Founder
The Anti Co.

Alex Pardoe—also known as Alex Pardashian—is a celebrity colorist and extension specialist at Mèche Salon in Beverly Hills. Known for bespoke extensions and effortless, lived-in color, Pardoe has also educated hairstylists internationally. He is the creator of The Anti Co., a professional hair-extension brand developed to deliver natural-looking texture, density and movement.

Stylist, Educator
@combined_theories

Angelina Almadanat is a nationally recognized hairstylist, educator, platform artist, and owner of Combined Theories Salon with more than 20 years of experience in the professional beauty industry. A longtime RUSK artist and educator, Angelina has built a career blending technical artistry, education, and entrepreneurship.

Her work has taken her from behind the chair to stages and fashion events around the world, including New York Fashion Week and international editorial work featured in Vogue Italia. As a salon suite owner, Angelina is passionate about helping beauty professionals build successful careers while staying true to their creativity and purpose.

Known for her belief that “cutting is done with intention, and color tells the story,” Angelina continues to inspire stylists to elevate their craft, grow their business, and create opportunities beyond the chair.

Stylist, Bridal Specialist
@herdeesigns_

Deanna is a passionate stylist who has built her career around creating beautiful hair, fostering meaningful connections, and continuously growing within the industry. She loves learning, sharing her knowledge with others, and being part of a community that inspires her to push herself both creatively and professionally.

Outside of the salon, Deanna is a proud boy mom who cherishes time with her family and friends. She enjoys being outdoors and making the most of life's little moments in between the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Success and Systems Coach
@hairbyhunty

As a salon suite owner himself, he built his clientele to 3 months booked solidwith 5 new client requests a week, which let him cut back to 3 days behind thechair while earning six figures.

He has spent the past 8 years mentoring more than 3,000 beauty prosworldwide, with recognition including Modern Salon's Top 100, BeautyLaunchpad's 30 Under 30, and Face of Sola.

Through The Modern Hairstylist Podcast (327K+ downloads) and 25Kfollowers across platforms, he shows suite renters, solo artists, and salonowners how to build a fully scaled, automated business behind the chair.

Owner & Stylist
Wild Bloom Hair Studio

Kayla Schoener is the owner and stylist behind Wild Bloom Hair Studio in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. With nearly 20 years behind the chair, hair has always been a huge part of who she is—but opening Wild Bloom was the decision that completely changed the way she looked at her career.

After years of working in the industry, Kayla took a chance on herself and opened her own private salon suite, wanting to create a space that felt more personal, comfortable, and true to who she was as a stylist. It was exciting, but it definitely wasn’t without some scary moments, financial stress, and plenty of wondering, “What did I just do?”

Today, Kayla has built a busy, loyal clientele and a career that feels more like her than ever. She specializes in dimensional color, blonding, lived-in color, gray blending, and extensions, but what she loves most is making people feel good when they sit in her chair.

She’s still learning, growing, and figuring things out as she goes—and she’s a big believer that sometimes the best things happen when you’re willing to get a little uncomfortable and bet on yourself.

Vice President of Member Development 
My Salon Suite

Kelly Westbrook's passion for the beauty industry is not just a career; it's a calling that has blossomed over an impressive 35-year journey, intertwining her love for the craft with her professional path.

After her career, rooted in salon first and evolving to sales and education, flourished through her rewarding positions with some of the most respected nail, skin, and hair brand manufacturers and distributors. Kelly's enthusiasm for the industry shone brightly as she led sales and education for iconic brands such as Redken, Matrix, Goldwell, and John Paul Mitchell Systems, where she empowered beauty professionals to reach new heights.

After enriching the salon world for over 20 years, Kelly's heartfelt commitment to growth and learning guided her to cosmetology schools. There, she dedicated herself to coaching and mentoring the bright minds at Paul Mitchell Schools, helping shape the Future Professionals and Team Members with the same passion that fueled her own career.

Continuing to share her enthusiasm, Kelly was honored to join Paul Mitchell Advanced Education, contributing to the franchise's Corporate Training programs. Her genuine desire to uplift others in their educational journey is a reflection of her belief that personal and professional growth go hand in hand.

For Kelly, every step in her career has been a step towards fulfilling her dream of elevating the beauty industry. As she continues to guide and encourage beauty professionals and suite owners, Kelly's career and passion remain beautifully entwined, inspiring all those fortunate enough to work alongside her.

As the Vice President of Member Development at MY SALON Suite since 2018, Kelly's in-depth knowledge and nurturing mentorship have become a beacon of inspiration and support for Suite Owners and Franchise Owners alike.

Owner and Coach
The BeautyPro Coach

As an internationally certified coach, salon & spa owner and host of The BeautyPro Podcast, Krystine Sherwood educates beauty & barber professionals to reach their OWN VERSION of success through 1:1 coaching programs, in-salon education and online programs. Krystine uses her degrees in Public Law, Public Relations and, of course, her life experiences in the beauty industry to sell out classes, be a mainstage educator, retreat speaker, and writer at events like the Premiere Shows, Be Well Shows, PA Beauty Expo, and the Beauty Trade Show of the Great Smoky Mountains. Her topics include marketing, business development, boundaries, mindset, and leadership.  

