The Hairdresser Strong Show – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Join us for an inspiring conversation co-hosted with Corey from the Your Day Off Podcast @hairdustry, featuring Deborah Neill Baker, Principal and Chief Energy Officer of Neill Corporation.

Together, we dive into redefining leadership, fostering community, and evolving for success in the salon industry.

This episode is packed with insights from a 47-year industry veteran and the heart behind the Serious Business conference.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Personal Development Fuels Leadership: Deborah emphasizes that successful salon leadership stems from self-awareness, critical thinking, and continuous personal growth.

🔅Hustle Culture: She advocates redefining hustle culture to focus on sustainable progress and mental well-being, rather than burnout.

🔅Community Drives Success: Events like Serious Business foster collaboration and connection, enabling salon professionals to grow together and share industry insights.

🔅Invest in Yourself First: Deborah highlights the importance of working on oneself to better lead a team and navigate the challenges of salon ownership.

🔅The Evolving Industry Needs Open Minds: Staying adaptable and embracing new ideas, including technology and AI, is essential to thriving in the modern beauty business.

🔅Salon Owners are Leaders First: Owning a salon isn’t just about hairstyling—it’s about leading, mentoring, and creating a culture of trust and growth.

👉Connect with Debra on Instagram

👉Follow Serious Business on Instagram

🗓️Learn more about Serious Business®, an annual conference that inspires and educates beauty professionals!

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

CONNECT WITH US

📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter

📸 Connect on Instagram

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📺 Watch on YouTube

📝 Check out our Blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of...

Tune in as Brea shares her journey from barbershop beginnings to suite life success, highlighting the power of service, integrity, and balancing career with community impact.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Gain Experience Before Going Independent: Brea stresses the importance of building a strong clientele and honing skills in a barbershop before transitioning to a suite.

🔅Practice Makes Permanent: Consistent effort and dedication lead to skill mastery and professional growth.

🔅Create a Career, Not a Hustle: Brea emphasizes the value of treating barbering and hairstyling as a professional career, which includes filing taxes and managing finances ethically.

🔅Serving Others is Central: She believes that the beauty industry thrives on serving clients and creating meaningful, positive interactions.

🔅Balance Personal and Professional Life: As a mother, wife, and entrepreneur, Brea highlights the importance of intentional self-care and family time.

🔅Philanthropy Builds Community: Her nonprofit, A Different Cut, supports children with autism and trains stylists to create inclusive spaces, demonstrating the impact of giving back.

👉Connect with Brea on Instagram

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

CONNECT WITH US

📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter

📸 Connect on Instagram

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📺 Watch on YouTube

📝 Check out our Blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

Tune in as Ajia shares her insights on business planning, funding, customer experience, and creating a niche in the beauty industry.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅From Tech Sales taking her around the country, Ajia always had a challenge finding someone to work with her natural hair, so she opened Thrive Hair Bar to fill this gap.

🔅If you want to open up your own business, make a plan and do your research. Who is your target audience? How are you going to fund it? Have you looked into grants? Google: “government grants” and use that to start your research!

🔅The difference between a salon and a suite is that a salon is a team and cohesive experience, while a suite is a one-on-one experience with walls separating everyone. These are very different customer experiences.

🔅Thrive hair bar does not do any chemical work or extensions. So, stylists who want to do those services are free to work elsewhere or have a suite to do those services.

🔅Creating membership and unique experiences creates stickiness for customers through brand loyalty and ecosystem inclusion

🔅Funding your business can come from grants, savings, 401k loans to yourself, investors, and loans. Make sure you are asking for enough money for a runway. If you are taking a loan or hitting up your 401k, make sure you calculate the ROI first to make sure this move is worth it.

👉Follow Ajia on IG here.

👉Follow Thrive Hair Bar on IG here.

