Born to cut hair

Mikal Clay brings Positive Image to Aurora - and the nation
By  Jim Faber
STAFF WRITER

AURORA - It started with a pair of hair clippers that Mikal Clay received for Christmas when he was 12 years old.

The gift came from a friend of Mikal's mother, Donna, who had recently started her own beauty supply distribution business. Donna doesn't remember Mikal asking for clippers. Her friend just picked them out for Mikal.

It was an inspired choice.

Clay runs his Positive Image Hair Salon on Farnsworth Avenue in Aurora and, in January, his line of hair restoration products goes national through Jinny Beauty Supply Co.

A good gift
Just after getting the clippers 20 years ago, Clay cut the hair of a neighbor. Then he cut his own hair. Then friends and relatives were getting haircuts from Clay. Clay is even pictured in his high school yearbook cutting hair. But it still seemed more like a hobby. "I never really thought of it being a career for him," his mom said.

Clay took cosmetology courses through the Chicago Public Schools to take part in summer basketball leagues. And before he turned 20, he was a licensed cosmetologist.

While working as an intern with the Illinois Department of Corrections, Clay earned a contract to cut hair at the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles, again combining his hobby and what he saw as his future career.

After graduating from Aurora University in 1995, Clay, a criminal justice major, had to decide between law school and starting his own salon.

In the end, he chose to open the salon.

"I told him to go into business for yourself," Donna Clay said. "I told him you can always decide later to go to law school."

More than just a salon
Clay, 32, calls his salon Positive Image because that's what he wants to create in the Aurora community. He's also invested in rental real estate to help improve the near East Side of Aurora. His long term plan is to create a housing development to help those struggling with issues like single-parenthood while trying to make their lives better through work and education.

And those goals all start with hair care. Running the salon alone isn't enough for Clay. He's created eight video tapes on proper hair-cutting technique. Clay is a contributor to the Rejoice 102.3 and Power 92.3 radio stations on hair-care advice. He writes monthly advice columns for African-American hair care magazines. And he's cut the hair of stars like Jay-Z, Brian McKnight and R. Kelly
.
He also has his own line of hair restoration products - the Vita Strand All Natural Hair Vitamins, Encourage Moisturizing Revitalizing Conditioner, Thrust Therapeutic Scalp Stimulant, Recharge Purifying Shampoo, and CLA Leave-in Conditioner - that he has been selling through his salon, selected salons in the Chicago area and online.

The product line was created because he saw many of his clients had damaged hair which, aside from being unhealthy, also limited Clay's styling efforts
.
The Vita Strand vitamins were Clay's first big product.

"Healthy hair comes from a healthy diet," Clay said, noting the right vitamins help ensure healthy hair.

While styling products might be made specifically for African American of Caucasian hair, Clay's treatment products can help restore health to any kind of hair, he said.

Even through the online sales at www.mikalclay.com, he's already sold products to customers in Germany, upstate New York, Texas, Arizona and Utah.

In January and February, the Mikal Clay line of products goes big time. Jinny Beauty Supply Co., the largest ethnic beauty supply and general merchandise distributor in the world, will start shipping the products to its top beauty supply stores in markets across the U.S. Eventually the product could reach as many as 5,000 stores, said James William, vice president of operations for Jinny.

William said he was "blown away" by the testimonials of Clay's customers. There are other products aimed at healthy hair on the market, but Clay's is different because of the inside-out approach, starting with the vitamins.

There should be a large market for the products, as many women, especially African-American women, often cause long-term damage to their hair in the styling process, William said.

Clay estimates sales of his products could hit $3.5 million in 2005 with national distribution.

Coming from the days when Clay's own haircut was a walking advertisement to convince his friends to let him cut their hair to now, Clay's values haven't changed.

He's glad to be a role model. He's glad to reinvest in his community. He's glad to have the chance to employ people because of his work. And he credits God for his success.

"We are a very spiritual family," Donna Clay said. "We know all this is happening because God is blessing Mikal."

For more information on Clay, his products or his salon, visit www.mikalclay.com or call (630) 851-8480.

Contact staff writer Jim Faber at (630) 844-5889 or jfaber@scn1.com.

12/26/04