I grew up in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, surrounded by nature and creativity — two influences that continue to shape my work as a hairstylist. My love for art and creating naturally led me to the beauty industry, and since becoming a licensed cosmetologist in 2019, I’ve been dedicated to crafting hair that feels expressive, personal, and true to each individual.

At our South Slope salon in Asheville, I specialize in lived-in hair color, rich red tones, custom color services, and precision haircuts — including textured styles, shags, and mullets. My approach blends artistry with technical skill, allowing me to create hair that feels effortless, wearable, and uniquely tailored to each client. Ongoing education is central to my work, and I’m continually refining my craft through both hair and art.

Outside the salon, you’ll often find me on the trails with my dog, exploring other art forms, or listening to music that fuels creativity. For me, hairstyling is about more than a transformation — it’s about connection, confidence, and creating a style that feels authentically you.

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New to Asheville, I’m a Louisiana native with over 12 years of experience in the beauty industry. My work is rooted in the belief that hair is more than just style — it’s a reflection of confidence, creativity, and connection. I’m passionate about helping clients express who they truly are through thoughtful, personalized hair services.

At our South Slope salon in Asheville, I specialize in custom hair color and advanced lightening techniques designed to enhance natural beauty and individuality. Whether you’re looking for a subtle refresh or a full transformation, my approach blends artistic vision with technical precision to create results that feel effortless, modern, and authentic.

I’m dedicated to creating a welcoming, relaxed environment where clients feel comfortable, inspired, and cared for throughout their experience. Outside the salon, I enjoy painting and spending time outdoors, drawing constant inspiration from art and nature. My goal is to create hair that feels like you — timeless, intentional, and uniquely your own — while offering a space where you can unwind and leave feeling renewed.

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Jess brings over a decade of experience to Rustic Ritual Beauty, joining the team after eight years immersed in New York City’s creative hair scene. A graduate of Aveda Atlanta, she has been a licensed cosmetologist since 2013, building her work around artistry, individuality, and inclusive beauty.

At our South Slope salon in Asheville, Jess specializes in creative hair color, bleach and tone services, and textured, lived-in haircuts — including shags, mullets, razor cuts, and expressive, undone styles. She is known for identity-affirming haircuts and custom color, creating a welcoming, gender-affirming experience for clients of all identities. Jess is active in the queer community and an advocate for ethical, compassionate beauty practices.

Outside the salon, she enjoys horror and sci-fi films, spending time with her two dogs, and exploring art, history, and the mystical. Open-minded and collaborative, Jess brings an experimental yet grounded energy to every appointment, creating hair that feels authentic, empowering, and deeply personal.

Born in California and raised between Texas and Tennessee, Ryleigh was shaped by movement, creativity, and a love of exploration. That curiosity eventually brought her to Asheville, where she found inspiration in the city’s vibrant creative community and clean beauty culture.

Ryleigh is an Asheville hair stylist at Rustic Ritual Beauty’s South Slope location, currently offering haircuts and root retouch services. With around a year of experience behind the chair, she approaches each service with intention, focusing on enhancing natural beauty and personal style rather than changing it. Her work is grounded in the belief that beauty is innate, and that thoughtful hair design can support confidence, ease, and self-expression.

Outside the salon, Ryleigh draws inspiration from the outdoors, movement, animals, and creative expression in all forms. Spontaneous and adventure-driven, she brings a calm, welcoming presence to the chair — creating a space where clients can arrive as they are and leave feeling refreshed, grounded, and confident.

Caitlyn has over 24 years of experience in the beauty industry. She holds a certification in makeup from Montreal and began her career gaining hands-on experience as an assistant in New York City. Driven by a deep passion for learning, she became a licensed cosmetologist in 2007. To merge her commitment to wellness with her expertise in beauty, Caitlyn also became a certified yoga teacher.

Her career includes working as both an educator and stylist for Aveda, as well as assisting renowned stylist Nick Arrojo in NYC. In 2013, she expanded her skill set into skincare and went on to open and operate a spa for a prestigious Condé Nast–recognized Relais & Châteaux property. After relocating to Asheville in 2017, Caitlyn worked at Wink Salon, where she continued refining her craft and deepening her education.

In 2023, Caitlyn took the leap to found Rustic Ritual Beauty. She creates her own product line, including a signature lip and cheek tint designed for the adventure-driven professional on the go. She also educates fellow stylists and continues to work behind the chair on occasion. Her advanced training includes certifications in scalp therapy from René Furterer, completion of the Cutting Specialist program with Left Brain Group and Lo Shabino, and blonding specialist training in New York City in 2022.

Caitlyn is a mother to twin eight-year-olds and loves the outdoors, spending as much time as possible with her children.

Born and raised between the Philippines and Hawaiʻi, Nica brings her love for culture, ancestry, and human connection into everything she does. After traveling nomadically across the U.S., she landed in Asheville in 2023 and felt immediately at home in the mountains.

Hair has been Nica’s greatest passion since childhood and she graduated beauty school in Hawaiʻi in 2016. She sees hair as our crown — deeply connected to identity and self-expression. With mastery in both color and cutting, she specializes in co-creating styles that feel effortless, expressive, and unique to each individual. Known for her grounding scalp facials and nourishing presence, her work blends technical skill with scalp health, nervous system awareness, and intuitive touch.

Outside the salon, Nica runs a private hair sanctuary in Leicester where she offers ceremonial haircuts, ritual experiences, and Mayan abdominal womb massage for women stepping into their fullest expression and reconnecting with ancestral remembrance.