
Rodrick Samuels on The Silent Work, Modern Beauty Education and Why Empathy Wins
MODERN SALON sat down with Samuels to discuss the book, beauty education, mentorship and the habits that help beauty professionals thrive.
The cover style for this issue’s Texture! was created by Kansas City stylist and 2012 NAHA finalist Rusty Phillips.

The Texture cover look was shot at a recent MODERN SALON Artist Sesssion. Join editorial styling expert Maggie Mulhern with NAHA-nominated David Maderich and Roberto Ligresti for the next Artist Session workshop in New York City, October 2-3, and learn how to get your work published in magazines. Go to modernsalon.com/artistsession to sign up.
The cover style for this issue’s Texture! was created by Kansas City stylist and 2012 NAHA finalist Rusty Phillips. It’s the beautiful result of Phillip’s participation in MODERN SALON’s Artist Session, a workshop designed to guide salon professionals through the process of freelance styling as they develop their photo session skills and connect with like-minded salon professionals. The owner of Belle Epoque Salon, Phillips has not only taken the class several times himself, but has sent staff to experience the session.
Since launching seven years ago, Belle Epoque has twice been recognized as one of the SALON TODAY 200 fastest-growing salons, and Elle magazine has highlighted the business as one of America’s 100 Best Salons for the past three years. A stylist for more than 30 years, Phillips has forged a bond of trust with clients by customizing each client’s visit. Phillips is a consummate styling pro, and says each Artist Session is a haven where professionals learn from each other.
“I’ve learned to really go for it!” he says. “I held back a bit at my first session and, although pleased with my results, I knew I could do something more exciting. For this last session, I really pumped up the volume and texture.” It was an unforgettable experience!”
It was the model’s own hair, along with a tool tucked into the Artist Session Goody Bag, that inspired Phillips to create the look seen on the cover.
“My model had massively thick wavy hair, the kind of hair every woman dreams about,” he explains. “I wanted to create over-the-top volume and curl, and in the Goody Bag was a micro-crimper, so I created a distressed curl that was somewhat frizzy and ‘lived in.’” After prepping with styling cream, Phillips drypincurled all the hair and pressed each curl with the crimper. He brushed out the set, then used dry shampoo to create even more texture and volume.
His finished look along with the Artist Session Creative Team resulted in a fabulous cover for this issue of Texture.

MODERN SALON sat down with Samuels to discuss the book, beauty education, mentorship and the habits that help beauty professionals thrive.

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Ulta Beauty is always innovating to meet professionals where they are. Amazing transformations happened at The Salon at Ulta Beauty in 2025, and Ulta Beauty artistry and education will be everywhere you want to go in the year ahead. Come see all The Salon at Ulta Beauty has planned for you in 2026!
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