About our Educators

Kathy Barker: Education Specialist

Kathy has always had a passion for education and had a calling to be an educator early, starting as a swim instructor at 17, and tutoring calculus students in college. When she joined the beauty industry eight years ago, she knew that education was the direction she wanted to go. Her thirst for knowledge led to the opportunity to work with many of her mentors, including Sonna Brado, Sam Brocato and Jessee Skittrall, as well as learning haircutting from our own Kristal Baker. Kathy's love of learning has paved the road for her to become a salon educator for multiple salons, and the Artistic Director for an Aveda salon in Little Rock, Arkansas. With experience with AG, Aveda, Brocato, Bumble & bumble, Dermalogica, Kadus, Nioxin, and L'Oréal Professionnel, Kathy has a great deal of knowledge for education and uses this to inspire other hairstylists to cultivate their craft.

Kristal Baker: Davines Brand Manager

Kristal is a compassionate and engaging instructor that will challenge you to new levels of awareness. With over 15 years behind the chair her thirst for knowledge and skill led to more than 10 years as an educator.

Starting with extensive training in color from Famesi, Kadus, Joico, Wella and Davines and a blend of cutting techniques derived from training in both Italian and French cutting methods with a foundation in Vidal Sassoon; Kristal continues her journey by persistently pushing herself to be a better leader, teacher and hairdresser. In class, Kristal has a gift for making the most complex thoughts and techniques simple, understandable and fun.

Selina Boon: Kevin.Murphy Educator

Selina Boon has always been in love with fashion and the idea of making people feel beautiful, so she made the decision that doing hair was the perfect industry. Selina attended Seattle's Greenwood Academy of Hair, apprenticed with Joe Carling (owner of Mode Organic Salon) and studied Classic Cutting at Vidal Sassoon in Santa Monica. Selina is currently a Hair Designer and Creative Lead for the Mode Artistic Team, at Mode Organic Salon. When Mode brought on Kevin.Murphy as one of its main haircare lines, she fell in love with the line's performance and beauty philosophy. Selina feels that, "the line is not overly fussy yet addresses every hair issue, they're very green, and perform beautifully!" Selina believes firmly that people should invest in themselves and rock what they've got!

Katherine Breen: Eufora Educator

Katherine has been working in the Northwest for 25 years as a stylist and hair color specialist. She has trained with some of the best names in hair, including Anthony Mascolo with Tony and Guy, Irene Meikle through Graham Webb, Don Bewley with Eufora; as well as Scott Cole and Linda Yodice with Paul Mitchell.

Katherine brings her passion for the industry, Eufora products and systems - and is ready to share her knowledge of proven business systems and advanced technical cutting and artistic design with you.

Jessica Campbell: Waxing Educator

Jessica Campbell is a 12-year waxing veteran and owner of award-winning Spa Scotta. Jessica studied at Joico and the Greenwood Academy of Beauty, and is a licensed cosmetologist, esthetician and nail technician. Jessica is a renowned waxer in the Seattle area, and follows the mantra that "nobody likes a slow waxer." Jessica thrives in teaching others how to use the right kinds of wax for the right purposes, as well as imparting tips and tricks for making waxing businesses as profitable as possible.

 

Elise Eipper: Kadus Educator

Elise Eipper has been in the business since 1980, attending beauty school right out of high school, and has been licensed in four states over the years.  Much of Elise's inspiration comes from visiting beauty salons with her mother in the 60's. As a very young girl watching her mom get her bleach blonde beehive set, she knew she was witnessing true glamour.

Over the years Elise's love of color grew in leaps and bounds and she discovered Kadus color. Among all the brands she has tried over the years, Elise found that she had never used a color that produces the amazing results of Kadus, so when she was given the chance to educate for Kadus, she jumped for it. Elise loves to spread the word of Kadus to other salons and inspire others to do great things and let them learn from the mistakes and the triumphs that I have done over the years.

