Paul Mitchell
Schools Alumni

DJ Quintero is a fashion and celebrity stylist whose work has appeared everywhere from the runways of New York Fashion Week to the Golden Globes to Vogue. His star-studded client list includes Catherine Zeta-Jones, Blake Lively, Mick Jagger, Miranda Kerr and many more.

Q: How did you get from Paul Mitchell Schools to where you are today?

A: I knew I wanted to work in fashion, so when I graduated I moved to New York City and applied to every major salon. Eventually I got a job with Serge Normant. He’s a top stylist in the fashion world, and I learned about the whole industry from him. When I’m not on a shoot or on the road with a celebrity, I’m behind the chair in his salon.

Q: You recently collaborated with the legendary designer Valentino when he created costumes for the New York City Ballet. What was that like?

A: Nerve-racking—but really cool! Valentino would give me drawings of how he wanted the hair to be, and I would practice the hairstyles in front of him. His vision was so grand and extravagant—huge things on the dancers’ heads—and they had to be able to dance. But we made it work. And now I have this whole book of Valentino sketches at my apartment.

After working in real estate and studying interior design, Stanley Nolan decided to pursue her lifelong love of hair and enrolled at a Paul Mitchell School. Today, she is a Paul Mitchell Learning Leader specializing in texture.

Q: What do you most enjoy about teaching Paul Mitchell Future Professionals?

A: I love watching them grow in such a short time. They start off super nervous. About three months in they’re a little bit more comfortable. And by about nine months—well, these guys are up to three or four clients a day, they’re in Phase Two, they’re rocking it out and super confident! I just love being part of that journey.

Q: You pursued a few other paths before deciding on the beauty industry. What was coming to a Paul Mitchell School as a Future Professional like for you?

A: The energy was so amazing. It seemed like it was where I should have been all my life. For the first time, I thought, “This is what I need to do.” I just was excited about it, and I’ve been excited about it ever since! I get paid to do hair and makeup—you can’t beat that!

Jenner Feroah took a job right after graduation as a support staff member at Lunatic Fringe salon group. She worked her way up to master stylist and then moved into management, where she rose to the very top.

Q: What do you do?

A: I’m the CEO. I oversee all 13 Lunatic Fringe salons, train managers and watch over the business. We open about two new locations a year, and I take the new salons from the first moment of interest through the agreement and training.

Q: Tell us about your Paul Mitchell Schools education.

A: I loved it! I got involved in absolutely everything that I could—Student Council, Caper, Beacon—I was Beacon Student of the Year. I was already 24 when I started school, so I knew that this was my career and took every opportunity to learn and grow and see where I naturally thrived. I was also working, so it was a very busy time in my life. But, anyone can do anything really hard for a short amount of time—you just dig in and you do it. There’s always that greater payoff at the end.

In 2001 Vanessa Adarna graduated from Paul Mitchell The School Costa Mesa. Her passion for the industry has driven her to many achievements which include growing a raving clientele in her salon, certifying as a Learning Leader at Paul Mitchell the School Honolulu and Paul Mitchell the School Pasadena. Vanessa was also credited as a Paul Mitchell National Educator and Color Educator. Currently her focus has shifted and she is the proud owner of Salon 25 a Paul Mitchell Focus Salon in Cypress, CA. 

“I am very grateful for the experiences that I have had, but the people that inspire me to bring my best is my team at Salon 25.  Guiding them to live amazing lives beyond what they can imagine, means living beautifully to me.”