Salon Rising

Sometimes the dream you were chasing is not the dream you needed. In this episode, Sam and Jen are joined by one of Sam's dearest friends and biggest cheerleaders, Tegan from Moosh. After 10 years in business, a team that grew to 11 and has since come back to two, Tegan opens up about what it has actually taken to come back to herself, her vision and the kind of salon she always wanted to build.

This is a conversation about the slow, quiet realisations that only come from time in the chair. The grief of losing long term...

Most salon owners set up their booking software once and never go back. The descriptions are outdated, the services do not reflect the brand anymore, and there is revenue sitting quietly in the background that nobody is capturing. Sound familiar?

In this Mini Moment, Jen sits down with Sherri from Timely to talk about why an annual audit of your salon software is one of the most underrated things you can do for your business. And why the new Timely add-ons feature might just be the thing that changes how you think about upselling forever.

...

Sometimes the most important conversations are the ones that happen between two friends who are deep in it themselves.

In this episode, Sam and Jen pull back the curtain on where they are each at right now. In their businesses, in their teams and in their lives and give each other, and you, permission to just be in the season you are in.

Sam is back on the floor full time and genuinely loving it. Jen is in the hustle, building her team and finding her rhythm. Neither of them is where they thought they...

Retention. It is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot in this industry, usually tied to numbers, rebooking rates and revenue. But Sara Briscoe from Roca Verde has a different way of looking at it, and once you hear it this way, you will not be able to unhear it.

Because retention is not just good for your bottom line. It is good for your nervous system. A column full of familiar faces means less anxiety, less tap dancing to impress someone new, and more of the kind of days that remind you why...

Some episodes stop you in your tracks. This is one of them.

Sam & Jen are joined by one of Sam's closest friends and hair besties, Brooke Wolf from Paper Rokk. For a conversation that is as honest, warm and real as it gets.

Brooke has built her salon business over 12 years through some of life's most defining moments. Loss, burnout, single motherhood, a new build and now navigating the early days of a significant personal change. And through all of it, one thing has kept showing up as the answer.

Connection.

...

Most salon owners are sitting on a network they have barely touched. The clients in their chairs, the brands they love, the people they already know and trust.

In this Mini Moment, Jen sits down with Sherri from Timely to talk about one of the most underutilised assets in your business, the community you have already built around you.

It is a conversation that started with a question Timely kept hearing from salons: costs are rising, times are tough, how do we actually help? The answer became Timely Perks, a growing initiative built to ease...

There's a particular kind of calm that only comes after years in the trenches.

In this episode, Sam and Jen sit down with the brilliant Sara Briscoe from Roca Verde, an 18 year salon owner, country girl turned Sunshine Coast icon, and one of the most refreshingly real voices in the industry right now.

Sara has built, sold, renovated and rebuilt her way through nearly two decades of business, and she brings all of it to this conversation without filters, without fluff, and with a lot of heart.

They talk about what it actually...

Staff retention is one of the biggest conversations happening across the hair and beauty industry right now. In this Mini Moment, the girls sit down with Abbe from Koko Cosmetica to unpack what actually keeps great team members in your business and why it’s rarely about perks or pay rises.

Instead, it comes down to something much more human: creating a safe, supportive environment where your team feels respected, heard and able to live their lives outside of work. Because the truth is, your team aren’t just employees, they’re people building their own lives alongs...

If you want anywhere near a business, it’s hard. There is no secret club. No magic strategy. No shortcut that only a few people know about. In this episode, the straight talking and unapologetically honest Sam Mangan joins us for an unfiltered, no fluff conversation about what it actually takes to build something meaningful and why so many people are chasing the wrong things.

We unpack the myth of instant success and the obsession with access. Meeting the CEO will not save you. A viral moment will not build your foundation. Success is built in relationships, in...

What if the reason your business feels heavy… isn’t the workload, it’s misalignment?

In this Mini Moment, we’re sharing a behind the scenes masterclass from inside Rising Finances Online and Solo Rise Online. This is the foundational work our members do early on, defining their why, their purpose, and their core values.

Because here’s the truth: if you don’t consciously decide how you want your business to serve your life, it will quietly start running you instead.

Your values are your compass. Your why is your anchor. And your purpose...

What happens when the hardest season of your life becomes the foundation for your strongest one?

