
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.
On National Hairstylist Appreciation Day, we asked the ones we appreciate, love and miss--the stylists--to share their thoughts on their life's work. "The connection and the creativity. Both are my therapy."

The Sexy Hair team of artists and educators
On National Hairstylist Appreciation Day, we appreciate every salon artist who creates art with hair and does it with love and care.
I love getting to be creative and making my clients feel beautiful!! 💞—Dawn Atkinson
I love the look on my client's faces when they love their hair. It's so touching & honoring when they instantly want to jump up & hug you!—Kristen Lenz
I love the work the hustle the instant gratification. The transformation that a simple movement of a cut can make. How a color can ignite the color of a client’s eyes. And the smile a client has after a session of hair manipulation and conversation. —Lonn Bogart Jr
Making people feel great about themselves—Jennifer Knechtel Neese
I love making people feel their best self.....it makes me happy to see others happy and feeling beautiful and sexy! 💞-Kaci Hutchison
I love to be able to touch their lives, not just their hair. Being with them through the ups and downs and being able to just let them relax for awhile. - Cynthia Freeman
I love being able to build relationships with clients and celebrate all their life’s milestones with them ♥️ —Jennifer Evans
I love the look on my client’s face when they love their hair. When you get a phone call and your client is just beyond happy with how their hair looks and the compliments they get!!Clients that have become family and look forward to spending 2 hour with you to catch up! Celebrating accomplishments they’ve made and life’s journey because they love the environment you’ve created for them in your salon. I’m blessed to be a Hairstylist! 🤩❤️—Lelia Baca
I love the contact with people and making them feel their best! Seeing their faces when we have finished our craft is truly rewarding. 💜 Changing the world one head at a time! 💖✨—Chelsea Christina Bratko
I love the bond we build. No matter what differences we may have we have one common goal. Getting them to look their best. It's never just hair. You are shaping how they will feel for weeks on end. Some of my greatest friendships started with hair.—Nellie O. Valdivia
I love the ability to make someone look in the mirror and see themselves as someone that is beautiful, confident and matters to those around them. For them to see what everyone else admires about them inside and out. —Sharon Renee Elliott
The connection and the creativity. Both are my therapy. -Tiffany Farris-Massey
I love that with making my clients feel good , they are making me feel good in return. I love that we work in an industry that is such a great community & that we can all always be unapologetically ourselves and it's accepted. And that no matter how crazy an idea you have, you have a million people supporting you 💕—Katrina Cahill
I love making a difference with a touch ,inspiring them, giving them confidence, making them feel beautiful. Giving them reasons to fall in love for who they are inside and out. What I love most is what " We" can do in 45mins to an hour can take them a lifetime to figure out.—Margaret McClellan
I love connecting with my clients while making them look and feel their best.--Shayla Robertson
I absolutely love having the ability to change someone’s self-perception and building a relationship at the same time! The look of pure satisfaction when they see their hair finished is so fulfilling. —Melanie Murray
What other profession is there where I get to go to work, tell stories, listen to stories, make people feel good, make them look beautiful and have fun doing it! And get paid for it all. I call that a win-win!-Dawn Mounts

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