Celebrate Everything
When my son was about to start kindergarten, parents were invited to an orientation to meet the teachers. One of the questions posed by a parent was, “What holidays do you celebrate and recognize in your classroom?” The teacher took a pause, smiled, and said, “We celebrate EVERYTHING.”
Every time we have the privilege of featuring the work of our industry’s talented artists, something we have been doing for 100 years, or of recognizing our MODERN SALON 100, our annual list of gamechangers and changemakers, we are joyfully celebrating more than the work created. We’re also celebrating collaboration, community, connection, innovation, inclusion, empowerment, and all the things that we all love about this industry. We are celebrating EVERYTHING.
Our cover shoot from the Ulta Beauty team, led by Pro Team Members Michelle O’Connor and Danielle Keasling, recognizes the beauty of artistic expression and the transformative impact of creative thinking. Their chosen theme coinciding with MODERN’s 100 years is no accident; Ulta Beauty honored us by choosing to focus their photo shoot on a century of impactful hair moments and reimagining them. From 1924 to 2024, MODERN has been documenting the industry's journey and applauding its artists, and we are grateful to have these images inside our pages and on our cover.
Celebrating Change
Nicole Johnson, our digital content strategist, joined our team several years ago, and she has an important role in identifying and celebrating our MODERN SALON 100 artists.
“Having only been on the team for almost three of our 100 years, MODERN’s legacy has already had a profound impact on my enthusiasm about the professional beauty community,” says Johnson. “I am so proud to be part of the process of naming our MODERN SALON 100 each year. Getting to amplify and celebrate the most wonderful artists in the industry is the best part of what we do.”
One of our original gamechangers, Ash Fortis (@xostylistxo), shared her thoughts on some of the changes she celebrates in our industry. “One of the biggest changes I’ve seen is the growing conversation around inclusivity,” says Fortis. “We’ve made great strides in celebrating diversity and recognizing the unique contributions of every individual. It’s inspiring to see how we’re moving towards a more inclusive and welcoming environment, where everyone’s unique style and story can shine. I’m excited to see how we continue to grow in this direction and elevate the industry by embracing and celebrating our individual impacts.”
In 2024, Kait West (@kkait.westt) won the North American Hairstylist Award in the Student Category, and she has been named as one of our MODERN SALON 100 this year. As a relative newcomer to the industry, she echoes the sentiments of veteran Ash. "I love people, and I love the positive impact beauty has on every person it touches. Above all else, I admire this industry for its incredible diversity and its commitment to giving people a platform to voice and express themselves creatively. The beauty industry has no ceiling for creative individuals."
And that is something to celebrate.
Anne
Anne Moratto, Director, Brand Content Strategy, MODERN SALON
