Michael’s Hair Designers, Virden’s Hair Place!

By Cindy Ladage

Kristi Royer and Patrick Daugherty have a long history in Virden at their business, Michael’s Hair Designers.  This year it has been 41 years since Kristi opened her shop located at 819 North Springfield.  Patrick has been there for almost a decade celebrating 17 years of working with Kristi this past July 1st.

Kristi opened her shop back in 1983. When asked if she had a celebration to celebrate the forty-year mark she said she was too busy becoming a new grandma.  “My daughter was pregnant, and the baby was born on the first of January.  We need to have the family plan something, maybe on the 45th!”

They work in a building that has had multiple businesses. It once was a grocery store, feed store and it’s been a garage prior to being a beauty shop.  Parking for the business is in back behind the shop.

Both Kristi and Patrick have their own themes in their area.  Kristi’s décor turns to the beach with several beach photos.  Recently a woman asked her about the beach pictures and why she has them.  Kristi replied, “It is my favorite place.”

Patick turns more towards the sports décor with a big St. Louis Cardinals picture behind his workspace.

Kristi has two children, a son that owns a seamless gutter business in Thayer, and a daughter that lives in Chatham.  This baby upped her grandma numbers making it three grandchildren now. “I have one 20, one 18, and one 6 months,” she added.

Raised in Macomb, Kristi came to the Virden community when she moved here with her ex-husband. Patrick was raised and graduated from Girard, Illinois and said he and his fiancé moved to the Virden community a year ago. Soon Patrick said he will be celebrating another milestone, his 20-year graduation date.

Both Kristi and Patrick have connections with local diners.  Patrick’s parents once owned the Grub-N-Pub in Girard, and Kristi has been working for years at what is now Kaylee’s Café.  “For 20 years I’ve worked here.  It used to be the Showtime Café but changed two weeks ago to Kaylee’s.  She is the daughter of the owner of Showtime Lanes.”

While Kristi still has roots in the Macomb area she said, “My kids were raised here, and it is their home.”

As for Patrick, Macoupin County has been his residence all his life.  “I both live and work here,” he said.

When asked about hair trends for 2023, Kristi said if you like a hairdo keep it because she added, “Everything comes back around.”

That has been the story of the mullet which Kristi identified as a new trend last October.  The mullet trend is something the younger generation seems to be seeking.  “The young and high school kids go for the mullet.  The older guys are getting their hair cut high and tight.”

Long hair seems to be on the way out for men.  Patrick added, “Guys have started cutting off their hair this year.  Or they will go the mullet route, then cut it off.”

Over the past year, Kristi and Patrick have kept their prices low, and still offer the same great quality services they have been providing for years.  “We offer men and boys hair cuts with or without a wash,” Patrick said.

Both Kristi and Patrick are barbers.

Kristi added, “I do wash and blow dries for several older ladies providing women and girls haircuts, permanents, and color.”

At Michael’s Hair Designers, they are involved in the Virden Community.  “We did breakfast with Santa this past year,” Patrick said.  “Michaels has taken over for True Value.”

With busy schedules, Kristi said the main way they try to contribute is through donations.  Donating to prom, cancer causes and supporting local sports and the sports boosters Michael’s Hair Designers works with the local community in many ways.  They are pleased to be a member of the Virden Chamber of Commerce as well.

Patrick is also a member of the local Masonic Lodge too.

When asked about hair and health, Kristi said that whatever chemical someone may intake usually shows up in their hair later. “What you put in your body comes out in the hair.”

Clients that have recently had anesthesia sometimes have trouble if they have a procedure.  Kristi recommends waiting a few days in this case. She also said over the years that she has also caught skin cancer a couple of times on both the neck and ears primarily in her male customers.

Kristi and Patrick said that they don’t have a website, and that Michael’s Hair Designers is not on Facebook.  They get most of their clients through word of mouth.  “After COVID, we are back to normal businesswise,” Patrick said.

The only real change he saw after the Pandemic is that customers, “Want to make more appointments, rather than just walk in.”

Open Tuesday – Friday from 8-5, and Saturday from 8 to noon, at Michael’s, they accept both appointments, and walk ins.  However, if not making an appointment and just stopping by, those with appointments will be served at their appointed time.

While they have a stable customer base of long-time clients, they said that they have several new customers as well.  “Several new ladies, and new people come in all the time,” Kristi added.

New clients are always welcome, and Kristi and Patrick love their customers that they have served for years.  A mainstay for haircare in the Virden Community, at Michael’s Hair Designers, you can find quality care for your hair!

For more information about the business or to make an appointment, call Kristi and Pat at 217-965-5454, or you can reach Pat at his cell phone at 217-502-2209.