Deep in the heart of Topanga Canyon, up the winding, forested hills, hides a secret sanctuary for hair artists. Well, a secret for now. Only open since earlier this year, the Institute of Courage has already attracted stylists from across the U.S. to come learn and grow as artists while also developing their sense of personal empowerment.

The brain child of über-stylist Michael O’Rourke, the founder of Sexy Hair products and Carlton International Hair Salons, Institute of Courage is much more than a hair school. It’s a retreat for stylists who want to build themselves into artists. Originally an old Spanish style Potters studio, O’Rourke has transformed the grounds and structure into an incredibly lush, lavishly ornate environment, creating an alluring atmosphere perfect for a variety of activities. The state-of-the-art space is a gathering spot for hair artists, photo shoots, filming, entertaining and parties, as well as a place to network and do business.  The Institute of Courage inspires in a whole new way.

Designed with interior designer Elaine Culotti, the multi-million dollar facility is romantic and opulent. The Institute of Courage environment is completely amazing – every piece of furniture and design detail makes a statement.  The space is a living definition of O’Rourke’s personal philosophy of empowering yourself to do whatever you want to do. Every detail was carefully chosen and conveys the message that there are no limits here.

Like the name suggests, the Institute is all about inspiring courage in every person who enters, and there’s a new opportunity for growth and exploration around every corner. For three days, hair stylists join together to learn new hair-cutting techniques but to also explore the depths of their own creativity and take chances. They learn together, eat together, and share together. Along with hands-on demonstrations from O’Rourke, students enjoy field trips to LA’s hottest shopping destinations (think Rodeo Drive and Melrose) to rekindle their creative spirit, as well as art projects and journaling to help them process the experience. The goal is not just to teach them to cut hair, but to give them the tools to create a well-founded hair business later on. The experience will not only change the way participants see hair, but the way the see themselves.

If the curriculum isn’t impressive enough, then the space will certainly make your jaw drop. When guests first walk through the front doors, right away they’ll get the feeling of walking into someone’s home, albeit a very luxurious home. Everything in the entry room is sumptuous and rich and you want to touch and feel all of it.  From the finest quality fabrics to a one-of-a-kind Venetian chandelier to a giant incense burner from 16th Century Tuscany, no detail has been scrimped on.

The Theatre Room is where the learning takes place. Touted as one of the most impressive design spaces, the long, narrow room is reminiscent of a hallway in the Vatican. Oversized mirrored stations flank the walls; each station is an individual piece of art—no two are alike. The highest forms of technology are used as teaching tools, although you wouldn’t realize this at first glance. Cameras and video monitors are carefully imbedded throughout the room. Stylists can watch themselves live on the individual monitors at each station, and hidden behind each mirror is a camera that records the stylist’s every move. All participants leave the retreat with a DVD of themselves to watch and learn from.

To complete the learning experience, at the front of the room is a larger screen for O’Rourke to teach his signature method, called “Structure in Motion”. The core of all Institute of Courage training, Structure in Motion combines mind, attitude and body movement. From the positioning of the body and the natural way that energy flows through it, to the way various angles can move through the hair, Structure in Motion inspires stylists to see hair cutting in an entirely new way. O’Rourke teaches Structure in Motion at the small stage upfront while students practice on mannequins.  This allows him to be eye-level with his students, giving the feel that they are all in this journey together.

Color classes are held in the Water Garden. This innovative and beautiful space is where hair is washed, dried and colored. Even here, O’Rourke and Culotti created a place that feels like your own bedroom.  Velvet and crocodile textures abound here.  The heart of the room is the color bar, a unique place where several clients can get highlights at the same time. One person stands in the middle of the bar, mixing colors like a bartender would mix drinks, while colorists stand around the bar, their clients on stools, and apply the freshly mixed color. It’s a place where every girl would want to have a girls-night-in party.