Becky Follet: Davines Educator

Becky Follett has been an educator for Salon Services since 2006, and is very passionate about helping others understand the Davines philosophy, which represents environmental sustainability and moral integrity. Working with the line has fueled Becky's desire to teach other artistic stylists how to get the most beautiful and healthy results using the naturally derived Davines color and styling systems.  Becky has worked at a salon in Portland for the past eight years where she specializes in color, but remains dedicated to styling where she enjoys working on photo shoots and fashion shows. Speaking of her love of educating, Becky says, "I enjoy being a part of the education community where I can continue to grow and learn as an individual while simultaneously getting  others get inspired to take their craft to the next level."  

Emmett Henley: Marcia/Davines/Kevin.Murphy Educator

Emmett is a skilled cosmetologist/educator with a background in education product knowledge and has experience educating stylists in curly and highly textured hair types. He also has strong talents for helping the "creative learner" understand and become comfortable with new information and procedures.

Emmett has had an uninterrupted career working as a stylist for over 18 years. His positions in the beauty industry have included: educator, consultant, product developer, salon owner, education director, platform/runway stylist, editorial stylist and creative director.

Emmett has been recognized for quality and excellence in national and local publications such as; Self Magazine (best textured hair stylist), Minnesota Monthly, Minneapolis Star Tribune and Modern Salon Magazine.

Mike Kowallis: Kadus/Brocato Educator

Mike Kowallis began his professional cosmetology career almost 10 years ago. Mike is the owner of Metropolitan Salon in Provo, Utah and works as a national educator for both Kadus and Brocato. Mike's background includes time spent as a full time hairdresser, instructor at a number of cosmetology schools and has worked alongside some of the biggest names in the industry, including Sam Brocato himself.  

 

 

Steven Lightfoot: Marcia Educator

Motivated by an approach to hair design that puts his clients' unique personalities and needs first. Sometimes this goal is the creation of a whole new persona, sometimes it's the improvement of an existing one - or any point in between. Steven currently has two chairs, one in Portland, at Arabella Salon, and one in Seattle, at Salon 2602 and divides his time between the two cities.

 

 

 

 

Alberto Ruiz: Kevin.Murphy Educator

Alberto is the owner and creative director of Switch, one of the top salons in Salt Lake City. Born in New York and raised in Puerto Rice, Alberto has been doing hair since 1982. Alberto considers himself a holistic hairdresser, addressing the total image needs of his clients. One of his true passions is for motivating and empowering stylists to master their technical skills and have fun doing so. Alberto is excited to be part of the Kevin.Murphy education team and can't wait to share his knowledge, passion and love for the brand's philosophy and products

 

Rachel Thew: Kevin.Murphy Educator

Rachel Thew attended the Tony & Guy Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, before returning to her hometown of Spokane, WA to work as an apprentice with one of Spokane's top salons for eight months.

Rachel understands the art of hairdressing, building a business and how to convert art and passion into wearable looks for clients and is excited to be on board with Salon Services to teach about the Kevin Murphy line! 

 

Dale Tu: Kevin.Murphy/Marcia Educator

Dale Tu got his start in the industry in 2003, studying cosmetology at the Headmasters School of Hair Design in Boise.  While there, Dale competed in multiple national hair competitions and brought home multiple trophies as a student, followed by numerous competitions wins as a professional. 

After six years in the industry, Dale has worked for a commission salon, as a station leaser and most recently moved to Salon 117 in the Linen district in Boise, where he has worked ever since. 

After an unbelievably life-changing introduction to the Kevin.Murphy Line, Dale chose to be an educator for the line simply because he fully believes in the Kevin.Murphy philosophy: Strength, Moisture and Regeneration. Dale's passion for the brand shows through as he spreads the word of Kevin.Murphy, and gets more and more salons on board with this philosophy.

Katie Whitaker: Eufora Educator

Katie Whitaker was born for the beauty industry - she began cutting, coloring and styling her friends and family when she was just thirteen! Katie made her professional entry into the industry by attending the College of Hair Design Careers in Salem, OR. Being licensed since 2001, she currently rents a booth in a salon where she excels at mentoring new employees, which made her a natural fit for an educator position. Katie began educating for Eufora in 2007 becaus she loves the line, their dedication to education and their extreme opposition to diversion. Katie's education philosophy is to "get out there and show the rest of the beauty industry that there is more out there than what they already know."

 

 

Looking for a class? Check out our education calendar or call us at 800-251-4247.