Founder & CEO
Laced Hair

Lacy Gadegaard-West is a celebrity hairstylist, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of Laced Hair. With more than 20 years behind the chair, Lacy has built her career around transforming hair and helping women feel confident, both as a stylist and as a beauty industry leader. She founded Laced Hair with a vision to create a luxury hair brand rooted in premium extensions, professional education, and nourishing hair and scalp care that delivers real results, while also giving back to women experiencing medical hair loss.

What began as a stylist-driven vision has grown into a multifaceted brand serving both beauty professionals and consumers through Laced Hair Extensions, Laced Hair Care, Laced Academy, and the Laced Hair Foundation.

Known for identifying gaps in the extension market, including the need for more dimensional and rooted color options, Lacy has helped shape Laced Hair around innovation, education, and real-world stylist needs. She is equally passionate about giving back. Through the Laced Hair Foundation, the brand has helped more than 165 women experiencing medical hair loss over the past two years.

Lacy’s leadership blends artistry, business strategy, community, and resilience. Her own experience navigating an MS diagnosis has further shaped her perspective on purpose and perseverance. Today, she continues to lead Laced Hair’s growth while advocating for education, confidence, and creating opportunities for beauty professionals at every stage of their careers.

Elite Stylist
Ulta Beauty

With more than 12 years of experience in the beauty industry, Luis Rodriguez has built a career centered on artistry, education, and inspiring fellow beauty professionals. He currently serves as an Elite Stylist at Ulta Beauty and is a proud member of the Ulta Beauty Artist Collective, where he collaborates alongside some of the industry's most respected artists and educators. 

Luis holds a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Puerto Rico, allowing him to naturally combine two of his greatest passions: beauty and teaching. Throughout his career, he has educated hairstylists in Ulta Beauty salons across North America, created professional educational content for Hairbrained, and taken the stage at major beauty shows and industry conventions throughout North America and Puerto Rico to share techniques, creativity, and inspiration with other professionals. 

Beyond Ulta Beauty, Luis is a Clairol Professional Top Artist within the Wella Company family of brands. Through his work as a professional brand educator, he has educated beauty professionals and distributor sales teams on new products, innovations, techniques, and the knowledge needed to confidently support the professional salon community. Most recently, Luis expanded his artistry by joining the Briogeo Artist Team, marking another exciting milestone in his career. 

His experience also extends into editorial and commercial artistry, including Ulta Beauty photo and marketing shoots and work featured on magazine covers in Puerto Rico earlier in his career. 

Known for his passion for hair color, creative techniques, and education, Luis has become a trusted resource among fellow professionals for technical knowledge, inspiration, and creative problem-solving. He believes that the most impactful artists never stop learning - and that sharing knowledge is one of the most powerful ways to elevate the beauty industry. 

For Luis, artistry goes beyond creating beautiful hair. It is about inspiring others, sharing knowledge, pushing creative boundaries, and helping the next generation of beauty professionals see what is possible. 

Owner
Michele Pritchard HAIR

Michele Pritchard is a 20+ year hairstylist, salon owner, educator, content creator, and beauty industry innovator based in West Chester, Pennsylvania. A 2018 Modern Salon Top 100 Hairstylist, Michele has spent her career behind the chair while continually finding new ways to educate, inspire, and empower beauty professionals to build more successful careers and businesses.

As the owner of Michele Pritchard HAIR, Michele leads a growing salon team while continuing to work behind the chair, educate hairstylists, create content, and explore new opportunities for beauty professionals to grow beyond traditional salon models. Her passion lies at the intersection of artistry, business, education, and modern-day marketing.

In 2020, Michele was one of the early voices in the professional beauty industry advocating for affiliate marketing as a new way for hairstylists to sell professional haircare online and create additional income beyond the chair. She personally reached out to professional haircare companies, encouraging them to develop affiliate programs specifically for hairstylists. What began with 15 brands featured in Modern Salon’s original coverage grew through her continued outreach and advocacy to more than 20 brands, helping inspire a much broader movement toward affiliate opportunities within the professional beauty industry.

Michele was also an early pioneer in using social media to educate consumers and demonstrate the potential of online influence for hairstylists. She grew her TikTok audience to more than 200,000 followers during the platform’s early growth, creating viral content around haircare, hair types, hot tools, and product recommendations. She used social media not only to stay connected with clients between appointments, but to show hairstylists that their expertise could reach—and serve—an audience far beyond the salon chair while creating new opportunities for online retail and revenue.

Michele has been featured by Modern Salon and other industry publications and brands for her innovative approach to marketing, retail, education, and career growth. She brings a unique perspective to the industry as someone who is simultaneously a working stylist, salon owner, educator, entrepreneur, and content creator—and who believes that the future of the beauty industry belongs to professionals who are willing to evolve, think differently, and create their own opportunities.

Educator of the Year, NAHA 2026

Business Education Ambassador
Oligo Professionnel

Nina Tulio was named the 2026 North American Hairstylist Awards (NAHA) Educator of the Year and was recognized as MODERN SALON's Honoree of the Year in 2023.