After a long day of cutting, students break bread together with O’Rourke upstairs in the Dining room. This old renaissance-style room brings everyone together for lunch and dinner. With a King Arthur feel, the dining room exudes intimacy with an old walnut table extending 17 feet long.  Benches surround the table and feature plush velvet cushions for diners to relax on.  O’Rourke chose this type of seating to engage conversation similar to the way people dined refractory-style during the 14th and 15th centuries.  The long dining table enables stylists to drop their barriers, share a meal and enjoy life. Embraced in velvet drapery, the room itself is gothic and dark with an old stone French fireplace.  Above the fireplace sits an antique mirror with gargoyles, representing strength, while on another wall sits a modern piece of art, a picture of a white angel with fire red hair, to depict guidance.

The culmination of the day happens in the Zen Garden. Slightly more casual than the other rooms, this is the Think Tank of the venue.  O’Rourke encourages his guests to visit this room at the end of the day and let all guards down.  Hair stylists spend the entire day listening to their client’s issues, and this place lets them share their own feelings for once. A gathering space of sorts, the Zen Garden invites guests to hang out, converse, share and read.  Tables are lowered Moroccan-style with sofa seating. With views of the Water Garden and the beautiful hillside this after-hours hang out also features a cappuccino and hot tea bar.

While O’Rourke has created a beautiful space at the Institute, it’s his amazing work with hair that stands out. O’Rourke is a world champion hairstylist. I was able to have the chance to experience his genius first hand. Entrusting my locks to him, O’Rourke more than exceeded my expectations of what I thought my hair could look like. With his rich South-African accent talking me through the whole experience, he snipped and fussed with my hair in his unique and personal style. After taking into consideration my face shape and hair type, he ended up giving me a Brigitte Bardot-inspired style, and I must say that I felt like I had stepped out of reality and into a hair ad. Never before had my hair have such height and volume! No wonder his hair care line is called Sexy Hair.

O’Rourke is not only a master hairstylist, but also a business visionary. As the founder of Sexy Hair Concepts (Sexy Hair®) and Carlton Hair International USA, O’Rourke believes in hair care products that encourage reaction.  With product lines ranging from Big Sexy Hair, Straight Sexy Hair, Short Sexy Hair, Curly Sexy Hair, Healthy Sexy Hair, Wild Sexy Hair, Silky Sexy Hair, Color Me Sexy, Simply Sexy Hair, Sex Symbol, Formulas by Ecoly and Fresh Concepts, O’Rourke has found a simple way to create products that actually do their job and contain natural ingredients to provide nourishment, moisture and therapy for the hair. Sexy Hair offers refreshing product lines that allow the consumer to take their style from playful on Thursday, to sexy on Friday and then classically chic on Saturday.

Always fun and innovative, O’Rourke and business partner Jim Morrison are constantly coming up with ways to take Sexy Hair to the next level. On July 26, 2006 they did it again by announcing that, for the first time ever, Sexy Hair will have a celebrity spokesperson – American Idol’s Katharine McPhee.  She will appear in the company’s ads and promotional materials through 2007.

McPhee’s gorgeous print ads debuted in October beauty, fashion and entertainment magazines. Sexy Hair also plans on cross-promoting with McPhee’s upcoming debut album (scheduled to be release at the end of the year).

“American Idol has become an International Phenomenon,” says Sexy Hair CEO Jim Morrison. “Not only is it compelling drama, it has become a rallying point for the American population. Katharine McPhee is not only the darling of this years Idol season; she is the personification of beauty and vocal talent. When you look at her, she screams Sexy Hair.”

To get Sexy Hair like Katherine’s, try their newest product, Healthy Sexy Hair Pumpkin. The wholesome hair collection features top performing natural organic pumpkin enzyme ingredients that help repair, strengthen, moisturize and provide nutritious protection to the hair. Plus it smells delicious! Rich in antioxidants including beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, pumpkin is full of nutrients including protein-building amino acids, co-enzymes, moisturizing fatty acids, vitamins A, B and C and zinc, a natural sunblock. With several products to choose from including Pumpkin Rehydrating Shampoo, Pumpkin Detoxifying Shampoo, Pumpkin Puree Treatment Masque, Pumpkin Enzyme Therapy Mist, Pumpkin Potion Leave In Conditioner with Ginger Root, and Pumpkin Whipped Soufflé Styling Crème, you’re sure to find the perfect product to give you your dream Sexy Hair.

Institute of Courage
1135 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga, CA 90290
(310) 455-0285

http://www.instituteofcourage.com/
http://www.sexyhair.com/