September 2010 (Raleigh, NC) – Selected Samuel Cole Salon’s stylists relay their expert advice on remedies for limp hair and uneven layers in the Hairstyle Lounge section of the SHEKNOWS.com website. SHEKNOWS.com is a website designed to help empower women through articles and discussion related to women’s issues including beauty, relationships and parenting.

The husband and wife co-owners of Samuel Cole Salon, Jack and Joelle Ray, created three versatile trend styles just in time for the fall season during their latest photo shoot.

For the session, the Rays selected three strikingly different models—a blonde, red head and brunette—to showcase short, glamorous and trend looks, demonstrating Samuel Cole Salon’s ability to satisfy all hair needs no matter the length of hair, desired style or occasion.

The Rays were joined by Bumble and bumble’s Artistic Director, Howard McLaren, at the photo shoot. McLaren assisted by providing his industry expertise and unique eye to the image-making process.

Since the Rays recently returned from styling runway models at Armani’s fall couture fashion show in Paris, Raleigh’s New & Observer reached out to them for their fall trend forecast.

September 2010 (Raleigh, NC) – On Salon Today’s website Jack and Joelle Ray, co-owners of Samuel Cole Salon were recognized for their inspired idea to formalize a seasonal trend report for their stylists. To do so, they tapped the extensive knowledge of one of their in-house glossy fashion magazine experts and stylists and The H Factor was born. The summary assists stylists in staying on top of the latest fashion trends which can be a full time job.

Joelle Ray comments, “We strive to be the best hairdressers we can be and to educate and keep our guests looking fashion-forward. With The H Factor trend report, we are constantly reinventing our perspective and renewing our creativity which overflows into our life behind the chair.”

August 2, 2010 (Raleigh) – Color Director for Patrick McIvor Color Studios in Bethlehem, PA and Fashion Week veteran, Melissa Johnson, visited Samuel Cole Salon’s stylists to share Redken’s new high fashion color techniques. Being an American Board Certified Haircolorist, a Redken Certified Haircolorist, and a Redken Certified Designer, Melissa is very passionate about color and about sharing her knowledge with other salon professionals. She has over two decades of experience as a stylist and is highly regarded in the salon industry. Her work and energy have been captured on the television shows ABC News, Starting Over, and Philadelphia’s The 10 Show, as well as in the magazines Celebrity Hairstyles, American Salon, Modern Salon, and Australia’s Culture Magazine, to name a few.

“I really enjoyed Melissa’s energy, and I learned so much from the class. All of the techniques that Melissa taught were very practical for in-salon use, I feel like much of what I learned I can use on all of my clients. The color technique creates a distinct Victoria’s Secrets feel,” commented Sara, Senior Stylist and Mentor.

The new technique taught featured “distressed” highlights, designated to create depth at the roots and dimensions at the ends. The end result, as a Samuel Cole Salon stylist says, “leaves soft highlights with a little bit of a root.” “It was a wonderful class! This is a technique that you can really play up and use in every day life with every day clients,” she adds.

Raleigh’s award-winning Samuel Cole Salon hires Michael Knight, a hair designer and former salon owner, to bring passion and expertise to the upscale North Raleigh salon. A 25-year veteran of the hair industry, Knight is considered one of the foremost authorities on hair color and haircut design in the southeastern United States.

Knight is best known for creating innovative and trend-setting hair color and hair cutting techniques, as well as his lively and inspirational performances at shows nationwide. Developing one-on-one relationships with clients has helped him master his skills for finding the right cut and color for each client’s lifestyle and career.

“Michael has a great professional reputation and his many years of experience are assets to our salon,” said Joelle Ray, co-owner of Samuel Cole Salon with her husband and master stylist, Jack Ray. “We are thrilled that he has joined the Samuel Cole team.”

Knight’s enthusiasm and dedication for the hair design industry fuels his creative drive in the salon. As a former salon owner and national platform artist for industry-leading companies, such as Logics International, Revlon, and most recently, Artec Worldwide, Knight will use his talent to bring a little glamour to all of his clients at Samuel Cole Salon.