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.”
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.
Ad Loading...
I follow: @hairbymisskellyo, @mandaharcshe, @katkolors, @alexandralee1016, @thejesjewel
Courtney Gann (@courtgannhair)
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.
Ad Loading...
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.
Shannon Demont has found her calling, having taken her passions for hair, photography, social media strategy, and education, and rolling them all into one successful offering: hair photography education.
Skyla Kuykendall's work is the kind of hair that makes you happy. As a colorist who loves to blend natural with fantasy, she attributes her continued success in finding her dream clients to being her authentic self.
With more than four decades in the industry, hairdresser and MODE Education founder Stan Newton has built a career around the art and discipline of cutting hair, learning the rules so he can break them.
Ashley Leoncini believes success in beauty is built through genuine connection, resourcefulness and the willingness to evolve. A bridal specialist with 17 years in the industry, Leoncini has created a career by making clients feel valued, investing in hands-on education and redefining success to include a healthier work-life balance.
Able to create a shag with gorgeous texture on anyone, Stephanie Carrillo has found her calling within the beauty industry. Now she teaches shag cutting techniques herself, inspiring countless other stylists to fall in love with creating the popular look.
When you think of Stephanie Geib, think bold color. Think beautiful dimension. Think...your hairstylist best friend. As a 2017 Honoree of the MODERN SALON 100, Geib is the perfect example of being a positive force in the beauty industry, advising that being kind to others and sharing your knowledge is the real success.
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.