Mustafa Avci
Handles: @mustafaavci; @mustafasworkshop
Salon: Salon M, Brooklyn, New York
Followers: 462K; 67.1K
It was in early 2014 when Mustafa Avci tagged @modernsalon with an image of a client with beautiful cascading waves—an image we couldn’t ignore. At the time, Avci had less than 1,000 Instagram followers. We began to frequently check up on his page, which is filled with giant chignons, beautiful updos, elegant bridal finishes and oodles of clients sporting his signature, breathtaking waves. We gladly regrammed. Every time we looked, Avci had another sensational look. Within months, he had 10,000 followers, and when he broke 100,000, we were as happy as he was. At our most recent check, that number has grown to 391K on his personal page and 69.8K on his workshop page—all devoted, international followers.
Effortless? No. Avci continually creates new looks on clients, models and mannequin heads, and he never misses a chance to post. He regularly holds workshops in his Brooklyn, New York, salons and travels across the country teaching the latest in his signature Hollywood waves and dramatic updos.
Avci was named one of MODERN SALON’s 2015 game-changers, and now he’ll serve as a special-occasion stylist in our 2017 Artist Collective. From his technical expertise to his humility and kindness, we can’t get enough of Mustafa Avci!
Ruby Torrealba
Handle: @missrockabillyruby
Based: Los Angeles
Followers: 166k
Sexy Hair Educator and Social Media Coordinator Ruby Torrealba walks her talk, living with a vintage sensibility every day. A hairdresser, makeup artist and model, specializing in bridal, Old Hollywood, modern and special-occasion styles, she conducts classes in Kitten Retro Glamour with her Miss Ruby's Beauty School.
“Old Hollywood is my first inspiration and I grew up in a house where it was alive and well,” Torrealba says on her website. “My dad was always playing music from the 1940s-1960s, and I've always been enamored with the styles of that era.”
Torrealba started her training at the original Aveda Institute in Minneapolis and has more than 11 years of experience under her belt. In 2017, Torrealba earned herself a spot as one of the top-five finalists in MODERN’s Haute Holiday contest with a smooth, no-hair-out-of-place upstyle.
Hannah Nell Holsomback
Handle: @bighairedhannah
Based: Birmingham, Alabama
Followers: 19.5K
Hannah Nell Holsomback is a 24-year-old freelance artist specializing in braids, updos and bridal hair. Her Instagram feed consists of day-of looks from readying her brides and bridesmaids, close-up detailing of braids, boho looks and beyond.
“I remember the first time I booked a wedding a girl reached out to me on Instagram after seeing a picture of hair I posted,” she says. “I was still in cosmetology school so I was so shocked! I love being able to reach so many different people by just posting a photo.”
Holsomback’s creations earned her a spot on the 2017 MODERN SALON 100 list of game-changers. She also was the grand prize winner of Kenra Professional’s #KeepitUndone updo contest, earning her a spot at MODERN SALON’s Artist Session photoshoot workshop in New York City.
Sydney Ann Lopez
Handle: @sydneyannlopezhair
Salon: Headlines Hair Design, Denton, Texas
Followers: 11.4K
Sydney Ann Lopez is one of the most encouraging, supportive, talented stylists MODERN SALON is following on Instagram. She regularly posts work throughout the day that has become so recognizable to our editors, we know who is sharing with us before we even see her name. She's best known for her vibrant and pastel color creations, but she also earned a spot on our MODERN SALON 100 for her beautiful braiding and styling skills. Lopez credits social media to stretching her creative muscles.
“I graduated cosmetology school in 2012, and at that time we were only taught all-over color, highlights and lowlights,” she says. “Balayage, colormelts, ombre, sombre, foilayage, base-breaking, pastels and metallics are just a few examples of how quickly social media has progressed our world of color. Without social media for learning, I would not only be behind, but I would find my creativity stifled.”
And, to earn even more much-deserved attention on her posts, Lopez doesn’t shy away from styling her color creations into waves, ponies and braids.
Galyna Poczciwinski
Handle: @ufirami
Salon: Ulta Beauty, Milford, Connecticut
Followers: 2,241
A senior designer at Ulta Beauty, Galyna Poczciwinski was the grand-prize winner MODERN’s 2017 Haute Holiday contest.
Poczciwinski specializes in cut, color and styling. Her Instagram page is sure to inspire—no matter your expertise. Her braids and upstyles make her a perfect judge in the search of crowning an equally impressive special-occasion styling winner.
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