When icons of the professional beauty industry are mentioned, certain names automatically come to mind: Vidal Sassoon, Paul Mitchell…Michael O’Rourke. As a truly inspiring visionary, he takes his place among the industry’s elite. As the driving force behind the Carlton Hair Salon chain, O’Rourke has a clear understanding of the salon business. He is a man able to observe the world at large and translate it into a pure artistic vision.An entrepreneur, O’Rourke founded Ecoly® International in 1992, evolving the company into Sexy Hair Concepts®. As a result, he continues to be the inspiration behind some of the most trendsetting and unique products in the industry today.
Michael O’Rourke’s systems, techniques and creativity have graced the covers of numerous industry magazines and continue to be the subject of feature stories in a variety of beauty trades including, AmericanSalon, Modern Salon, Salon Plus and Canadian Hairdresser. As one of the industries most influential Hair Artists, O’Rourke is eagerly sought after by fashion editors for interviews and commentary. O’Rourke is fast becoming a household name after appearances on ABC’s hit show “Extreme Makeover”, as well as numerous appearances on both the national and local talk-show circuit. These include appearances on “KTLA Morning News” (WB), “Good Day LA” (FOX), “For Better of for Worse” (LIFETIME), “The Other Half” (NBC) and “Soap Talk” (Soapnet). While O’Rourke’s travels have taken him all over the world, he is still able to maintain strong media relationships with local television stations, newspaper reporters and local magazines in cities of all sizes throughout the United States.
As a child in South Africa, Michael O’Rourke was taught by local Zulu women to appreciate the power of fragrant oils and their effects on the senses. From the very beginning of his professional beauty career, he has used this information to revolutionize the industry. He has also used his incredibly creative way of thinking and his charismatic personality to create his unique hair-care brands, including Ecoly and Sexy Hair Concepts®, as well as his signature cutting system, Structure in Motion™. O’Rourke is rarely satisfied with what is and is often searching to discover what will be.
O’Rourke’s latest endeavor is The Institute of Courage. Unlike any other learning facility in today’s industry, The Institute of Courage is designed to give hair artists the courage to grow. Nestled in the woods of TopangaCanyon, in Southern California, O’Rourke refurbished an old Spanish style Potter’s Studio into a state of the art gathering space for hair artists. In addition, the Institute itself is a rare thing of beauty, as O’Rourke spared no expense to ensure that attendees are aware of how truly special they are.
Since opening in March of 2006, the Institute provides ample opportunities for stylists to explore the depths of their own creativity through O’Rourke’s signature cutting system: Structure in Motion. Combining mind, attitude and body movement, Structure in Motion is all about body positioning, the natural way that energy flows through it and the way in which various angles can actually move through the hair. Structure in Motion will change the way in which hair artists see their craft.
A powerful force with a dynamic stage presence, Michael O’Rourke continues to stay true to his first love, the hair artist.To see Michael in action is to know that beauty has no boundaries and that the professional beauty industry knows no equal. He continues to touch the souls of each and every hair artist that he meets. Michael O’Rourke: President and Founder, Extraordinary Educator, Master Artist and Visionary. He is a true industry icon.