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

CONNECT WITH US

📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter

📸 Connect on Instagram

🎵 Connect on TikTok

📺 Watch on YouTube

📝 Check out our Blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

Tune in to hear Michael Cole share his experience and assessment of rising stylists entering the workforce!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Rising Stylists are not intimidated by the business conversation.
• Compared to previous generations, the vast majority of hairdressers did not want to talk about business because they didn't want to take away from the craft or the art.
• Schools are now having students build their social presence during the foundations/fundamentals portion of their education.
• Rising Stylists, while students in school, vet the salons they want to work at before ever inquiring to work there.
• Rising stylists bring opportunities for salon owners, but they must manage the fact that their older stylists may not be able to grasp new ideas for building and branding.
• Rising Stylists want the flexibility to build their books however they want.
• SALON OWNERS: You can look at the new generation as a dilemma or an opportunity. Will you adapt and see the value? Or will you complain and see the problems?

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

-- Follow Michael on Instagram

-- Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram

-- Check out Summit's website

👉 HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE for guest recommendations, resources, and our blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

Tune in to hear Therese share how she built her career, opened a salon, and what her salon is all about!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The Collective part of the business means that the stylists work in tandem and as a team on clients.
• They have an apprentice program for beginners.
• If you are in school or recently graduated, you will execute a model for Therese and the team to know where you are technically.
• The training program to get "on the floor" has been updated for Rising Stylists, who are more advanced than previous generations due to online education access.
• Rising Stylists move onto the floor and take clients for only what they have tested out on and shown strength in.
• Casals has tiered pricing, and once the stylist is booked out with waiting lists, Therese works with the stylist on setting their own prices and running their chair like a business.
• Casals is a genderless pricing salon, and the tiered system gives clients of various income levels options, regardless of gender.
• Seasoned Stylists will perform a model to show their craft and perform a self-assessment, and the ideal candidate is willing to share their art with others and grow the next generation.

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

-- Follow Therese on Instagram

-- Follow Casals Salon Collective on Instagram

👉 HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE for guest recommendations, resources, and our blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

Tune in to hear Diana Varvaro give us insight into Rising Stylists' challenges & struggles while giving you very important nuggets of information for all entrepreneurs in the beauty business.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Paul Mitchell School Placement Leader = matchmaker for salons and their students, aka Future Professionals, aka Rising Stylists

The biggest thing Rising Stylists are thinking about is a comfortable environment to work in.

How the stylists, not necessarily the owner, treats Rising Stylists can make or break the relationship they have with the salon.

Have clear expectations and directions by having a clear chain of command or education so Rising Stylists are not confused or feel intimidated by not knowing whom to listen to or ask.

Rising Stylists are more sensitive than previous generations and require greater investment. To increase your chances of getting an ROI on training Rising Stylists: utilize shadow days and model trials to ensure you are hiring a good fit.

Also, have them perform services while they are training.

Rising Stylists want benefits like flexibility and paid time off

SALON OWNERS: try having some short shifts and longer shifts to be more appealing to Rising Stylists.

Big companies like ULTA, JC Penney, & Sephora pitch to Rising Stylists and are able to provide benefits that the rest of the industry usually cannot.

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

-- Follow Diana Varvaro on Instagram

-- Follow Paul Mitchell The School, NYC on Instagram

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

LIKE THIS EPISODE? Send me a DM, and let me know

HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE for guest recommendations, resources, and our blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

Tune in to hear Niki Smith discuss the concept of success and how it varies for everyone; don't forget: find out what success means to you before you set your goals!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Success may mean having a lot of businesses, having a lot of items, or having a lot of money. It may also mean you have a happy family and enough money to pay your bills.

-- People don't stay with you just because they like their hair.

-- Build your brand and business around why people come to you other than good hair.

-- Manual Labor vs Intellectual Labor vs Emotional Labor: Understand how to manage your emotions and see the difference between these types of labor.

-- When you are having an emotional period, grieve, cry, and feel your feelings, but then you have to keep moving forward.

