Alterna Global Creative Director
A Finalist of Editorial Stylist at the NAHA 2007
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With the applause still echoing throughout the auditorium within the enclaves of the Meydenbauer Center, I readied my trusty Canon Rebel XTI for a few post-show photographs. I gathered the models together, and lined them up on the stage that had just served as the platform for the hair artistry of Michael Shaun Corby.
We were soon joined by the hair aficionado himself. He strode confidently across the stage, a look of genuine satisfaction and exultation as he gazed upon the collected work of his labors as they stood, grouped attractively. I strolled along, looking through the viewfinder of my Canon, shooting as I went. Each model had a photo-finish polish worked into their respective style, a message that was really stressed throughout the show by Michael Shaun Corby. After taking a myriad of photographs of the individual models, I gathered the group front-stage with Michael Shaun in the front, in a casual reclining position.
All of us, models, entourage, Michael Shaun and me, entered a large service elevator that would take us upstairs to the staging area. After a short walk down a dimly lit corridor, we opened a door and emerged into a room that had walls lined with make-up mirrors, long countertops and chairs. Michael took a seat right across from me, as all the activity seemed to buzz around the room, models and hair team assistants excitedly recounting the show experience with each other. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored European cut suit in the color of black, a t-shirt, also black, that had an exotic print emblazoned across the front. From my pocket I produced a digital voice recorder, with which I would conduct the interview. I was instantly struck by the charisma of the man. He was congenial and witty, displaying the strong characteristics that make him in high demand as a platform artist. He speaks with a passion and fervor regarding not only his craft, but the state of the hair industry in general- that immediately reconciled me to the belief that Michael Shaun Corby is the real deal; an artist who truly embraces the rich history and legacy of this beautiful profession; who is willing to lead the hair industry into a new era. Make no mistake- this is not all window dressing. Michael Shaun Corby back s up all the rhetoric with knowledge and skills that allows him to be a highly respected ambassador of the beauty industry. He truly speaks from the heart in reference to the earnest way in which he approaches each show.
Michael Shaun Corby is a visionary with skills and passion that have inspired the professional hair care industry for the past eighteen years. He has worked extensively within the entertainment industry, as well as gleaning his skills in such tony Beverly Hills salons as Jose Eber and Umberto's. This sparkling resume has served him well in his efforts as Alterna's Global Creative Director, a position that puts him front and center, sharing his vision and creativity with an international audience. After the pleasure of attending a show featuring this amazing hairstylist on 21 April 2008, at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington, I had the privilege and honor of a one-on-one interview with Michael Shaun Corby; a thought-provoking artist, whose insights continue to evoke emotion from aspiring hairdressers worldwide. Enjoy!
DL: The intent and purpose of your show seems be: To equip your audience with skills and knowledge that can be used in a practical way. A very unique and interesting
approach, tell me about it.
M.S.C.: "I prefer viewing the show industry as a whole. The entire show industry is sort of dying off. So, I think the way to get people back to coming to hair shows, coming
to private events is to give them something that has a value that they can take back with them to the salon."
DL: Inspiration is a prime motivator. What inspires you, as a stylist?
M.S.C.: "I get inspired by other stylists. Like when I see a stylist doing something that I know they are passionate about, I get inspired just by being around them. As far as my collection inspirations; I go to galleries, museums, art openings, fashion shows. And no matter how much of that I do, which does inspire, most of my inspiration comes from my vacations. I take two a year and there's always some mode I go into when I'm completely relaxed and all the distractions are gone, where I can really just focus on what's going to happen this year, what do I see myself doing next, what's good for Alterna, what's good for the new product coming out, and I can really focus on that. My vacations........."
DL: The hair industry, slumping or soaring?
M.S.C.: "The hair industry, slumping or soaring? I say neither!.....changing, and change
is good! I have a firm belief that when things stop changing, and when they crystallize,
they stop growing. And I think growth is important, literally, in the hair industry. If the
hair didn't grow we wouldn't have a business, right? If we didn't grow as individuals, I
believe there would be nothing to keep us in the industry- and certainly, the industry
itself, meaning the manufacturers, and the distribution, all the things involved in the
professional hair care industry, if that didn't change, then it would become stagnant, as well.
Many things are going into one big....some people call it a monopoly, I call it just a natural progression of things. One aspect of where things are going in the hair care industry which, because of that, is kind of like after a forest fire, if you will, not to call all of these acquisitions and buyouts forest fires, although some would. What happens then, is there's all these green seeds, and what I call all these green seeds after the forest fire are little new manufacturers, new stylists, carving their way with smaller distributors and better situations, for them. So, sure, all of you big boys become one big company if you want, but always, there's the pioneering spirit, of the stylists and of the hair care professional will always prevail into something new. We've seen this happen before, everything merged together into one big thing back in the 70's....Everybody thought; that's the end of it! Was it? No! Then we saw a birth of things like Sebastian and Aveda, all these great companies! So, I think change is necessary! So, is it either/or (Slumping or soaring)? No. Changing, yes!"
