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Editor in Chief, MODERN SALON
As Editor in Chief, Alison Alhamed shapes the content and voice for MODERN SALON's social media platforms, digital channels and monthly print magazine. Alison collaborates closely with salon professionals, social influencers, brands and industry personalities to connect them with our community of readers and followers. As a beauty editor, public speaker and licensed cosmetologist, Alison was named one of Folio magazine's 13 Under 30 emerging leaders in publishing. She regularly judges industry competitions; presents on how to build a following on social media; collaborates with brands on photoshoots, marketing and advertising campaigns; and is passionate about the professional salon industry.
Although OPI nail colors can be found in professional nail salons and beauty school academies all over the world--their latest color creation will only be available at Marinello Schools of Beauty.
Growing up in Carmel, Indiana, Patrick Mathes was interested in Barbie dolls, playing “house” or “nail salon” with girls from class or the neighborhood, rather than playing with his two brothers. “Up until sophomore year, I never really cared about school,” he says. “I threw away freshman year and just goofed off.” It wasn’t until Mathes’ mom insisted he get a job that his outlook on life changed. Mathes searched and searched for a good fit—trying desperately to find a job he actually enjoyed. Finally, when he got a job answering phones for his mother’s stylist at a little salon called Bekah’s, he knew he had found his passion.
The first salon Kimble worked in was as a shampoo girl, rinsing manes at her mother’s Trina’s Beauty Supply and Salon, in midtown Los Angeles. As she grew older, she started cutting and styling at Black Hair and More, and Radiantly Raw Barber and Hair Salon, both in Los Angeles.
It began in mountainous Bristol, Virginia, where Sherri Jessee grew up. “I was eleven years old when I started cutting my own hair—I really wanted to have Farrah Fawcett’s feathered hair and going to the salon was just something we didn’t do back then,” Jessee says. “So, I cut off an inch at a time, hoping my parents wouldn’t notice, and slowly began cutting in the layers.” Around the same time, after a “traumatizing” trip to the barbershop with her father, Jessee became the personal stylist for her younger sister, Karen (who now works with her as her salon manager).
As a renowned international platform artist, styling and cutting genius and Hollywood insider, Michael Shaun Corby raises the bar on innovation daily at Alterna Professional Haircare, where he is the Global Creative Director. Prior to joining Alterna, Corby has created fabulous hair that has graced TV, chart-topping music videos, and A-list films. Corby trained under top stylists José Eber and Umberto of Beverly Hills, learning the techniques he would later take to the next level and offer to Alterna salons around the world through his state-of-the-art educational programs.
Whether she’s behind the scenes at a runway show, in front of the camera on Shear Genius 3 or behind the chair doing freelance editorial hair, Faatemah Ampey has star power. Although she was born in Greenville, Mississppi, Ampey calls Minnesota home. Her parents moved the family to Minnesota at the age of five where, growing up, she always imagined she’d become a doctor or writer. Yet, her mother saw something different in Ampey, even at an early age she expressed an interest in art, writing and self expression.
As a beginner in the industry, no doubt you’ve experienced a time where you felt unsure of yourself, uncertain of your talent and capabilities in the salon—what if I’m not good enough? What if I mess up? What if they leave unhappy? The truth is, every successful stylist has experienced the fear, the uncertainty and the anxiety. Even the most successful stylists had challenges in cosmetology school, felt the anxiety of servicing their first client, and felt the fear when applying for their first salon job. But they persevered through the challenges. As we often hear, ‘Success is a journey, not a destination’—this expression holds true as we talk to some the industry’s finest about their challenges, their successes and their first salon jobs.
Across the globe beauty is defined differently by various cultures How beauty is taught in international cosmetology schools is very different as well! We talk to Sana Verho, business development manager for Pivot Point Pakistan, about what it’s like to be a beauty school student in a country bordered by China, India and Afghanistan.
The American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) is a network of more than 900 schools dedicated to providing excellence in beauty education, and to champion a message of “Beauty Changes Lives.” Discover how beauty changed the lives of Gill-Tech Academy of Hair Design owner Sheryl Bruemmer, school director Sandra Wagner and a young woman from Ukraine, and how their Dream Project is helping to change the lives of others.
Cosmetologists Chicago (CC) and its more than 8,000 salon professional members, enthusiastically invites all cosmetology students to participate in Rising Stars 2011 Hair, Make-up and Fashion Photo Competition JUST FOR STUDENTS!
Nick Arrojo began his career in beauty at Vidal Sassoon in his hometown of Manchester, England, and, after completing the company’s training program at 21, was appointed their youngest-ever assistant creative director.
I just got wind of Pivot Point International's new Electrical Styling Tool Kit for cos students—and it is very cool! Not only does the styling and maintenance kit contain all of the essential "tools of the trade" for cosmetologists, but it also gives detailed care and maintenance information to help educators develop the best practices for tool care among their students.
In phase three of beauty school, Pivot Point has students participate in a photo shoot--conceptualizing a "story," developing hair, make-up and wardrobe, and then executing the looks to be photographed for our portfolios.
Held during the Professional Beauty Association’s Beauty Week, Beacon brought together students from across the country for three days of networking and learning from some of the most iconic salon owners, managers and leaders in the industry. The program kicked off with the Beacon Bash—bringing together Beacon attendees and the 100 students who entered the “Making Beauty My Business” competition. Emceed by industry icon Geno Stampora, throughout the event students learned about setting goals from Brooke Carlson and Sherri Jessee of Conair Professional; Tabatha Coffey talked about her trek to success; Cynthia DeSoto discussed the evolving role of the beauty pro; students met with Shear Genius 3 winner Brig Van Osten; and got a taste of what’s happening on Capitol Hill and how the industry is being affected.
Whenever I interview famous hairdressers, or really successful and talented people in the industry, I always ask them what their biggest challenge was while in beauty school. I expect to hear things like retailing to clients, cutting a specific hair style, or styling a a specific hair texture. NO! I pretty much, without fail, always hear the same thing: FINGERWAVES!
According to Crystal Focus Salon Coaching, salon client retention is at a historic low—average repeat client retention is at 79 percent, and new client retention is at 29 percent. Salon Today asked a salon coach and two salon owners to give us their perspective on what salons can do to boost their client retention number. Here’s what they had to say:
Lindsey's Beacon Blog "...This weekend was more than I could have asked for and I hope that I'll be able to return next year to be able to attend the NAHA awards!"
