
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 Gila Rut Aveda Salons in San Diego have created a special hair fashion collection where color and cut work together to form a variety of fun, playful shapes. This collection, called Unison, quickly brings to mind island breezes, beachy waves and tropical, frothy blends of fruit sorbets and ice cream pastels.
The Gila Rut Aveda Salons in San Diego have created a special hair fashion collection where color and cut work together to form a variety of fun, playful shapes. This collection, called Unison, quickly brings to mind island breezes, beachy waves and tropical, frothy blends of fruit sorbets and ice cream pastels.
The collection’s inspiration is “Resortwear Hair,” the holiday-resort fashion season—a time for even hair fashion to ‘have fun’ on cruises, at parties, and while sun-seeking this season. However, not all resortwear for hair and clothes heads south to Mexico, Miami Beach or the Caribbean, according to salon owner Keri Davis, the looks they created for ‘Unison’ are ‘more than just about summer, resort or sun’.
“Many holiday-resort looks are also worn by our clients’ right in their own hometown by day—or also just about anywhere in the evenings. The collection is soft, sexy and very diverse in its overall presentation. It has a gossamer feel to the clothes and hair … its own kind of glamour.”
The ‘Unison’ Collection portrays pastel hues accenting each hair style. Achieve the color below with these color formulas:

ISLAND ICE:
THE LOOK: Hair is worn smooth and sleek with soft wisps at the side, and a side-sweep of fringe. A fresh sprig of mint contrasts against white ice blonde hair; fabric wrap in tones of coral, crème, mint and ocean blue. Shadow, lips and nails in hues of bright coral rose.
CREDITS:
Hair Design: Kim Creekmore
Color: Andrea Roy
Make-up: Michael P. Hart
Photography: Gary Lyons
TRY IT:
Desired Effect: Platinum, Light Peach and Dark Peach
Technical Application: Diagonal, Dimensional Highlight
Color Brand Used: Aveda Full Spectrum
Base Color: Previously pre-lightened hair
Highlight:
10 grams Universal 0N
2 grams Pure Orange
2 grams Pure Violet
40 grams 20-volume color catalyst
20 grams hot water (add water to mixed formula to create a water-colored version of the low light color)
Process for 10 minutes with no heat.
Lowlight:
10 grams Universal 0N
2 grams Pure Orange
2 grams Pure Violet
40 grams 20-volume color catalyst
Process for 20 minutes – no heat

TROPICAL TWIST
THE LOOK:Hair is whipped up into a frothy blend of waves, textures, twists and tendrils washed in pastel apricot hues throughout the hair. A peach-chiffon wrap is accented with ocean blue fabric roses. Coral-peach color combo accents the eyes and nails; lips are stained with tones of tuberose.
CREDITS:
Hair Design: Lisa Harris
Color: Hallie Eshleman
Make-up: Michael P. Hart
Photography: Gary Lyons
TRY IT: Lightened wig with a an enlightener cleanse of enlightener/20-volume. Blow dried with Aveda Daily Hair Repair and then colored each single section gradually with change in color.
Using Aveda Full Spectrum deposit only color:
Fringe:
20 grams 0N
8 grams dark RR
15 grams deposit only cream treatment (7-volume)
Using Aveda Full Spectrum deposit only color:
Middle Section: (above the ears – shorter pieces with texture):
20 grams 0N
4.5 grams dark RR (5-volume)
Using Aveda Full Spectrum deposit only color:
Back:
30 grams 0N
1 gram dark RR
Water combed through with a comb for 15 minutes until the desired shade is reached
Note: All is glossed with Aveda Full Spectrum 0N (5-volume) for 20 minutes; Rinse with cool water.

MISTY SEAS
THE LOOK: Hair features smoky hues of pastel amethyst that creatively ‘collide’ against deep sea green chiffon. Heavy geo-fringe frames the face in tones of a brighter sea green. Smoky amethyst shadow and coral-bronze lips complete the smoldering statement.
CREDITS:
Hair Design: Lisa Harris
Color: Andrea Roy
Make-up: Crystal Turnquist
Photography: Gary Lyons
TRY IT:
Desired Effect: Spearmint, Lilac and Platinum
Technical Application: Color Blocking
Color Brand Used: Aveda Full Spectrum
Fringe:
5 grams Universal 0N
1 gram Pure Green
5 grams 5-volume color catalyst
Process for 20 minutes – no heat.
Back:
5 grams Extra Lifting Crème
2 grams Pastel Violet
10 grams 5-volume color catalyst
Process for 20 minutes – no heat.
Side:
5 grams Universal 0N
1 gram Pastel B
10 grams 5-volume color catalyst
Process for 20 minutes – no heat.

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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