Want to get inspired by gorgeous color and to-die-for styles? Then Stephanie Hodges (@stephhstyles) is your girl. 

Salon: Cleo Hair Salon, Oak Park, California

Specialty: Braids and fashion colors

Followers: 73.2K

Most viral post: My biggest viral post was a video of a braid I did. I think it was popular because it was a hand off braid where my guest and I pass sections back and forth to each other. You don’t really see many videos like this and as a result it was successful. We hope all of our videos go as crazy as this one did!

Favorite apps: VideoShop, I use this to create all of my video content. It’s nice because it controls speed, sound and size of the video. It also allows you to clip, cut or slice your clips so you can edit out the unnecessary bits; Perfect 365, if your beautiful guest needs a blemish covered or skin smoothed out this is the perfect app while leaving the hair alone; Facetune I mostly use to adjust the background of a photo. I like a clean pale background and the tones button really saves me.

Favorite hashtags: #modernsalon #brazilianbondbuilder #ittakesapro

I follow: @beyondtheponytail @roxiejanehunt @efidavies @alishajaredhairartistry @beyondtheponytail - Angela @angelacattaneohaor runs this feature page and really posts the most incredible images. I get a lot of inspiration from her page. She’s super talented too and through her feature page i got to know her and see her talent and as well. @roxiejanehunt - I took a color class from Roxie earlier this year and she really changes the way you look at a canvas. I highly recommend taking her class if you’re a colorist. @efidavies - she’s who I go to when I need to up my game. Her talent is so inspiring. @alishajaredhairartistry - My sweet and super talented friend who is so fun and creative. Her page will just make you happy. I always try and figure out her complicated designs to practice on my brides. She makes everything look so effortless and perfect.

Pro tips: I’ve been really in to natural light lately, and as long as you’re in indirect light you can get an amazing photo. Later in the afternoon when the light is blown out, I’ll take it inside and use my ring light. I always use a white background to keep it clean. I think each person has their own individual formula for their audience. I typically post after 9 p.m. PST. My west-coasters see the post before bed, and because there isn’t as much activity later in the night, my east coasters see the post fairly quickly in their morning feeds. That’s what works for me. I must admit my hashtags are generally the same for each post. I use geo tags, industry tags and tags specific to what I am posting.

Hidden beauty talent: I love to braid and style. I can study a look and most of the time pick it up rather quickly. There are some trickier maneuvers that take me a hot minute, but I am a determined woman and I get it eventually.

Hidden talent: I love refinishing furniture. I’ve taken almost every wooden surface in my home and changed it from its original color into something else. Right now I’m really into a farmhouse-meets-the- beach-house sort of vibe, and all of my furniture reflects that.

How social media changed my life: It’s changed everything. As I get older in this business, I look for opportunities that will expand my career options from just being behind the chair. Don’t get me wrong, my first love will always be to serve my guests to the best of my ability. I know these other opportunities will only make me better and stronger for my guests.

Tell us about the first time you were featured on MODERN SALON’s Insta: I don’t remember the exact photo that was featured, but I will always remember the feeling. I think I was on cloud nine for a week. To be recognized by such as influential publication was confirmation that I was walking the right path. Every post after that is an attempt to recreate that magic.

See the full 2018 MODERN SALON 100 here!