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SEARCHSadie Gray is best known for her balayage, blonding, pastel colors and more. See why we chose her to be part of our 2019 MODERN SALON 100.
Sadie Gray @sadiejcre8s
Sadie Gray @sadiejcre8s
Sadie Gray @sadiejcre8s says social media has totally changed her life and career. “I went from working just part time, to being booked six days a week for minimum 10 hours each day in a matter of six months.” This gives her a lot of new people to exercise her hidden talent on– the ability to impersonate anyone!
Sadie Jean Gray
Sadie Jean & Co, Santa Rosa, California
Specialty: Balayage, blonding, pastel colors and braiding/styling.
Top-performing post: My most engaged post, ironically, was nothing to do with hair but everything to do with self-love and self-acceptance. I opened up about my recent weight and my struggles and how I’m nowhere near where I want to be but how thankful I am for where I AM. This post got 835 Likes, 272 comments, 13 shares and six saves.
Favorite apps: Split Pic Pro (to create my before and after photos, or straight vs waves, etc) and Facetune to smooth out the background and any possible blemishes that my guest may feel self-conscious about.
I follow: @caroline.anythingbutbasic, @ilikeprettyhair, @hairerik, @glamhairbymarie, @glamiris
Sadie Gray @sadiejcre8s
Sadie Gray @sadiejcre8s
Pro tip: My best tip to get the best results on Instagram posts is to talk to your audience how you would want to be talked to. Don’t try and say the right thing; but think about the advice that you would appreciate being given. Talk to yourself. My best engagement is when I don’t give a crap what anyone thinks.
Hidden talent: I am super, super good at painting pictures of cartoon characters onto nails. I don’t ever tell anyone that because I really don’t want to do it – it takes forever. You can give me a picture of a cartoon character, and I can make it appear on your nail exactly like the pic.
Fun fact: No joke, I can impersonate anyone: especially people I know; but not on command. I can remember conversations verbatim. I can pencil draw almost anything if you show me a picture. I can more than likely make you laugh without meaning to.
My audience follows me because: I think my audience likes to follow me because I’m as real and raw as they come. Trying to “fake it” isn’t my thing. If I feel like I have to “fake it,” then I just won’t post.
How social media changed my life: It’s changed my business in the way that it skyrocketed my career. I went from working just part time, to being booked six days a week for minimum 10 hours each day in a matter of six months. This resulted in me renting out my own space and opening my salon. With that said, I have two young daughters, and working that much changed how often I was around at home. I had to learn how to draw boundaries and cut my hours down (way down!). My FIRST priority was — and still is— my daughters and my family. However, I’m such a people pleaser this was more difficult than what it should’ve been. My growth in this has been huge for my life.
My first @modernsalon feature: MODERN SALON was the FIRST big feature page that noticed my work. I literally started jumping up and down and whooping and hollering. I called my mom immediately. This was one of my goals — to create content that a magazine page wanted to feature on their own page! THAT was my confirmation that I was moving on up. The work Modern posted was one that actually ended up going viral. I have had people steal as their own and even bring it to me off Pinterest as their “inspo” pic. They’re usually pretty shocked when I say, “Oh, that’s my work!”
Click here to the see the full list of this year's MODERN SALON 100.
Hannah Mejia believes lasting success comes from mastering your craft, embracing lifelong education and trusting that the career you dream about is within reach. A stylist, educator and content creator, Mejia has spent 15 years building a business rooted in creativity, communication and continuous growth.
Katy Samuels has spent 14 years proving that creativity thrives when you stop searching for the "right" way and start trusting your own instincts. Known for her creative color work and signature Headband Prism technique, Samuels encourages beauty professionals to embrace mistakes, refine their craft and develop a style that's uniquely their own.
Erin Munoz has spent 17 years building a thriving business behind the chair while proving that success doesn't have to come at the expense of life outside the salon. A color specialist, content creator and salon owner, Munoz believes beauty professionals should treat their careers like businesses, embrace change and make room for both financial growth and personal fulfillment.
North Carolina-based hairstylist Tyler Plemmons wants you to know one thing: Positivity and perseverance will get you everywhere. This MODERN SALON Artist Connective Member and 2018 MODERN SALON 100 Honoree is known for beautiful balayage, gorgeous vivids, and soft pastel hair color.
For Angelica Tanta, success has always come down to one thing: practice. Originally from Romania, Tanta credits an online mentor from Ukraine—despite never meeting in person and communicating through Google Translate—with inspiring her to perfect her bridal artistry through relentless repetition.
Angela Orozco believes long-term success in the beauty industry is built on trust, consistency and genuine human connection. A stylist at The Nest Salon in Brea, California, Orozco has spent 14 years cultivating a reputation for dimensional brunettes, precision haircutting and authentic relationships that have fueled her career.
Erin Mills believes beauty professionals deserve more than a successful career. A hairstylist turned multi-salon owner, Mills has spent 17 years growing her business while helping her team create lasting impact.
For Mish Jolie (@meltedbymish), success isn't measured by how busy you are, it's measured by how fulfilled you feel. The Connecticut-based stylist, educator and MODERN SALON 100 honoree has built a career around balayage, lived-in brunettes and razor cutting.
Amanda Harsche has built her career on two simple beliefs: never stop learning and never stop connecting.
Whether it's social media, fashion, film, art, or culture, Chaz Dean advises stylists to stay aware of what's inspiring people. Take the elements that make sense for you in these five lessons learned through a life in beauty.
For Jessica Domoney, building a successful career isn't about saying yes to every opportunity, it's about protecting your time, investing in yourself and creating an experience clients won't forget.
Transformation artist Melissa Dawn has spent more than two decades building a career that's equal parts creativity and business strategy. Dawn is known for dramatic transformations, creative color and a philosophy that encourages beauty professionals to keep learning, set healthy boundaries and define success on their own terms.
In an industry with so many options and opportunities, we asked artists what made them niche down and select a specialty. Amelia Fugitt (@ameliahairmakeup) says choosing to focus on transformations has transformed her career.
In this content series, we're focusing on artists who found a niche that really speaks to them and work for their career. Henry "Tribes" Amoloja (@theweightedcape), is based in Dallas, TX, and practices sensory-friendly barbering.
In an industry with so many options and opportunities, we asked artists what made them niche down and choose a specialty. Texas-based artist Kimberly Michelle has always loved focusing on healthy hair and scalp, and headspa rituals was a natural evolution.
In an industry with so many options and opportunities, we asked these artists what made them niche down and choose a specialty. See Caidy Brasure's perspective on specializing in editorial and special occasion styling.
In an industry with so many options and opportunities, we asked these artists what made them niche down and choose a specialty. See Shonda Harvey-Gayle's perspective on specializing in extensions.
