Hair care professional, Maria McCool has never been one to blindly accept the status quo. The co-owner of Calista Grand Salon and Spa and Calista TOOLS founder, began her career by defying the conventional thinking of her high school teachers. She entered herself into cosmetology school before her 16th birthday.

Her determination is a common thread in her life long career, leading into the creation of Calista TOOLS, a revolutionary professional hair care system that delivers the previously impossible: lustrous, healthy locks with modern, high performance style.

"I saw a huge selection of hair care products on the market that only performed one thing,” says Maria McCool. "Many lines nourished the hair or added shine, but didn't help create fashion- forward styles. While others delivered the latest styles, the ingredients used, would jeopardize the integrity of the hair. I knew there had to be a way to create a formula that would nourish and strengthen the hair and deliver high fashionable styles."

Maria felt the most important part of developing her Calista Tools product line was to make sure these professional hair styling tools empowered customers to get salon styled hair at home. She knew clients would look great when they left her salon but how could they keep that great look long after their hair appointment. “I knew I needed simple-to-use products that gave great results.” Calista Tools Embellish Texture Definer is the perfect example of this type of innovative approach. One tiny pea size amount of product added to your hair gives it so much volume and texture. You can dramatically change your hair style without changing your hair cut. The ProTect Tools ION Hot Rollers are another example of combining new innovation with amazing results. There are no other hot rollers on the market today that have the heating element in the roller itself and the IONS are baked into each roller when the roller is made. Other ION hot rollers overlay the roller with an ION coating which eventually wears off leaving the hair open to damage. Calista Tools ION Hot Rollers offer extra long rollers allowing long hair to get great curl too. Maria makes sure all of the Calista Tools products offer something unique from all other hair product lines.

McCool's career, in addition to being behind the chair, started as a competitive hairdresser winning many national titles, evolved into an international educator and platform artist for companies including Paul Mitchell, Lus and Eugene Perma of Paris. As a salon owner and image specialist, it was natural for McCool to pour her vast knowledge into formulating Calista TOOLS, launching the brand on QVC in 2007.

Stepping into the QVC limelight was a sort of homecoming for McCool. "My team and I first started working with QVC in 1994, servicing the hosts with their on-air looks," she recalls. "We formed a trusted relationship that continues to this day. I enjoy working with the talent, polishing their image from head to toe."

The Calista TOOLS line now offers an extensive line of styling and cleansing products. There are products for all hair types, from thin fine hair to curly, frizzy hair. Each contains innovative components like Pro-Element that drive vital nutrients and select minerals deep into the hair and scalp. Argan oil is the latest ingredient being used in the line for superior weightless conditioning.  Many of the Calista Tools hair products are Paraben free and Sulfate free because of her belief in keeping the products pure and natural.  She will not skimp on quality ingredients.  Whenever we are developing new hair products for the Calista Tools line our top priority is using the finest ingredients which are are not nourishing and good for your hair.  If we can not meet this product challenge,the product does not get made, regardless of the results on the hair.  "Over the years I have seen many products that give amazing style results, like volume, curls, texture, but in the long run they damage the hair.  This is too high a pricefor your hair to pay!"

McCool isn't about to stop seeking innovations that serve her growing fan base. She prides herself on creating personalized looks, and great style. She is forever seeking out potential industry breakthroughs and her attention to detail shines through in everything she does.

Serendipitous synchronicity has been a running theme in McCool's journey. She recalls a fortuitous day back in 1989. She had been mulling over names for the opening of the first full- service spa and salon in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Her car broke down in front of a bookstore so she seized the moment and bought a baby name book. "As I was sitting there waiting for the tow truck, I opened to a page with “Calista” up top," she says. Derived from the Greek word “kalos” or “beautiful”, Calista means “most beautiful.” “It was perfect, Donald Moore, my partner and I opened Calista later that year. We now employ 80 people, many of whom were with us on our first day.”

Between her image consulting business, Calista Grand Salon and Spa, and the Calista Tools product line, Maria manages to thoroughly enjoy her three children and all their sports, hobbies and energy levels which seem to match their mom's. "It's hard for me to believe that when I was the age of my oldest child, thirteen, I was giving my first perm and cut to someone other than my dolls." McCool says she still remains as excited about her work "I love the art of transformation," she says. "But the true reward is seeing a woman light up with delight, when I uncover her true beauty."