Though he compares his art to that of Leonardo da Vinci, Michael Koler is no painter.
He claims, though, to have cracked a code.
The Dallas-based hairstylist, author of "Hairline Lifeline," uses feng shui principles to try to heighten his client's personal energy flow.
"(Da Vinci) learned from water," said Koler, 59. "I learned to see the energy flow in your body as reflected in your hairline."
Feng shui — an ancient Chinese art that seeks to manage the movement of vibration or energy through the environment — gained popularity in the United States in the early '90s. It follows the belief that, if energy is properly directed, it can support every aspect of an individual's life.
What's the secret to feeling Zen? It's right at the nape of your neck, said Koler, who counts Jerry Hall and her model daughter, Elizabeth Jagger, as clients.
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"Your brain is right underneath your scalp, and your hair shows . . . the direction the energy or chi flows," said Koler. "I've found that the hair reflects your inherited traits entirely."
After reading the hairline, Koler begins to cut, but only on what he calls the "waves" of the body, which begin around the sinuses and extend below the shoulders. The process takes about 90 minutes and costs $100. It concludes with Koler ringing a bell several times in the session as a signal for his client to breathe, which he says helps stop the mind from racing.
And shaved heads pose no problem. Koler runs his fingers over the surface, reading the direction of hair growth.
"He makes having your hair done more of a spiritual experience," said Lisa Saul, owner of Ecocolors. "Touching someone's head and coming from an open place can be very transformational."
These days, everything from clothing lines and jewelry to psychology claims to incorporate feng shui. Some organizations make it their mission to accept all the practices; others consider such far-fetched adaptations disrespectful to the art.
