Rosalie Merkel
Rosalie Merkel is a dynamic innovator in the professional hair color industry, serving as a New Product Development Specialist and Account Executive at ColorLiftsColor LLC. With a focus on creativity and problem-solving, she spearheaded the development of SpektraLift, a utility patent-pending hair color regulator that allows hair color systems to lift and deposit desired level and tone onto pre-dyed hair in a single step. This groundbreaking solution addresses major pain points in salons, reducing processing time, protecting hair integrity, and enhancing overall efficiency for hair professionals. Leveraging her formal training in cosmetology and as a Master Barber from the Academies of Cosmetology, Rosalie combines technical expertise with business acumen to develop products that meet both stylist needs and industry trends. Beyond product innovation, she engages in strategic partnerships and market research, ensuring that her solutions have meaningful impact and broad market reach. Her work exemplifies the intersection of creativity, science, and business in beauty innovation. Passionate about empowering stylists to work smarter and achieve superior results, Rosalie also serves as an educator, and managing instructor, sharing her knowledge in product innovation and advanced hair coloring techniques. Through her leadership and dedication, she continues to transform the salon experience, making high-quality hair color more accessible, efficient, and innovative for professionals everywhere.
• Cosmetology: Barbering
• Master Educator
• Managing Instructor
• Academies of Cosmetology
• Beauty and Massage Institute
• Indiana Wesleyan University- A.S.
• Milady Training
• CE Milady Certifications
• Master Educator
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a lifelong passion for the professional hair care industry and a deep commitment to mastering the art and science of professional hair color. Since earning my license in 1999, I have continuously evolved — from stylist to educator to innovator — driven by curiosity, experimentation, and a relentless desire to elevate results behind the chair.
The development of SpektraLift was fueled not only by that passion, but by collaboration. My business partner, Dale Smith, played a pivotal role in testing, refining, and building the SpektraLift team, ensuring we are fully prepared for the professional hair color market. Our Technical Director, Dennis Gebhart, brought critical chemical expertise, articulating how our color-regulating oxidation technology behaves within existing systems — allowing them to perform at their highest potential.
Success, for me, has always been the intersection of vision, discipline, and the right people aligned around innovation.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my husband, Bill Merkel, who believed in me enough to invest in my patent, and from my mentor Michael Prevette, who guided and supported me professionally.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The advice I would give to young women entering my industry is: "The more mistakes you make, the better colorist you’re going to be; you have to know how to fix what you do."
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I like to say that both challenges and opportunities live within focusing on eco-friendly and natural formulations to meet consumer demands.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are integrity—letting my yes be yes, doing what I say, and letting my product speak for itself—while also nurturing my creativity through bass fishing, painting, and golfing.