-- The biggest struggle business coaching clients have is dealing with and separating out their emotions

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

-- Follow Niki Smith on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowledgebyniki/

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

👉 LIKE THIS EPISODE? Send me a DM, and let me know: https://www.instagram.com/thehairdresserstrongshow/

👉 HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE for guest recommendations, resources, and our blog: https://linktr.ee/hairdresserstrong

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

Tune in to hear Ashleigh share some of the most valuable lessons for a successful career in hairdressing and a path to salon ownership!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

If you're local to the DMV area, we are hosting our Beauty Business Brunch on April 30th, and Ashleigh will be one of our panelists along with Kelly Gorsuch, Serial Entrepreneur & Owner of Hells Bottom Barbershops & Immortal Beloved Salon; Rebecca Haehnle, Curl & Color Specialist and Owner of Parlour Salon as well as a Curl Educator; and Tony Stuart & Corey Gray, Co-Hosts of Your Day Off Podcast, @Hairdsutry. Learn more and get your ticket today: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/beauty-business-brunch

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- She had a wake-up call when she realized the cosmetology license wasn't as valuable as she thought

-- Ashleigh went out on her own right after school and realized that was a bad idea; she didn't have enough $$

-- Early in her career, she took time to search for her identity as a person & hairdresser, which led her to NYC

-- This searching & NYC set in motion her reality today!

-- Watching a pioneer in African American hair had a lot to do with leading her to become a salon owner.

-- Nothing beats experience; being able to watch/listen to successful people & masters of craft is better than no team experience ...Find a Salon Team before going solo!

-- After she built a clientele, she had an abrupt break from that salon, moved to another salon, then went to booth rental. This started her process of saving, planning, and building her salon.

-- TIP: figure out Licensing and certifications BEFORE you secure a space, so you do not have a delay!

-- You are your schedule. Look at your clients; they reflect you.

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

-- Follow Ashleigh and Taylor & York Salon on Instagram

-- Visit Taylor & York Salon's website

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

👉 LIKE THIS EPISODE? Send me a DM, and let me know!

👉 HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE for guest recommendations, resources, and our blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

Tune in to hear a Gen-Z Influencer share their perspective on generational differences and hear some thoughts for salon owners to consider.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

If you're local to the DMV area, check out Hunter's class, A Client Experience that Wins a Recession, on March 26th at 12:30pm at The Temple: A Paul Mitchell Partner School as part of the Presley Poe & Friends weekend experience: https://www.presleypoeandfriends.com/classes

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Understanding the desires a Rising Stylist has for their future will help give you an idea about how long they will stay.

-- SALON OWNERS: You may not be able to retain your highest earners, despite how much money, time, or benefits you give them, if they have a vision for themselves.

-- Consider adjusting your training and growth process to future-proof your business.

-- SALON OWNERS: You can try getting Gen-Z to see value in investing time & energy now to have greater success later, but they won't listen.

-- You can innovate or adapt to the new environment, or risk being a Blockbuster

-- Create a systemized way, with clear deliverables, to grow stylists to the floor.

-- Clarity and personalization are more important than a shorter training program.

-- RISING STYLISTS: Take your time, invest in your craft, and gain experience before moving to the floor

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

-- Follow Hunter on Instagram

-- Follow Hunter on Facebook

-- Visit Hunter's website

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

👉 LIKE THIS VIDEO? Send me a DM, and let me know! https://www.instagram.com/thehairdresserstrongshow/

👉 HEAD TO HUNTER’s PAGE for personal recommendations for hairstylists of all levels: https://www.hairdresserstrong.com/episodes/hunter-donia

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

Tune in to hear April tell us about her perspective on the future of the industry!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- There is a significant gap in the use of technology to help improve the lives and careers of the hair and beauty industry pros.

-- Beauty pros will learn about retirement in the near future.

-- How will beauty pros get health insurance and access to micro-loans?

-- Licensing as it stands is being questioned, i.e., specialized licensing.

-- Texas + Virginia have already slashed hours.

-- Tech in the salon includes virtual assistants, software for management, and professional first software.

-- Investors and society at large will have a higher appreciation and respect for the industry.

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

• Learn more and download the HANDSOME app
• Follow April on Instagram
• Follow HANDSOME app on Instagram
• Follow HANDSOME app on Facebook

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

👉 LIKE THIS EPISODE? Send me a DM, and let me know!

👉 HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE for guest recommendations, resources, and our blog

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.