Meet the Team

Your appointment is with one stylist, but you're backed by the expertise of an entire collective. A decade in, we've built a team of specialized stylists and educators who ensure you always leave looking and feeling like the best version of yourself.

Founder & Owner

Kristine Templeton

Kris (she/her) is a powerhouse in the hair industry with over 30 years of experience spanning salon ownership, education leadership, and work behind the chair. Born in Wisconsin and raised in New Mexico, she’s the proud founder of The Hype Hair Co.—home to both The Hype Hair Studio and The Hype Hair Academy—where she also serves as Director of Education.  Kris specializes in short cuts, natural grey grow-outs, traditional highlights, and trend-forward styles for mature clients. But her true legacy is the mark she’s leaving on the industry itself. 

As a trailblazer, she’s fiercely passionate about redefining what it means to build a career in beauty. Her mission? To create supportive, sustainable environments where stylists don’t just survive—they succeed. As an in-house educator and career coach, she pours her expertise into developing the next generation of stylists with the guidance and structure she wishes she had.

Specialties: short cuts, natural grey grow-outs, traditional highlights

$300/HR | @kristempleton

Director of Operations & Admissions

Bek Sanders

Bek Sanders is a salon strategist and hair industry expert dedicated to cultivating a powerhouse team at The Hype Hair Studio. Focused on developing stylists into confident, high-performing professionals, Bek helps team members build strong client relationships, refine their skills, and achieve their career goals.

In addition to leading team development, Bek oversees the client experience at The Hype Hair Studio. From helping clients navigate service options to pairing them with the stylist best suited for their hair goals, Bek ensures every appointment is thoughtfully matched based on a stylist's specialty, experience, and expertise. Their deep understanding of salon operations, service planning, and team strengths helps create exceptional experiences for both clients and stylists alike.

Through strategic leadership and a commitment to growth, Bek fosters a collaborative salon environment where both clients and team members can thrive.

IG: @WITHBEKSANDERS

TIKTOK: @WITHBEKSANDERS

Stylists & Educators

You deserve a stylist whose artistry and technique are perfectly matched with your hair goals. If you feel like you've never had a stylist who truly listened, understood, or delivered, that's about to change.

Kayla Maxwell

STYLIST & EDUCATOR |$150/HR
Specialties: Lived-In Color, Dimensional Color, Layered Haircuts & Transformational Hair.

Hair is personal—and so is the experience behind it. Kayla is passionate about creating customized color and cuts that feel effortlessly beautiful while reflecting who you are. She believes the best results come from building genuine connections with her guests, understanding their lifestyle, personality, and goals to create hair that feels authentically them—not just beautiful when they leave the salon, but for weeks and months after.
Specializing in lived-in blondes, dimensional brunettes, vivid transformations, and modern layered haircuts, Kayla combines artistry with intention to create looks that are both stunning and wearable. Every appointment is thoughtfully designed from color to cut, because she believes the perfect haircut is what brings a look to life. Her goal is simple: to help every guest leave her chair feeling confident, empowered, and like the very best version of themselves.

IG @kaylas_beautylooks / TikTok @kaylas_beautylooks
Dellyna Salazar

STYLIST & EDUCATOR | $125/HR
Specialties: Root Touch Ups, Fashion Color, Balayage, Long-Hair Haircuts

Dellyna (she/her) was born and raised in Rio Rancho, NM. She took interest in cosmetology early into her teenage years. After high school, Dellyna went to school at NM Tech for 3 semesters for biology, and promptly found out it was not where she wanted to be. Instead, she decided to follow her true passion and pursue cosmetology at the Aveda Institute of New Mexico.
Now, she loves being able to connect with guests while doing their root touch ups, bold fashion colors, balayages, and long-hair haircuts!
@dellynas.styles
Mari Sanders

STYLIST & EDUCATOR | $125/HR
Specialties: Precision Haircuts, Curly Hair, Dimensional Brunettes
Mari (she/her) began her hair journey 8 years ago right here in Rio Rancho and has since built an impressive career, including time honing her craft in New York and earning her license as an instructor. Now back home, Mari is thrilled to share her expertise and passion with her clients and the next generation of stylists.
Specializing in precision haircuts (short & long!), curly hair, and dimensional brunettes, she brings both skill and creativity to every service. Mari is dedicated to helping you look and feel your absolute best while empowering you with the knowledge to care for your hair like a pro.
IG @marisandershair / TikTok @marisandershair
Mack Weaver

STYLIST | $150/HR

Specialties: Bespoke Hair Color, Custom-Blended Extensions
Mack Weaver is a highly skilled hairstylist and makeup artist with over 14 years of experience, including the past 12 years working in Arizona's vibrant beauty scene. During that time, Mack has honed his craft at one of Phoenix's top salons and trained alongside some of the most talented stylists in the country. His career has also taken him across the U.S., creating stunning hair and makeup looks for a variety of high-profile events.
Known for his artistry and precision, Mack specializes in bespoke hair color and custom-blended hair extensions, delivering tailored results that enhance each client's unique beauty.
@mackweaver_
Zaida Urizar

