Artistic Director of Farouk Int.

by Woody Michleb

As Artistic Director of Farouk Int., Wadih (Woody) Michleb is responsible for introducing new collections, techniques and photo shoots to the company, on the artistic side, and training all the educators on the artistic team to go teach in the field, as well as being a platform artist also.

When did you decide you wanted a career in beauty?

I only became a hairdresser because I wanted to hang out with my friends (who were hair. dressers) at the salons. At the time men weren't allowed in the salon unless they were stylists, so
one day I pretended to be a hairdresser so I could stay in the salon and hang out with my friends. They were crazy busy and before I knew it the owner had found me a chair and a mirror
and told me to go “do the client”. I did five clients that night! I left my job selling cars and started to work for him, and then 8 months later I opened up my first salon, I was only just 16 years old.

What did you wish someone had told you when you first entered the field?

When I first started hairdressing no one told me what long hours I would have to work, and at first, what a strain it is on your body. I started my career in Lebanon, where everyone has long
coarse hair, and at the end of a day my arms hurt; I started noticing muscles I never knew I had!

What do you consider your greatest strength?

I think my greatest strength is the basis for my whole career! Over the years, my hands and I have learned to manipulate hair to do anything we want! This is definitely the most important
skill I have. I've also developed into a strong educator and platform artist, and I enjoy teaching very much.

You have been involved in judging many industry.related events. What is the most difficult aspect of being a judge?

The most difficult aspect in judging competitions is when there is not a lot of good work on the floor to judge, or there is too much good work on the floor to judge. I have a good eye for what is clean, balanced and in category, but because judging is anonymous it is easier to choose a winner and a loser.

How would you judge yourself?

When we judge competitions, we look at five categories: Workmanship, Suitability, Originality, Use of Color, and the Presence of the Model. When I work on stage, on a photo shoot, or behind
the chair, I apply the same criteria to my work. This gives me the knowledge to excel in my own work, and to strive to do better.

What do you feel makes a salon successful?

Teamwork is the most important. We all work to make money, but if you move your focus to making sure all clients are satisfied and looked after, more money will come. We always work as
a close team in my salons. It makes the work place a better one, and makes clients happy. When you have a great team, it means you have great energy in the salon, and clients feel the energy
whether it's good or bad and this is what attracts them.

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