In this deeply honest and reflective conversation, Abbe from Koko Cosmetica returns to the podcast two years after her first appearance, and she is not the same woman. Since we last spoke, she’s navigated postpartum depression, grown her salon to five years strong, welcomed a third baby, survived the FIFO juggle, and stepped into a calmer, more grounded version of herself as both a mother and business owner.

We talk honestly about postpartum mental health, delegation in business, th...

Loneliness is something we don’t talk about enough in our industry, yet it’s quietly impacting our health, our work, and our relationships.

In this solo Mini Moment, Jen reflects on a recent conversation sparked by Ange Davis and a statistic that stopped her in her tracks: loneliness has a similar impact on the body as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. From there, she explores how modern life, business efficiency, and the rise of solo work can unintentionally strip away real human connection.

This episode is a reminder of the unique role salon professionals play...

In this episode of Salon Rising: The Podcast, Sam and Jen sit down with the amazing Chantelle from Telleish for an honest, expansive conversation about what it truly takes to build and lead a large salon business, without losing yourself along the way. From humble beginnings and major personal sacrifice to creating one of Melbourne’s most iconic salons, Chantelle shares the reality behind the growth most people only see from the outside.

Together, they unpack the identity shift from hairdresser to leader, the emotional weight of managing big teams, pricing with confidence, paying stylists well, and wh...

In this Mini Moment, Sam and Jen talk honestly about something salon owners rarely prioritise properly: a dedicated day to work on the business, not just survive inside it.

As they head into 2026, this chat is about boundaries, nervous system care, and why diarising your wellbeing is just as important as diarising clients. From admin Mondays to non negotiable “me days,” this episode is a reminder that sustainability is not lazy, it is leadership.

If you ended 2025 depleted, reactive, or running on fumes, this Mini Moment is your permission slip to slow down strategically and...

Confidence as a salon owner is a funny thing. You can be incredible in the chair, calm with clients, talented as hell… and still feel completely rattled by team stuff, quiet weeks, money pressure, reviews, or the fear of being judged.

In this episode, Sam and Jen unpack the invisible weight salon owners carry and why confidence doesn’t mean “nothing goes wrong”, it means you keep leading even when things do.

We talk about the difference between winging it as a stylist (with foundations underneath) versus winging it as a business owner (and accidentally winging...

Growing your salon doesn’t always mean adding more days, more late nights or running yourself into the ground.

In this Mini Moment, Sam and Jen break down what actually moves the needle when you want more profit without more exhaustion.

This is a practical, honest chat about working smarter not harder. From optimising your appointment book, to charging correctly for the work you’re already doing, to being confident enough to say no to bookings that don’t serve your business.

If your diary feels full but your bank account doesn’t, this one...

What happens when the babies on hips become teens with attitudes, endless school events and bigger problems…but business still needs you too?

In this raw, funny and very real episode, Sam and Jen return to one of the Inner Sanctum’s most loved topics...Motherhood in Business. And dive into what it really looks like when you’re raising kids while running a salon and carrying the mental load of it all.

From chaotic mornings and four different school drop offs, to the guilt, the overwhelm, the constant tabs open in our heads and the pr...

In this bite-sized chat, Jen is joined by Brayden from Your Salon Support, for a jargon free breakdown of the marketing terms every salon owner thinks they should know… but often doesn’t.

From marketing plans to AIO, social strategies to loyalty systems, Bray strips it all back so you know what matters, what you can ignore, and what actually moves the needle depending on whether you’re a solo operator or running a full team.

If marketing feels overwhelming or you’ve ever wondered “Do I really need all this?”, this is the episode that finally...

What a year!!

In this raw, honest, and surprisingly uplifting episode, Sam and Jen sit down to unpack the real 2025. The chaos, the curveballs, the court battles, the soaring rent, the unexpected grief, the kids’ schedules, the moments of magic, and the beautiful anchor that their salons have become.

From navigating explosive life seasons to rediscovering joy in small team culture, this conversation is a reminder that you can rebuild, recalibrate and keep rising, even when life feels loud.

They talk through what changed, what surprised them, what hurt, and what healed and wh...

What’s really working for salons right now...and what isn’t?

In this Mini Moment, Jen sits down with Jeanette from Salon First to unpack findings from her Business Success 2025 Survey, which gathered insights from over 200 salon owners across Australia. The results reveal what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and where salon owners should really be focusing their energy this year.

