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SEARCHThe memories and meaning behind their inked art.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what does ink permanently injected in your skin worth? Throughout history, tattoos signified the wearer to such information such as ancestral tribes, social status and more recently, personal expression. Asking to pick a favorite tattoo is like asking a parent to pick who their favorite child is—their answer could vary by the day and hour—instead we asked the following inked barbers what tattoo held the most meaning to them and why.
Georgia Tournai @gtournai
Session barber, Palm Springs, CA
“Then another great cry went from the dust: Crazy Horse is coming! Off toward the West and North they were yelling ‘Hoka Hey’ like a big wind roaring and making the tremolo; and you could hear the eagle bone whistles screaming.” — Black Elk Speaks
"I faced a lot of adversity growing up, not because of my multiracial culture, but because I was growing up as a queer kid in a very conservative community. To me, ‘Hoka Hey’ is more than an indigenous battle cry at the Battle of Little BigHorn, it’s resilience. It’s a cry of passion and feeling, an outburst of looking fear directly in the face and conquering it. It stands for seeing hope when everything feels lost. It’s placement serves as a constant reminder of resilience and strength, that I CAN and WILL persevere.
"Leyna Adamson, @leyna_grace of @unioncolonyunderground has been tattooing me now for over 10 years and freehanded my head piece."
Rick Morin @dapeoplesbarber
Flawless Barber Shop, Corpus Christi, TX
“I was waiting for the perfect moment to introduce my tattoo that I got done about a year ago. Behold, “La Virgen Clipper”—it represents what I love most in life—God, my lovely wife Rosie for 15 years, and barbering.
"Tattoo artist @pinnaclechris removed the Virgen and replaced it with my favorite Cordless Wahl Senior, to represent my wife as being the mother to my children but also to represent the clipper being one of the motherhoods of barbering."
Paul Laurie @paulaurie
District Barber Shop, Buffalo, NY
"Some of my fondest memories when I was a kid was going down the street and spending time with my card-playing grandfather. He always had multiple games of solitaire set up and ready to play. In addition to solitaire, he taught me how to play rummy and a game we called Oklahoma. This tree in a prairie on my right shoulder is the picture on the back of the deck of cards we used all the time."
Sean Casey @twincutz_ceo
Sean Casey Hair Studio, Fort Myers, FL
"When I first started barbering school, I picked up an Andis Master Clipper and I have not used another clipper since. Any time I’m on stage educating and someone asks me what my favorite clipper is, I just point to my tattoo to let them know the love is organic and real."
Felicia Febo @lici_ladybarber
Hair Fluent Barber and Beauty Shop
Bury Saint Edmunds, England
"My forearm tattoo of the scissor impaling an apple, draped with a banner and words ‘Love, Learn, Teach’ is the essence of my values and what is at the core of my career. The apple is a representation of education and the scissors is my career as a barber/stylist. In the hardest moments in my life, I’ve always found solace in hair. I share my experiences and mentor others. My tattoo is my mantra and helps keep me focused toward serving my hair community."
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.
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.
