
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.
Mark South (@Marksouthmark) of Regis Salon-Cottonwood, Alburquerque, NM, had an opportunity to transform a new client. "This client hadn't cut her hair in three years and had been doing her own box coloring within that time frame. She ...




BEFORE
Mark South (@Marksouthmark) of Regis Salon-Cottonwood, Alburquerque, NM, had an opportunity to transform a new client. "This client hadn't cut her hair in three years and had been doing her own box coloring within that time frame. She started out with several inches of outgrown level 6 natural roots that met into the rest of her old box colored level 8 blonde with light brown lowlights. The desired look was a balayage ombre with a darker cool-toned base and light and icy cool-toned balayaged blonde. The whole transformation process took a total of 6 hours and included a haircut, base color correction, balayage ombre application, toning and styling."
Here South shares the HOW TO:
STEP 1: Separate hair into quadrants. Blend Matrix SoColor 1oz 5A + 1oz 6AA + 1oz 7P +10vol developer 3oz and apply to about 2 inches of the root throughout the hair in 1/2 inch sections.
STEP 2: Immediately follow with an application to the midstrands and ends using Matrix SoColor 1oz 6AA + 1oz 7P + 10vol developer 2oz, blending into the line of demarcation.
STEP 3: Process for 20 minutes and then shampoo and condition. Dry and smooth the hair with a roundbrush.
STEP 4: Part the hair into 3 sections: the back and two front side parts. Balayage with lightener and 20vol developer working from the back bottom of the head to the top front. Sections are placed into foils for a faster and even processing. Check often and rinse when the hair has lifted to level 10. Cleanse the hair and towel dry.
STEP 5: Tone with Matrix Color Sync 1oz 8P + 1oz 10N + 10vol developer 2oz. Heavily saturate the hair.
STEP 6: Process for 10 minutes and then shampoo and condition the hair.

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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