A former hairstylist of 20 years and commission salon owner for 11 years, Nina is now an international business coach, motivational speaker, and Business Education Ambassador for Oligo Professionnel. She's walked the path from behind the chair to business leadership and is passionate about helping beauty professionals build careers—and lives—they love.

Educator, Photographer, and Stylist
@ShannonDemont

Shannon Demont is a hair photography educator and professional speaker who teaches hairstylists how to turn their client work into content that attracts ideal clients, grows their following, and increases their income.

As the founder of the Hair Photography Academy, she's built a community of over 35,000 hairstylists and travels the country delivering in-person classes and speaking engagements that are anything but boring. Shannon has a gift for breaking down intimidating topics - like lighting, camera settings, and content strategies - into simple, actionable steps that stylists can use behind the chair the very next day.

Global General Manager
EXO-GROW

Radiating infectious energy and resilience, Tracey Hughes is a natural at unlocking potential and inspiring greatness. With a presence that has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and reached more than half a million hairstylists, Tracey’s impact is undeniable.

 Whether as a Keynote Speaker, MC, Educator, Hair Director, or Brand Leader, Tracey brings prestige to every event. From her humble beginnings in hairdressing to a standout career in business, she is now a Global General Manager. Tracey connects deeply with audiences, driving powerful transformations and creating unforgettable experiences that inspire change and growth.

Awarded 8× Educator of the Year, 10× Salon of the Year, 2× Colourist of the Year, 2× Hairdresser of the Year, Tracey’s commitment to the hairdressing industry was recognized when she was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Australian Hair Industry Awards in 2018.

Founder & Colorist
Short Story Hair Color

Victor Scotti, Jr. is the founder of The Donna Jean Hair Restoration Clinic in Arlington, Virginia, where he builds custom, texture-accurate cranial prostheses for patients navigating alopecia, chemotherapy, and scalp trauma. He is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Instructor, a Certified Cranial Prosthesis Engineer, a student of trichology through the International Association of Trichologists, and a TRICARE-authorized provider.

Victor's path to the chair began far from it. Raised on the South Side of Chicago, he studied Sociology and Urban Education at the University of Pennsylvania before spending more than a decade inside Google and Netflix leading HR, DEI, and student-development work. In 2023, a layoff opened an unplanned door; he followed his own hair journey into the beauty industry and opened his own suite. Months later, after his mother, Donna Jean, completed an eight-year battle with cancer, he pivoted the practice entirely in her honor — building the medically safe, culturally fluent restoration care she deserved, and naming the clinic for her.

Today, Victor's work sits at the intersection of craft, clinical care, and community — serving Black, Brown, and Queer patients who are too often left behind by the standard medical hair-loss supply chain. He was named a 2026 Face of Sola Studios and a Zoom Solopreneur 50 honoree, and is a member of the American Hair Loss Council. He speaks and teaches on the craft of medical hair restoration, the trichology every stylist can use, and what it takes to build a mission-driven specialty practice.

Owner
Whitney Handz Brand

Whitney is a Pennsylvania-licensed cosmetologist, salon owner, and hair industry professional with more than 20 years of experience. Based in Abington, PA, Whitney specializes in healthy hair care, including precision cutting, coloring, loc maintenance, extensions, natural styling, braiding, silk presses, texturizing, and hair restoration.

Her extensive career includes celebrity, runway, editorial, and international hairstyling, including serving as co-lead hairstylist for Paris Fashion Week and working with Philly Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, New York Swim Week, and the Bronner Brothers International Beauty Show. She has also been featured in magazines for her hair restoration products, editorial work, and entrepreneurship.

In addition to her salon services, Whitney offers mobile appointments for elderly clients and travels to Charlotte, NC, twice monthly to serve select clientele. Her passion is helping clients maintain healthy, beautiful hair while providing expert care, education, and restoration solutions.

Owner and CEO
YureeshStyle

Yureesh Hooker is a hairstylist, educator, entrepreneur, and communication expert who has spent 26 years working behind the chair and more than 20 years educating beauty professionals. Over the course of his career, he has trained thousands of professionals in haircutting, communication, leadership, business development, and facilitation. He is Founder & CEO of YureeshStyle, a company he has led for more than 12 years, and previously served as Assistant Vice President of Education for Mizani, Pureology, and Biolage.

Group Publisher - Beauty, Health & Wellness Group:

MODERN SALON

SALON TODAY

NAILS

BARBERING TODAY

MODERN Spa & Wellness

Director of Brand Content Strategy
MODERN SALON & NAILS

Anne Moratto has spent over 20 years in professional beauty, championing the people, artists, and brands that make the industry so compelling.

Digital Content Strategist
BBM Beauty, Health & Wellness

Nicole Johnson is a writer and editor with a special interest in the beauty industry. As a lifelong beauty client and a former receptionist for a large salon spa group, she has gained invaluable experience in the world of beauty. She assists our Editors in Chief with all things content, including web and magazine content, social media and events.