FEATURED EDUCATOR
Leysa Carrillo
Leysa Carrillo is a Cuban-born, Florida-based celebrity hairstylist with over 18 years of experience. Renowned for her innovative color work and expertise in all textures but more ocurly hair, she is the founder of Forever Curls Academy and a Redken Brand Ambassador. A national and international educator, Leysa is a two-time American Influencer Award winner and was nominated for NAHA Educator of the Year. She made history as the first woman to win two BTC #OneShot Awards in one night and earned Hairbrained’s 2024 Color Video of the Year. Her work has gone viral, with features in Allure, INSIDER, Yahoo News, Seventeen, and more. Drawing inspiration from fashion and pop culture, she blends creativity with education, inspiring stylists worldwide through stage appearances and digital platforms.
FEATURED EDUCATOR
Rashuna Durham
Rashuna “Shuna” Durham is an award-winning salon owner of 20 years, platform artist, and Global Lead Pro Educator for Amika based in upstate New York. Honored with the New York State Senate Empire Award for her contributions to the beauty industry and community, Rashuna brings more than a decade of backstage experience at New York Fashion Week, along with editorial work featured in leading beauty and lifestyle publications. Passionate about creating healthy, beautiful hair for every texture, Rashuna combines behind-the-chair artistry with education, mentorship, and platform work to inspire both stylists and clients. She is committed to empowering beauty professionals, elevating industry standards, and championing inclusivity, innovation, and healthy hair in the professional beauty space.
FEATURED PANELIST
Ashleigh Taylor
Ashleigh Taylor is a master colorist, educator, speaker, and founder of Taylor & York LLC.Based in Washington, D.C., she is known for creating customized luxury color experiences that blend technical excellence with artistic vision. Ashleigh believes hair color is more than a service—it is a powerful form of communication, confidence, and self-expression. Through her work as an educator and mentor, she helps beauty professionals elevate their craft, create exceptional client experiences, and build sustainable, purpose-driven careers. Whether behind the chair or on stage, Ashleigh is passionate about advancing the beauty industry throughcraftsmanship, education, and community.
FEATURED EDUCATOR
Jeannetta Walker-Rodgers
Jeannetta Walker-Rodgers is a Moroccanoil Global Ambassador, Technical Educator, Certified Master Colorist, and textured hair specialist with more than 20 years of experience behind the chair. Renowned for transformational color, healthy hair, and extension artistry, she is passionate about creating beautiful results across all hair textures.
Based in Chicago, Jeannetta's work has been featured in Allure, InStyle, Modern Salon, American Salon, Estetica, Behindthechair.com, and other leading industry publications. She has educated on major stages including Behind the Chair, Hair Love Retreat, and Textured Hair Elevated, and has partnered with brands such as CosmoProf and SalonCentric to bring education and innovation to stylists worldwide.
As an educator, Jeannetta is dedicated to empowering beauty professionals through inclusive education, technical excellence, and healthy hair practices. She is passionate about helping stylists build confidence, refine their craft, and elevate their careers while championing artistry across every texture.
FEATURED EDUCATOR
Greg Gilmore
Greg Gilmore is a Celebrity Colorist, Haircutting Expert, and Global Color Ambassador for Moroccanoil, recognized for his expertise in textured hair, precision cutting, and transformative color. With over two decades in the industry, he combines technical excellence with a passion for healthy hair and education.
A Cleveland native, Greg began his career in the salon at age 15 and has trained extensively with Paul Mitchell, L'Oréal, and the Vidal Sassoon Academies worldwide. An award-winning educator and sought-after platform artist, he has shared his expertise on stages across the globe while inspiring thousands of stylists.
Greg's celebrity clientele includes Toni Braxton, Tiffany Haddish, Nicole Ari Parker, and Coi Leray, with his work featured on major television networks and red carpets including the Met Gala, the Oscars, and the NAACP Image Awards. He is passionate about helping both stylists and clients look and feel their absolute best.
FEATURED PANELIST
Shalleen-Kaye Jones
Shalleen-Kaye Jones is a textured hair educator, salon owner, and co-founder of the globally recognized beauty platform Natural Hair Does Care. Known for redefining the modern natural hair salon experience, she blends technical excellence, innovation, and intentional care to create elevated, customized looks that celebrate the beauty and versatility of textured hair.
Drawing from her unique background as both a professional stylist and digital beauty pioneer, Shalleen-Kaye bridges the gap between social influence and behind-the-chair expertise. Passionate about education and healthy hair, she empowers both clients and fellow professionals through advanced techniques, personalized experiences, and a commitment to raising the standard of textured hair artistry.
FEATURED EDUCATOR
Yureesh Hooker
Yureesh Hooker is the Founder and CEO of YureeshStyle, an international educator, haircutting specialist, and business development coach with 25 years behind the chair and more than 20 years educating salon professionals. Throughout his career, he has worked as a stylist, platform artist, educator, and leader, helping professionals strengthen both their technical skills and their ability to build successful, sustainable careers. Guided by his belief that Anything Is Possible, Yureesh is passionate about paying forward the education, mentorship, and opportunities that changed his own life, helping others discover what's possible in their careers, and in themselves.
FEATURED PANELIST
Wade Mendez
Wade Menendez, known worldwide as “Wade the Barber,” is a master barber, educator, entrepreneur, and certified Hair Loss Specialist with more than 20 years of experience. Founder of The W Hair Loft, with locations in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Atlanta, he is recognized for his precision, innovation, and commitment to elevating the barbering profession.
Wade has been featured by Forbes, BET, VH1, ESPN, HBO Vice News, NPR, and Black Enterprise, and is a published author, Maryland State Board of Barbers member, and recipient of the 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Through education and mentorship, he continues to inspire the next generation of beauty professionals.
FEATURED PANELIST
Piersten Gains
Piersten Gaines is the Founder & CEO of Pressed Roots, the nation's first luxury silk blowout bar specializing in highly textured hair. She launched the company while earning her MBA at Harvard Business School after building her career in luxury retail with brands including Bloomingdale's and Gilt Groupe. Since opening the first Pressed Roots studio in Dallas in 2020, Piersten has grown the company into a multi-location brand recognized for elevating the textured hair care experience through standardized education, operational excellence, and a commitment to quality service. Passionate about developing leaders and expanding opportunities within the beauty industry, she is helping redefine what's possible for textured hair businesses across the country.
FEATURED EDUCATOR
Rachel Redd
Rachel Redd is an Atlanta-based professional colorist and salon owner with over a decade of experience specializing in hair color for textured hair. Drawing inspiration from her visual arts background and vibrant community, Rachel built her brand on principles of creativity, culture, and healthy hair. She’s a devoted educator, mother, and entrepreneur driven by purpose and impact.
As a Redken Global Artistic Ambassador and founder of her own textured color education platform, Rachel helps stylists build the skills and confidence to master color services across all textures and curl types. Her classes center inclusivity, formulation excellence, and preserving the integrity of the hair. Whether you’re a stylist new to working with texture or ready to fine-tune your color craft, Rachel’s session provides both technical depth and cultural insight. Expect to leave empowered, equipped, and ready to deliver transformational color to every client in your chair.