2019 MODERN SALON 100: Bree Ritter @goodbyehorsegirl

Bree Ritter wields a razor with beautiful precision. We can’t get enough of her cool girl shags and love to see her free-up the texture in hair.

Bree Ritter

@goodbyehorsegirl

Portland, Oregon

220 Salon, Portland, Oregon

Specialty: Razor cutting, shags, curls, natural texture

Top-performing post: Honestly, the post of mine that MODERN SALON chose to repost has got to be one of the top engaged things I’ve ever put out there. I think it really showcased the transformative power of a hair cut. No color, no fancy lighting or styling, and I think that really spoke to people.

Favorite apps: I use and adore PicStitch to put my photos side by side.

I follow: @jayne_edosalon @gayhairday @roxiejanehunt @hairmettle @costelloxcult

Pro tip: I think it’s best to be yourself and put your personality in the post. Share why the content of the post was special to you, something about the person in it, details about what you did, why you did it, and how you chose to do it. I also think that using any and all hashtags that apply to your post is a great way to get more exposure, as many people search hashtags to try and find stylists. When it comes to lighting and staging a photo, take your time and don’t stop shooting until you truly feel like you got the perfect shot, or else you’ll kick yourself later for not feeling like the picture does your hard work justice. Showcase the person the hair belongs to as much as the hair itself. Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal (with consent, of course).

Fun Fact: A lot of people don’t know that I was a barber for over four years. I lost my first tooth in a barbershop and started doing hair in high school doing short cuts on my peers off my grandma’s porch, my first paid gig! I’m also secretly obsessed with color and balayage even though I no longer offer color services.

Hidden Talent: Karaoke. 100%. It’s definitely my secret weapon and one of my favorite ways to feel powerful and express myself.

My audience follows me because: I think that it started with the cuts but has grown into something more than I could have dreamed of. I care about content, but my clients come first, and I’m happy to be vulnerable and honest and share all of my feelings, recommendations and thoughts about the industry and beyond. Even on such an image driven platform, I think people (myself included) are looking for a real connection, for emotional substance, for validation and encouragement. That’s what I’m trying to give.

How social media changed my life: It can be a hugely powerful way to find global community and validation and inspiration, so to be in a position where I can provide that for others fills me with so many warm feelings it’s crazy. More importantly, it has connected me to countless people who wouldn’t be in my life otherwise, and I’m so incredibly grateful for that.

My first @modernsalon feature: The post is still one of my absolute favorite transformations! The client had long, black hair that lay flat from being mostly one length and had just a touch of curl at the ends, and the cut I gave her was just so fun and revealed so much texture and movement and life. It was truly drastic. So many people bring me that photo as inspiration, and it’s been used in a few different publications. It just makes me really, really happy.