DL: The next big trend?
M.S.C.: "Yes! The next big trend, I did talk about it a little bit. We're moving away from the tacky bling. We heard about bling, where people put rhinestones on everything, wearing far too much gold and far too much fur.
What we're going to see people moving towards is a speakeasy movement, I call it; where its a little bit bad, but where we're taking that rock n' roll into a glamorous look, not a spray painted with Swarovsky crystals on it- but rather where you are going to see women in a flapper dress with some feathers and boas. You're going to see people dressing the hair again. You're going to see people working into a more of a glamour, sexy, speakeasy look. I can't say enough about it. Speakeasy is where we're getting back to dressing the hair again; putting a photo finish on things. Which is why companies like Alterna coming out with dressable hairsprays, photo finish can hairsprays, things like that. It's all about putting out that perfect finished polish. So, no more grungy-dirty denim, baby doll dresses, too many rhinestones- all that's gone. It's a luxurious bad girl!!"
DL: Which leads me right into the next question: What's next for Alterna?
M.S.C.: "What's next for Alterna? Well, with the huge success of our Caviar Blonde products, which is by far the fastest selling we've ever done, I think you can look for more products like that, perhaps, in our future. I don't know what that might mean, but stay tuned! Also, you're going to see Alterna being more involved in being the King of the luxury hair care market. So, we are the people with the title of making the world's most expensive shampoos and conditioners, look for more of that to continue; always with the focus on luxury performance, not just cost for cost sake. So, we're very excited about our Caviar Blonde, who knows, maybe we'll make more blonde products- you never know! But, we're all very excited about the blonde market."
DL: What's next for Michael Shaun Corby?
M.S.C.: "What's next for Michael Shaun Corby? Well, it's good timing you asked this. Alterna's Central Park East Academy is launching, in just over a week. My next baby working with that is Hollywood production, is what it's called. It's a three day comprehensive course, where we walk people through- not only learning about the professional industry from an editorial and from working with the media, movies, films, video; I become their Boss for three days, and we teach them how to take an assignment, to be a magazine editorial, to be a campaign for a manufacturer, give them an assignment and we see them to follow the assignment through to fruition! Meaning they work with a wardrobe stylist, they work with photographers, they work with make-up artists, they work with a production team, to actually see their product all the way to complete fruition. There's no course like this- so that's what's next for me...is launching that course, just over a week from now!"
DL: That is really interesting! Is that something that is going to offered nationwide?
M.S.C.: "Wordwide! It will be offered wordwide. We have many people who want to come from Russia already- Italy, they're showing a lot of interest. We find a lot of interest all over Scandinavia. Alterna is doing crazy business out there. We're a Global company, with dozens of distributors around the world. So, yeah, worldwide. People will be coming. Everybody wants to maybe try their hands at being the guy behind the scenes of a movie or a runway show. So we're going to help them do that!
DL: There is one last thing I would like to touch on: In regards to the recognition you received at NAHA 2007, where you were a finalist in the editorial stylist category. What was that experience like for you?
M.S.C.: "It was fun- it was very interesting. I've always been honored when I get nominated for any award. That one was a big one because ten years ago I remember sitting there and there was Planet Laboratories and Planet Hair Studios. They're a great salon from Colorado, nominated many times. The taped front row seats said Planet Hair and so I took those front row seats, thinking ten years from now I'll actually earn these seats. So, it was great when I had actually earned those front row seats and I was there and was nominated. One of my life's most embarrassing stories, as well. The actual winner, his name was Michael, so as they called Michael, the cameras are on me...I start to raise up on camera...and guess what- it was a different Michael!!! So, uh, yeah- one of those Ellen DeGeneres moments! So, hope I'll get nominated again sometime in the near future, we'll see."
With the applause still echoing throughout the auditorium within the enclaves of the Meydenbauer Center, I readied my trusty Canon Rebel XTI for a few post-show photographs. I gathered the models together, and lined them up on the stage that had just served as the platform for the hair artistry of Michael Shaun Corby. After this thought-provoking interview of Michael Shaun Corby, my gratitude was offered as a token of my true appreciation of the opportunity. I reflected not just on his words, but rather, the power of his message. We, the entire hair industry, have the opportunity to mold our destiny; from the quality of our product, to how it is delivered. We owe it not only to the clients who spend their hard-earned dollars, but to those who came before us; the legacy is ours to forge. With passionate artists such as Michael Shaun Corby leading the way, the future is bright. Daniel Lassman |
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Upon completing my photography, I began breaking down my camera. Michael Shaun Corby approached me and inquired as to where I would like to do a one-on-one interview with him. I told him that wherever he would be the most comfortable would suit me just fine. He suggested the staging area upstairs, where the models had their makeup applied and were wardrobed. 
Michael views his participation on the show circuit as an individual opportunity to not only showcase his practical approach to beautiful hair artistry; but also to revive an interest in the hair show as a classroom, of sorts. His heartfelt desire that each person in the audience walks away with knowledge and skill they can take back to salon and use immediately.