
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.
Embrace the importance of continued learning with these three smart ideas for your personal education plan.

Photography: Getty Images

You snooze, you lose. It’s especially relevant for hairstylists. If you don’t keep current on trends―and the skills you need to create them―you’ll lose clients because they’ll move on. Education is the answer, so embrace the importance of continued learning. Here are three smart ideas for your personal education plan.
Go Online
Many pros enjoy viewing online tutorials by their favorite educators and beauty influencers. Here are some sites that offer comprehensive online education:
ProBeauty Central is SalonCentric’s new site for the beauty community featuring expert content from the hottest artists and educators, along with how-tos, formulas, career building tips, inspiration and more.
Sam Villa is a pioneer in online education, and you’ll find hundreds of cutting, styling and professional development videos on his site.
Kenra Professional. If you have a little bit of free time between clients, hop on this site for quickie color and styling videos. You can find gems like celebrity stylist David Lopez demoing his go-to beach wave technique in under four minutes.
Pravana on SalonCentric. Among the educational videos here, you can watch Vivids contest winner Kristin Forbes re-create her Butterfly Ink hair color design.
Get Your Hands in Hair
Video training is great, but nothing surpasses the value of getting your hands in hair. Many brands offer a diverse selection of hands-on classes—here are just a few:
Sexy Hair Women’s Long Haircut and Men’s Medium Taper. Upgrade your approach to two of the most-requested haircuts in every salon!
Matrix Advise Me: #SocialMedia101. The newest addition to Matrix’s robust education lineup offers in-depth training on how to craft, develop and grow your social media profile.
Pulp Riot Indie Education. Pulp Riot’s squad of social media-acclaimed educators will craft bespoke in-salon classes. Check out the roster to find an educator or existing event near you.
Check in with Your SalonCentric Partners
Many manufacturers offer rewards programs that allow you to earn points towards educational classes. They may be held at the company’s educational studio, or the company might send an educator to your salon. If your manufacturer partner is part of the L’Oréal Professional group (Matrix, Redken, Pureology, L’Oréal Professionnel, Kerastase and Shu Uemura Art of Hair), the LEVEL Loyalty program lets you earn and redeem points across brands—just visit the pro site of your favorite brand for more information. Or check out the Saloncentric loyalty program to take advantage unique educational opportunities.
Find more articles like this on SalonCentric.com

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

"The mistake people make is treating AI like a vending machine instead of a personal assistant." Digital marketing expert Scott Moon shares how beauty professionals can use AI while staying authentic

Real-world advice on creativity, consultations, color, burnout, business, boundaries, inclusivity, client care, and career growth from educators and industry experts.

Today's clients are hearing more about longevity, biohacking, inflammation, and healthy aging than ever before. This article explores the science and language behind the skin longevity movement, and what it could mean for client consultations, treatment recommendations, and professional credibility.

Licensed to Thrive, Anna Manukyan's all-in-one beauty career and financial masterclass, is being gifted to professionals who enroll in L'Oreal LEVEL Rewards for a limited time.

From breaking free of external validation to creating joy-based goals, discover a more sustainable and fulfilling path to success.

A full day of education for hairstylists and salon pros focused on pricing, personal branding, client experience, social media, and long-term career growth.

From working backstage at multiple Paris Fashion Week shows to collaborating on four creative collections and expanding her international stage work, Michelle Bowden has had an incredible year of growth. Here, we break down her approach that drove her momentum, offering a framework for stylists looking to elevate their own careers.

This marks Ulta Beauty’s first scholarship partnership with Beauty Changes Lives, building on years of enthusiastic support for the organization and its mission.

Locally owned Great Clips salons offer a wide variety of career opportunities, competitive compensation, supportive salon teams and opportunities to grow your skills, both technically and professionally.
Sponsored by Great Clips

Salon suite consultant Karen Kaminski explains why cheap salon suite rent can destabilize the salon suite business model and why value-based pricing may be a smarter strategy.

These stylists practice hairdresser magic, transforming clients into unicorns, mermaids, rainbows and living works of art.

Keratin Complex is taking education on the road in 2026 with the launch of KC on Tour, a live event series featuring industry icon and salon business coach Tabatha Coffey.

Modern professionalism is evolving beyond hard skills. Technical training is essential but about 85 percent of job success comes from soft skills. In a world where AI and automation are increasing, human connection becomes more valuable, not less.

In his new book "The Creative Mastermind," a writer and creative executive behind brands such as "Top Chef," "Fear Factor," and "Real Housewives," shares his insider knowledge for navigating today's chaotic content landscape.

Personalization is no longer just the cherry on top; it’s the whole sundae. If clients don’t feel like you designed and personalized the experience just for them, they’ll find a salon that does.

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!
Sponsored by Ulta Beauty