*Model image: Hair by The Moroccanoil Global Trend Team. 

Picking a favorite subject, article, or trending topic is tough…but fortunately, you did it for us. These are some of the features our editors reported on during the past year and you wracked up the reads. They touch on some career advice, some stylist soul-searching, some celebrations of haircuts and styles that have stood the test of time, and they all were part of our 2024 coverage of this beautiful industry. 

THE TOP 10 ARTICLES OF 2024 FROM MODERN SALON

The MODERN SALON 100 of 2024

Our MODERN SALON 100 is always a diverse group of beauty professionals, representing a variety of specialties, experience, and followings. Compiling it is a group effort that represents input from our entire MODERN SALON team.

This year, in honor of 100 years of MODERN SALON (which launched in 1924), and our focus on the future of the industry, we did something a little different. A group of our honorees are either cosmetology students or very recent graduates, and 10 of our honorees are alumni of previous MS100 lists. In this way, we spotlight these established veterans as examples of beauty excellence to aspire to, and the next generation of rising new talent we can all be cheering on.  

Making Cosmetology School a First Choice

The decision to “choose beauty” has not always been encouraged—by parents, educators, or society. But there are positive signs that this is changing. This article was a combination of interviews with school owners, educators, and school counselors, and it captures some of the exciting energy around beauty as a calling and a career.

5 Steps to Transition from Beauty Professional to Successful Salon Owner

Establishing the foundations of the business before the beauty services is game changing. Beauty professionals can learn while taking care of their clients and making money — picking up where beauty school leaves off. This article was submitted by Karen Kaminsk, founder of Allure Salon Suite Consulting and Allure Salon Group & Professional Education Center. 

A Hairstylist Opens Up: Fears, Doubts, and Truths About Life in the Industry

When Amy Baugh (@hairbyamybee) posted her "lowlights" reel on Instagram (instead of the ongoing glowing recaps and "highlight" reels we see shared on Instagram) the response took her by surprise.

In a carousel, Baugh, who is a lived-in color specialist and a member of the MODERN SALON Artist Connective, posted short descriptions of pain points that she says she has experienced in the course of her career.  They included her confusion and sometimes hurt when a client just--'poof'--vanishes without a word of explanation.  Or her concern that rising costs will continue to eat into her profits.  And the vulnerability of feeling that she doesn't meet trending beauty standards in the professional beauty industry. 

Trending Shades: A Color Formula Roundup

Every year, we set the stage for an annual jam session of color masterwork. This brilliant showcase, our ColorFest, gives top-billing to both vibrant hues and subtle shades, while sharing formulas and steps to get-the-look. Your favorite brands are featured, along with some of their newest color offerings, including companies that have entered the hair color space.

Peach Fuzz Fantasy: PRAVANA Artists Create the Pantone Color of the Year

Somewhere on the spectrum between pastel pink and orange sits Pantone’s 2024 Color of the Year, Peach Fuzz, described as “a velvety gentle peach tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul.” The color is as soft and warm as it is vibrant, and you can almost feel it against your skin like a plush blanket.

The color for 2025 has been announced, too!

Get the Look: High Contrast Reverse Face Frame

This look is part of the Rouge de CHI Collection from CHI, and it features a fusion of beige blonde with a rich, velvety chocolate mocha face frame. This pop of color perfectly suits the model's coloring, accentuating her facial features, and making her eyes pop.  It's a new take on a trending look. 

Power to the Bob: 100 Years of Style

If there’s one haircut that has stood the test of time, it’s the bob. Since its inception, the bob has continuously evolved and adapted to changing styles and preferences, making it an enduring choice for individuals looking to make a statement with their hair.

In 1924, MODERN SALON celebrated 100 beautiful years, so it was fitting to pay homage to this enduring style. 

Royal Style: The Hime or Princess Cut

Sometimes called “The Princess Cut" or the anime “jaw-drop haircut,” this style dates back over a thousand years. The "hime" style features disconnected sidepieces, cut to the cheek bone or jaw line, and a heavy, blunt fringe. While the traditional cut was more severe, today these shorter side pieces might be blended into layers and waves, making them a bit more low-maintenance. 

Tony Awards 2024: Nicole Scherzinger's Soft Updo

Nicole Scherzinger, singer, dancer, TV personality, and former Pussycat Doll, blew the crowd away with her stunning vocals and elegant hair at her In Memoriam performance for the 2024 Tony Awards. Hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos, stylist to celebs including Megan Fox, Gigi Hadid, and Joey King, has provided a how-to on Nicole’s hair using new The Coveted Tape hair extensions by Covet & Mane.