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.

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.

Multi-Disciplinary Creative
3Jay Productions

Jalia Pettis is a multidisciplinary makeup artist, hairstylist, educator, and creative director based in Arizona. As a session stylist, she has collaborated with global brands, celebrities, and athletes, earning top industry honors including NAHA Makeup Artist of the Year (2022) and multiple international award nominations. Recognized for her thoughtful, detail-driven, and inclusive approach, Jalia is known for blending artistry with strategy. She is equally passionate about educating the next generation of beauty professionals through speaking, mentorship, and industry education. As the Visionary of 3Jay Productions, she leads a creative agency producing campaigns, editorial content, and branded experiences, bringing bold ideas to life through intentional visual storytelling.

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.  

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
The Donna Jean Hair Restoration Clinic

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.

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.