Salon Shows Tomorrow's Look Today by Terri Rimmer - originally published by The Clay Today, 1989 (under my maiden name)

MESERVES OWNERS, Loretta and Chris Meserves, seated, are Joined by shop manager,

Photo by Dona Inmon

Michelle Knaack, center, in their unique salon which gives you an image of a new look.

Salon shows tomorrow’s look today By Tern Persico ~ Staff Writer

ORANGE PARK — “I wish I could see it first” used to be what many people uttered under their breath as their hair stylist snipped away at their sacred locks of hair.

Now with New Imaging Systems, a computer interactive video dis­play system offered through New Imaging Industries, hair salon pa­trons can see themselves as a fiery redhead, sultry blonde or a bold brunette.

The system, which has been on the market three years, is offered locally at Meserves International Salon, 5124 Blanding Blvd, the only Florida salon to offer the ser­vice.

Meserves, owned by the hus­band and wife team of Chris and Loretta Meserve, bought the sys­tem for $22,000 before they opened their new shop July 8.

‘Everybody who’s heard about It is wanting it (the consultation),’ said Chris Meserve. ‘We've had a lot of response.’

Before receiving a consultation, by appointment only, customers consult with a stylist about what styles they’ve worn, what they’d like to change, and how much time they want to put in to styling their hair.

Customers pay $30 fora consul­tation which allows them to see themselves in as many different hairstyles, haircolors, and makeup

as they choose from a catalogo of 140 choices and 32,000 different color combinations. The system may also show the customer what they would look like with different colors of contact lenses and van­ousJeweh-y.

The stylist chooses four styles for the system to ‘computer fit” to the head of the model via a digitiz­ing camera. A ‘before” picture is taken of the model whose face is super-imposed on the computer. With a sketchpad-like miniature canvas and pen, the stylist may cut the style chosen into any shape, and add hair and color to get as close to the original hair-color as possible. Three “before’ and "after" Polaroid pictures show the customer the difference.

Front and side views may also be shown.

Most people choose 8-10 differ­ent styles for the consultation, which takes an hour to an hour and a half.

"The company had to work out several bugs because the computer wouldn’t digitize you.’ said Mrs. Meserve. "It wouldn’t let you exper­iment with color; now it does. And If you moved your head it messed up the image. You used to have to sit real still.’

The system is updated regularly, said Mrs. Meserve, with mature women and men styles included. Customers may also keep a swatch of day and evening colors suited to their wardrobe

which an optional printer selects.

Men may see themselves with moustaches and beards.

After receiving the consultation. customers may have their hair cut to match one of their choices which the computer prints out, a picture of.

“A lot of times you can’t dupli­cate your style after the stylist does your hair,’ said Mrs. Meserve,

The adult-oriented salon oper­ates with three stylists, one of whom was schooled in England and worked there and in Spain. Another stylist has been in the business ten years. Michelle Knaack, manager, said stylists are chosen ‘very carefully."’

‘The computer is the main rea­son why we opened the shop, to draw more people in,” said Knaack. “We have drawn a lot of people.’

The system, createçl by Kirk La Mar, hairdresser and executive vice president of New Image Indus­tries, Inc., is on the market In Cali­fornia, New York, London, Paris, and Belgium, among other areas. The nearest system available out­side of Florida is In Valdosta. Geor­gia.

The system Is available for per­sonal use in the home at a price of

$7,500.

The salon also offers facials, manicures and pedicures. Operat­ing hours are 10 a.m- 10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

These are pictures of me trying out Meserves Salon's new system at the time in 1989.
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