From retention struggles to menu simplification and the rise of lash, brow and skin services, this chat cuts through the noise to highlight what’s actually moving the needle in 2025.

💡 What w...

What happens when life forces you to do the hard thing and you come out steadier, wiser, and more at peace with who you are?

In this raw and generous conversation, Alex Fuchs — APAC Colour Master for KEVIN.MURPHY and owner of Fuchs Hair in Sydney, opens up about army bunkers, resilience, court battles, leadership wobbles, and the journey back to a client first salon he truly loves.

We go deep on identity, pressure, growing a career and a family at the same time, and the quiet power of being seen in the chair.

What if the secret to stronger, thicker, and more beautiful hair starts where you least expect it...your scalp?

In this Mini Moment. Samara and Jen are joined again by the amazing Monique McMahon. Owner of Que Colour and MCM Beauty, to talk about the growing movement that’s redefining the beauty industry: scalp care.

Fresh from her US masterclass tour and the global launch of the Christophe Robin Fortifying Range, Monique shares what’s driving the shift from styling to scalp science and how salon owners can lead the conversation.

💡 In this episode...

What happens when a tech minded gamer swaps code for colour and decides to make salon tech & marketing sexy?

In this episode in the Inner Sanctum, we sit down with Brayden, founder of Your Salon Support and host of the podcast talk show, Can We Go Live, to unpack how salon owners can make tech and marketing feel sexy, simple, and smart again.

Brayden shares his journey from the video game industry to the hair and beauty world, building systems that help salon owners move beyond the “post and hope” marketing mindset. We dive into the...

Culture is the heartbeat of your salon, but it needs constant attention to stay strong.

In this episode, Samara and Jen give a behind the scenes look at the Culture Reset Masterclass, where they’ll unpack what it really takes to build a team culture that’s calm, connected, and accountable.

They share personal lessons from years of leadership, the moments that worked, the ones that didn’t, and the game changing mindset shifts that transformed how they lead their teams.

💡 In this episode, you’ll hear:

What happens when you press play on your very first podcast episode two years later?

In this special episode, Samara and Jen go back to where it all began. Episode 1 of Salon Rising: The Podcast. What started as two best friends sharing insights about business, life, and salon ownership has since grown into a platform of connection, community, and real conversations.

Listening back, some things made us cringe, but what stood out most was how much has changed, in business, in life, and in who we are today.

We revisit the lessons, the...

Choosing a colour brand isn’t just about tubes of tint, it’s one of the biggest financial and cultural decisions you’ll make as a salon owner. In this mini moment, Jen sits down with the incredible Monique McMahon, salon owner and Wella Colour Ambassador, to unpack how to make the right choice for your business and your team.

Monique shares why opportunities should be at the top of your list, how to negotiate with brands, and what she looks for to ensure her team thrives in and out of the salon.

💡 In this episode...

What does true success in the beauty industry look like? And how do you stay authentic while building it?

In this inspiring episode, Jen sits down with Jeanette, General Manager of Beauty Wholesaler, Salon First, who has spent 27 years growing, adapting, and thriving alongside the ever changing beauty industry.

From the days of “Back Scratches” in 1989 to leading one of Australia’s most trusted distributors today, Jeanette shares the lessons that only time, resilience, and authenticity can teach.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

What if you built your salon around the life you actually want? Not what others expect.

In this Mini Moment, Samara, Jen, and Taryn from Brow Substance dive into the powerful (and often overlooked) question: What do you really want your business and life to look like?

From the pressure to “progress” into salon ownership, to the reality of balancing family, staff, and clients, this episode explores why success doesn’t always mean bigger. Sometimes the most powerful move is choosing a path that aligns with your values, your energy, and the season of life you’re...

What actually makes teams high performing (and salons sustainable)?

Leadership & culture coach Emma Campbell joins Samara to unpack why a sense of safety and purpose at work is the secret to performance, profit, and long term team loyalty.

Together, they explore how salon owners can step out of the bottleneck, empower their teams, and create a culture where people feel supported to bring their best selves to work. Expect honest conversation, practical strategies, and some “aha” moments about what really drives engagement.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

What happens when you need to step away from your salon, for a holiday, maternity leave, or even an unexpected 10 months...and you still want the business to thrive?