STYLIST | $110/HR
Specialties: Braiding, Long Haircuts, Traditional Highlights, Fashion Color
Yo hablo español
Born in Mexico and raised in California, Zaida (she/her) moved to New Mexico in pursuit of a more tranquil lifestyle. It was here that she found the courage to pursue her passion and earned her cosmetology license. For as long as she can remember, she's loved and enjoyed doing hair, from braiding and long haircuts to traditional highlighting and fashion colors.
As a mom herself, Zaida particularly enjoys having kids in her chair!
Nicole Tagart

STYLIST | $90/HR
Specialties: Dimensional brunettes & lived-in color
Nicole is a graduate of The Hype Hair Academy specializing in haircuts, dimensional color, and lightening services. She has a passion for creating beautiful, wearable hair that fits her clients’ lifestyles, with a special love for rich, dimensional brunettes and lived-in color. Nicole believes brunette hair should never be boring and loves creating customized color that adds depth, movement, and effortless beauty.
@nicoletagart.hair
Elena Moreno-montoya

STYLIST | $90/HR
Specialties: Platinum blonde, balayages, & anything blonde
Elena was born and raised here in Albuquerque, New mexico and has always had a passion for beauty! Her specialty is anything blonde from full platinum card to beautiful lived in balayages. She’s a woman of many talents and is currently enrolled in nursing school to pursue her dream of helping babies while making their mamas feel special in & out of the salon!
When Elena isn’t creating beautiful blondes behind the chair shes spending time with her dogs Lola and Arlo and her partner Robert!
She loves an iced coffee, crocheting, and trashy reality tv.
@vixenxvanity
Justina Gutierrez

STYLIST | $75/HR
Specialties: Haircuts, Root Touch-Ups, All-Over Color, Dimensional Highlights
Justina is a talented hairstylist born and raised in New Mexico. When she's not doing hair, she's busy being a boy mom. She is also a proud graduate of our very own Hype Hair Academy. She specializes in short and long haircuts, root touch-ups, all-over color, and dimensional highlights.
Justina is passionate about enhancing her clients' natural beauty while creating looks that are fresh, flattering, and easy to maintain. Whether you're looking for a bold new transformation or a subtle refresh, she is dedicated to delivering precise, personalized results that leave you feeling confident every time you step out of her chair.
@hairstylesbyjustina
Myk Billingsley

STYLIST | $75/HR
Specialties: Brunette, color, long layers
Born and raised in Albuquerque, Myk (she/her) has always wanted to turn dreams into reality.
Growing up, she watched her mom do hair in the garage of her childhood home, and now is carrying on that passion herself. A proud graduate of The Hype Hair Academy, she has fallen in love with giving color to the world. From refreshing gorgeous brunettes, to adding a dimensional pop from the rainbow, hair color is where her heart is. Her favorite part of a service is long layers and a bouncy blowout to finish off her clients colorful fantasy.
@colorbymyk
Elijah Henning

STYLIST | $75/HR
Specialties: Artistic Cuts, Queer-Centric Styles, Shullets & Chelseas, Buzz Cuts
Elijah (they/she) was born bald. Being born bald, they weren't sure if hair styling was their passion right out of the womb. 26 years later she found that self expression through hair is totally her jazz.
With a passion for helping the queer community find comfort in the mirror, Elijah honed in on queer-centric styles. Elijah likes artistic cuts with a bold edge, shullets and chelseas, buzz cuts and layers — Elijah is always up for a challenge. Connecting with their clients and creating a safe space for them to explore styles or stick to what's comfortable, Elijah gives whoever is in their chair the very best service they can provide.
Julianna Fulton

STYLIST | $65/HR
Specialties: Bold Color, Creative Cuts, Personalized Styles
With a passion for bold color, creative cuts, and helping people feel confident in their own skin, Julianna brings both artistry and heart to every appointment. As a licensed cosmetologist, she specializes in fun, personalized styles that reflect each client's unique personality.
Whether you're ready for a total transformation or just need a refresh, Julianna is all about creating looks that make you feel your absolute best — inside and out.
@keep.it .peachy
Flower Sanchez

STYLIST | $65/HR
Specialties: Creative Cuts, Bold Color, Self-Expression Styling
Now beginning her professional career, Flower brings fresh creativity, a detailed eye, and a genuine love for the art of self-expression.
To her, every cut, color, and style is more than just a service — it's a collaboration, a way to help each client feel seen, understood, and confident in who they are. Whether it's a bold transformation or a subtle change, Flower believes great hair is a reflection of the beauty that already exists within.
@flower_essence_beauty