MENU
SEARCH10 Habits of a Young Stylist is a creative workshop for new beauty graduates or young stylists looking to expand their career in their own terms and is being offered at the International Salon and Spa Expo (ISSE) in Long Beach, CA, this weekend.
Cynthia Valdez
10 Habits of a Young Stylist is a creative workshop for new beauty graduates or young stylists looking to expand their career in their own terms and is being offered at the International Salon and Spa Expo (ISSE) in Long Beach, CA, this weekend. Created and orchestrated by Cynthia Valdez, owner / creative director of Vinyl Beauty Studio in Austin, TX, it is a workshop “to spark creative thinking.”
“In this class we want to look inside our tool box and see where we fit in, and find out if we love working in teams and want to be part of a big salon or if we are self-motivated and driven would be happier as an independent,” Valdez says. “I want to empower by sharing my experience as an intern, an employed stylist and also my success as an independent stylist in editorial and entrepreneurship. This success comes out of key behaviors, attitude and love of the craft.”
Habit #1
Habit of being a student - It starts at school and why you need to love our foundation. Learning to perfect rather than to master in the beginning is a key behavior we pick up at school and carry for the rest of our career.
Habit #2
Habit of Playing Nice – A habit of learning that we don’t have to always compete but rather inspire each other. How choosing a work environment that nurtures a healthy nice culture can help you achieve bigger dreams and create a community around your craft.
Habit #3
Habit of living your brand- “Your vibe attracts your tribe.” It’s about creating your best self and living to that standard. Sharing with peers and clients your brand and values will create a unique stamp on your work behind the chair and behind the scenes.
“In this class I will also provide small ‘goal digging’ booklets where we will fill out with our own goals, aspirations and plans of action to get there," Valdez says. "In this first five years of my career I believe I have achieved my bucket list dreams, added zeros to my bank account and I am just scratching the surface! My goal with this workshop is to inspire and create a space that I could not find when I left beauty school. I would like to provide some sense and clarity to the chaos that comes with starting your career, to spark interest in learning in a world where social media takes over and independence doesn’t always mean easy. If you find tools and resources to create your own reality for yourself and clients you can succeed at doing what you love."
To learn more about what to expect at this weekend’s ISSE, visit https://probeauty.org/isselb/
Originally posted on Modern Salon
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
