2019 MODERN SALON 100: Jack Martin @jackmartincolorist

Jack Martin (@jackmartincolorist) is shocked that clients come from across the United States to receive one of his amazing color corrections. He admits he is very transparent with his posts as he admits “I have nothing to hide.” Martin, who speaks multiple languages, says he wished social media was around 30 years ago when he started doing hair. “I would have been retired by now with a good amount of savings to support me for the rest of my life!”

Jack Martin

@jackmartincolorist

Jack Martin Salon, Tustin, California

Specialty: Silver and blondes, color corrections and very hard transformations.

Top-performing post: It was a huge transformation from dark boxed color to white silver, healthy hair—matching her roots. This transformation introduced me to the world through social media. I did this in one session. It increased my followers about 20K in four weeks because of an Allure.com article posted in December 2018.

Favorite apps: VivaVideo (to help me edit my Instagram videos.) I like it because it has all the tools I need in one place like trimming, adding text, adding music or voice over music, transitions and more. “When to Post” is a great app to give the best timing of the day for posting on Instagram based on analyzing daily traffic. FrameMagic is one of the best apps for posting before and after images or videos - great for grids, slideshow, blended, video collage and video in video.

I follow: @theplatinumgiraffe, @rossmichaelssalon, @fshairdo, @emreayaksiz, @paintedhair

Pro tip: Most importantly, a clear, sharp photo with a good lightening and a solid background, making sure the main focus is on the hair with nothing else in the picture that will distract the focus on the hair that you are trying to show. In my case, before and after posts are very successful just because of the huge amount of difference between the before and after. A very important tip that got my posts to rank at the top is posting a detailed formula with step by step description of the process in the caption . Also, hashtags are very important as well as posting at the time of the day when the traffic is on its highest volume. Lighting is key. Invest in a couple of white ring lights - one for over the head and another for direct, front on light. Set a corner of your salon with a solid background, preferably black for blonde hair, white for brunettes.

Hidden talent: I have been achieving transformations and color corrections from a full head of a dark boxed color to a silver or a platinum blonde in one day and one session while keeping the hair in great condition. I also have the patience to work on one single transformation for about 10-13 hours, non-stop for clients who flew to me from different states to achieve their dream color.

Fun fact: I speak, read and write fluently in English, French and Arabic and am in the process of learning Turkish. I sing in Arabic and French. I also write poems and draw.

My audience follows me because: My audience loves to follow me because I am very transparent with my posts. I have nothing to hide. I write in the caption a full description of what I did step-by-step with detailed formulas, and I answer any questions or concerns any of my followers have for me.

How social media changed my life: Social media has changed my life completely. In a short period of time, I became well known across the globe, and clients would fly to me for their hair color. I still can’t believe when a client calls me from New York City or Chicago requesting an appointment and asking me which airport is the closest to my salon. I wish social media was there 30 years ago when I started coloring hair. I would have been retired by now with a good amount of savings to support me for the rest of my life! I advise young colorists to appreciate what social media is doing for them. I advise people to be true to themselves and try to help others in the industry.

My first @modernsalon feature: When my work got reposted for the first time three years ago, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I literally told the whole world about this achievement — especially my clients. I felt like a winner realizing that someone important out there is watching and admiring my work. This gave me a big push to start accepting very complicated color corrections and transformations to challenge myself.

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