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Ben Mollin
Owner/Stylist
In 2007, the debut of "Shear Genius," Bravo - TV's reality competition for hairdressers, one of the geniune surprises was Ben Mollin. The tattooed, music - loving stylist was ecentric and humble. But he also exhibited an eagerness to learn and a passion for his craft, so much that Sally Hershberger and Vidal Sassoon commended him for his raw talent and his growth over the course of the competition. And grow he did, right into the number two spot - taking second place and outdistancing the thousands of other stylists who auditioned.
For Mollin, "Shear Genius" was a turning point in a career that began in 1993 and included owning and operating several different salons in the Chicagoland area. At the same time Mollin pursued his passion for music while playing in several bands, and even combined hair, records and vintage clothing in some of his businesses. By 2005, however, he was at a professional crossroad. "At that point," he remembers, "I was working out of my living room and I was packing to go to Las Vegas to audition for "Blue Man Group." But his future in cobalt body paint was halted when Bravo called and invited him to be on "Shear Genius."
Now Mollin is back in his new home state of Indiana , running a boutique salon with his wife and colorist Ann, called "Bang Bang Beauty and Boutique." Thanks to his hard work after the show, he's recognized all over the world. He hosts and judges The Supreme Salon Tour "Hairwars,". He's in demand for personal appearances, video projects and more. Mollin was featured in "50 Hairstylists," a book featuring the fifty most influential hairdressers in the country.
But one of the best things to come out of the "Shear Genius" experience, he says, has been the opportunity to connect to beauty school students and young stylists. He believes that he is the type of person to whom people can relate, and he can offer education, support and encouragement. "I've been up and I've been down," he says. "When people meet me, they can relate to me."
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Ann Bower Mollin
Owner/Stylist/Buyer
The Sherman to his Mr. Peabody; the Beaker to his Dr. Honeydew. Ann Bower Mollin is not only Ben’s partner in life, crime and business, she’s his colorist. Unlike Beaker, though, who was known for blowing up everything he touched, Ann whips up chemicals that turn brassy, over-processed straw into gorgeous honey blondes you’d never guess come from a salon (and without nary an explosion, which is important). While she rocks the color correction, ask her to come up with a new color combination or just do what she wants, and she’ll love you forever.
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Matthew James Backus
Colorist
Starting off as a former Specialist, responsible for making the Chicago markets in 50 NASDAQ issues, Matthew went down in history to be the only person to ever cut hair on the trading floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange. Graduating from Pivot Point in 2006, he left the financial markets behind to pursue his new career as a hair colorist. After spending some time locating a reputable Chicago salon, he spent the next 2 years as an apprentice, to develop the art and theory of hair coloring. Matthew sought out the Mollin's to round off his training and establish his new salon to call home. Matthew has experience working with the VIP Lollapalooza After Party, photo shoots, fashion shows, weddings and more. He now works to compliment the hair cutting of Alex Garcia, as well as his own clients to provide them with beautiful color and styling.
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Alex Garcia
Stylist & Make-up Artist
Artistry is in his blood....it flows through his veins and pours out of his hands to create customized beauty looks. Alex is a graduate of the American Academy of Art with a bachelors in Fine Art. After art school, Alex moved to Los Angelos to attend a highly esteemed makeup school, Make Up Designery (MUD) and polished his skills as a makeup artist. He is highly skilled at airbrush makeup, custom blends, and being able to accentuate your best features. He is a master at all lash applications, be it for a one time special event or for a semi-permanent look to last up to a month. Knowing how facial features compliment each other, he has also perfected brow shaping and will customize your brow shape to your unique face shape. In addition to his makeup passion, he completed his education in cosmetology, in order to complete looks with both hair and makeup. He books weddings all year round, will travel to you for all of your wedding needs and is highly focused on making his mark to create beautiful, flawless looks.
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Mike Hill
Stylist
A hairstylist for almost 30 years, Mike Hill has joined the crew at Bang Bang to bring his mad mix of cut and color skills to the region. Mike has been employed by some of the top salons in Chicago and was trusted to help manage, coordinate and direct young stylists. After over a decade in the industry, Mike was seeking out more training and education. He was hired by the prestigious Vidal Sassoon salon located in the Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue. Mike entered the apprenticeship program as a varder (experienced stylist) and finely tuned his cutting skills. Since completing Vidal Sassoon's program, Mike has played key roles in developing apprenticeship programs throughout Chicago. Mike thrives on learning, so he makes certain to attend several advanced workshops around the country to secure his role as a premier stylist in this industry.
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