Find a salon that invests in education and that is constantly evolving and growing. Surround yourself with artists who are skilled and learn from them. They will mentor you into becoming the artist you dream to be.
Instagram: @mpmichaelpolsinelli
