2019 MODERN SALON 100: Courtney Gann @courtgannhair

Courtney Gann of Lebanon, Missouri, is best known for her vibrant color work, but she’s also a killer balayager. Her audience loves to follow her not just for her strong content, but for her relationship building. “I try to encourage and comment on other stylists’ work all the time and I think that stands out more so than just posting photos on your page,” she says. Her first time she was featured on the MODERN SALON Instagram page her thoughts? “This is goals. I couldn’t believe that I could be featured on MODERN, next to all the artists who I look up to on a daily basis, it was very surreal.”

Courtney Gann

@courtgannhair

Tribe Salon, Lebanon, Missouri

Specialty: Vibrants

Top-performing post: A blue, green, yellow melt. It was one of those colors that just popped and I got the perfect picture of it. Allure did an article on it and it was shared many times on Instagram, I did that color over a year ago and I still have pages sharing it a year later.

Favorite apps: With Facetune I can smooth out skin, erases blemishes. It’s also great for blurring backgrounds so the hair is the focus of the picture and not anything around it. I love this app because it doesn’t change anything with the actual hair and still is a true representation of the color.

I follow: @hairbymisskellyo, @mandaharcshe, @katkolors, @alexandralee1016, @thejesjewel

Pro tip: Getting the best results on a post I feel like is more about timing than anything. Think about when you’re just scrolling on your phone, before bed, in the morning—most everyone else is doing the same. If you’re going to invest in something for pictures, get a good ring light! They are game changers! Lighting is so important, and so many things affect the way it looks in a picture.

Hidden talent: While I’m known for fashion colors, I’m pretty good at balayage.

Fun fact: Singing, but don’t ask me to because I hate doing it in front of people. The only time I will Is if my mom or grandpa ask me to sing in church.

My audience follows me because: I’m constantly posting new content and engaging on other pages. Not only do you need good content but building relationships on social media is crucial to have success. I try to encourage and comment on other stylists work all the time and I think that stands out more so than just posting photos on your page.

How social media changed my life: I’m a small-town girl, and when I first started my career social media wasn’t a thing. Building clientele only happened by traditional advertising and word of mouth. Social media has completely changed that. My clientele has grown by crazy amounts, and I get to work for amazing companies who continue to support me and give me so many opportunities. When I started doing hair 11 years ago I could have never imagined that my career would lead me down the path it has, and none of it would have happened without social media.

My first @modernsalon feature: The first time I was featured I can remember thinking like this is it: this is goals. It was one of my first Pulp Riot colors, they had just been released, and I did an iridescent rainbow look on one of my friends, Ashley Farris, and I got an awesome picture of her hair. I couldn’t believe that I could be featured on MODERN, next to all the artists who I look up to on a daily basis, it was very surreal.

Click here to the see the full list of this year's MODERN SALON 100.