In this Mini Moment, Samara sits down with Brodie from Smooth Hair to unpack how she set her salon up to run without her. From building trust in a manager, to breaking down the numbers, to avoiding money sitting idle in stock, Brodie shares the real steps that kept her salon financially sound and her team motivated while she was away.

💡 How to Handle It Without Los...

What does success look like when you’ve been in beauty for 22+ years...and still love it?

In this episode, Samara and Jen sit down with Taryn from Brow Substance to unpack reinvention, pricing with confidence, and building a business that serves your life (not the other way around).

From Yellow Pages days to TikTok, from home studio to shared clinic space, Taryn shares the mindset and money shifts that kept her passionate and profitable. Expect straight talk on bottom dollar vs profit, charging without guilt, posting availabilities (yes, you should), and designing a business ar...

Sick leave is never easy to manage. But how you handle it says more about your salon culture than you might think.

In this Mini Moment, Samara and Jen unpack how to handle sick leave without burning out your team. From setting boundaries with staff, to managing client expectations, to recognising when sick leave is really a sign of deeper cultural issues, they share lessons every salon owner can use.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

What happens when life throws you the unimaginable and you’re still responsible for a business and a team?

In this raw and deeply moving episode, Samara sits down with Brodie, owner of Smooth Hair in Alstonville, who opens up about the most challenging year of her life.

What began as a five week family holiday turned into a nine month stay in Perth after her 2 year old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. From that moment, Brodie was thrust into balancing motherhood, cancer, and running a salon from 4,000km away.

She shares how sh...

In this powerful Mini Moment, Nicki from Salon Purpose returns to talk about the early lessons that helped her grow from a solo operator into the leader of a 19 staff salon.

If you're still doing everything yourself, from stock to scheduling to xero, this one’s for you. Nicki shares how she finally got out of her own way, why hiring a bookkeeper was her first move, and how letting go of perfection created space for business growth and personal freedom.

💡 What You’ll Learn

This week in the Inner Sanctum, we welcome back the incredible Monique McMahon, owner of Que Colour and global ambassador for Christophe Robin.

In this heartfelt and honest episode, Monique shares how small shifts in efficiency have transformed her business. Why profitability doesn’t always mean having more staff. And the personal changes that are fuelling her success.

From cutting out coffee and alcohol to scaling her team with intention, Monique reveals the behind the scenes strategies that are keeping her salon thriving. All while preparing for a major US tour.

Expect candid co...

Thinking about hiring your first team member...but feeling the fear? You’re not alone.

In this honest and practical Mini Moment, Samara and Jen break down the real emotions and strategy behind that first hire.

From burnout and back to back days on the floor, to making space for growth, they share the personal and financial checkpoints every salon owner should consider. The girls discuss their own hiring journey. From deciding whether they could afford it, to crafting the right SEEK ad, navigating friend networks, and trusting their gut in interviews.

If yo...

What if your salon could be known for more than just great hair?

In this heart filled episode, we sit down with Nicki from Salon Purpose. A salon owner who built her entire business model around kindness, integrity and impact.

From starting in a 15 square metre backyard salon to leading a 19 staff team and raising over $100,000 through her “With Love” campaign, Nicki shares how purpose has shaped every decision she's made. And why that purpose is her biggest accountability.

She opens up about the fears she had around numbers, how she only works one...

Ever feel guilty for stepping away from the salon floor to work on your business? You’re not alone.

In this Mini Moment, Jen is joined by Sherri to unpack why taking time off the tools isn’t just okay, it’s essential. They share real talk about charging your worth, tracking every dollar, staying inspired, and avoiding the burnout spiral so many salon owners fall into.

🎧 Listen now to learn:

Ever felt trapped by the very business you built?

In this powerful episode, Ashlin from The Elk Collective shares why she walked away from her 10 staff salon to build a thriving home based business aligned with her life and purpose.

She opens up about the burnout of running a big team, the pressure to look “successful,” and how coming back to her why transformed her work, family life, and finances. If you’ve ever wondered if there’s another way to do business, this conversation will give you courage.

🎧 Listen now to learn:

Going solo doesn’t mean going it alone.

In this Mini Moment, Jen is joined by Sherri from Timely to unpack what really happens behind the scenes of solo businesses. From the emotional weight of doing it all, to the turning point most business owners hit at 18 months, they explore the silent struggles and simple shifts that can make solo life feel less… solo.

💬 Inside: