Michael Council was a teenager working in a Cartersville factory. His older brother, Van, was shoveling asphalt. Their dreams were B movie cliches: to escape their small town, meet girls and become rich and famous. Hairstyling might seem an unlikely route for would-be hick-to-hip brothers but in 1984 they, along with Van's wife Susie, opened Van Michael Salon in Buckhead. In the beginning, says Michael, "To keep the doors open, we would cater to the client." success hasn't changed that. This once 3-man operation is now a multiple million-dollar operation with over 250 Employees Company wide.

Michael and Van's talent's quickly earned them praise and recognition which lead to a partnering with the Aveda Corporation. Traveling around the world as representatives for Aveda kept the two brothers busier than they ever anticipated.

Michael has performed to standing room only audiences in several countries. Michael's most recent awards include:

Lifetime Achievement Award - Art and Fashion New York
Top 75 Educators of the Century - Modern Salon Magazine
World Master Award - Aveda Corporation
"Wizard with Scissors" - Atlanta Magazine

Michael Council maintains his loyal clientele at Van Michael Salon in Sandy Springs.