Grow My Salon Business Podcast

The difference between a good salon and a world-class one isn’t talent. It’s standards, and the leadership to hold them.

In this episode, I take inspiration from the Netflix series Being Gordon Ramsay and unpack what it really takes to build a world-class business, whether that’s a restaurant or a salon. Because when you strip it back, the fundamentals are the same. It’s not about talent alone. It’s about standards, leadership, and the culture you create.

I talk about the obsession with detail that separates good from exceptional, why leadership isn’t alwa...

Instagram marketing for salons is constantly evolving, and if you're relying on strategies from even a year ago, there are changes you need to know about. In this episode, I’m joined once again by Instagram specialist Hayley Mears to unpack what’s working on Instagram right now and what salon owners need to be doing differently in 2026.

We dive into the simple three-step structure that every successful Instagram carousel needs, why hooks are more important than ever, and how to create content that people actually save and share. Because, as you’ll hear, the algorithm has shifte...

Most salon owners think they have a marketing problem. In reality, what they usually have is a clarity problem, a positioning problem, and a consistency problem. And until those things are fixed, no amount of posting, boosting, or discounting is going to change the outcome.

In this episode, I break down what marketing actually is, not the social media version, not the trend-driven version, but the strategic version that builds predictable growth. I talk about the difference between image building and business building, the four layers of effective marketing, and why so many salons are stuck in...

AI is changing Google search faster than most salon owners realise, and whether you like it or not, it’s going to impact your business. In this episode, I'm joined by returning guest Phil Evans from Salon Guru, and we're diving into what AI is doing to Google search and what that means for your salon business.

We break down how Google's AI is already showing up in your potential clients' search results, what's actually driving which salons appear at the top, and why content and reviews still remain the foundation of everything.

We...

There are many responsibilities that come with being a salon owner, and if we're honest, most of us give very little thought to them before we open our doors. One of the biggest blind spots is the ongoing training and development of our teams. Too many salon owners assume their people will arrive fully formed and ready to perform. But it just doesn't work like that.

In this episode, I'm asking the question: have we created an industry where owners and managers are afraid to be the leaders we're meant to be? Because when there's no...

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Gerard Scarpaci, co-founder of Hairbrained and host of the Hairbrained Conversations podcast. 

We talk about the big shifts happening in hairdressing right now, how the next generation learns differently, and why the old business models have been turned on their head. Gerard shares what excites him most about the industry today, but he’s also refreshingly honest about the risks, particularly around lack of direction, mentorship, and the pressure many hairdressers are carrying without even realising it.

We also dig into job satisfaction, education, live events...

Nearly four years ago, I recorded an episode about why hairdressers should be recommending professional retail. And yet, here we are, still having the same conversation. The fundamentals haven’t changed, but the world we’re operating in absolutely has. Inflation, online shopping, influencers, and changing client behaviour… all of it has added new layers to old objections.

In this episode, I break down why so many stylists still avoid recommending retail and, more importantly, what’s really sitting underneath those objections. I walk through the most common excuses I hear, grouped into skill issues, mindset issues...

In this final episode of our three-part series on the five pillars of salon success, I take a different approach by talking you through the journey of Sarah, a real salon owner who in many ways reflects the journey that salon owners everywhere go through.   

Sarah’s a very good hairdresser, and she definitely doesn’t have a work ethic problem, but despite working harder than ever, doing everything “right” as a stylist, her business was barely surviving. She was exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering if she’d made a huge mistake.

Over 12 months of working t...

In this episode, I’m diving deep into the Money Pillar of salon success, because after more than 20+ years of coaching salon owners all over the world, I know this to be true: you can have a full appointment book, a talented team, and great marketing, and still be broke. Being busy does not automatically mean you’re profitable, and for a lot of salon owners, that realisation is both confusing and exhausting.

I talk through the three biggest money problems that keep salon owners stuck: not knowing if they’re actually profitable, underpricing services based on fea...

After 20+ years of coaching salon owners, I can spot the pattern in under 5 minutes. Talented stylist opens dream salon, becomes overwhelmed operator, wonders what went wrong. If you're working harder than ever but not getting ahead, if you're the busiest person in your salon but still stressed about money, you're not alone.

In today’s episode, I'm revealing the #1 mistake that keeps talented salon owners stuck. The problem is that you're trying to solve business problems with technical skills instead of business skills. You cannot solve business problems by doing more hair.

A new year always brings with it a sense of possibility. It’s that “that was then, this is now” moment where you get to draw a line in the sand and decide what happens next. But let’s be honest, for many salon owners right now, business feels tougher than ever. Clients are cautious, bookings feel unpredictable, and the world around us feels uncertain.

In this episode, I talk about the reality of running a salon in times like these and why focusing on everything outside your control is a guaranteed way to feel overwhelmed. Global u...

Not every hairdresser wants to be self-employed, and in this episode, I explain why that’s not only okay, but why it creates a real opportunity for salon owners to rethink what an employee-employer-based business can and should look like today. 

Too often, self-employment is sold as the only path to freedom, flexibility, and financial success, without anyone stopping to talk honestly about the real costs involved.

In today's episode, I talk about what many stylists don’t calculate before they make the leap: rent, tax, product, tech, training, marketing, lost holiday pay, and the t...

This short episode is a reflection on the real relationships we form with the people who sit in our chairs. I’ve often said that clients aren’t your friends, they’re your clients. And professionally, that boundary matters. But every now and then, those lines blur in ways that are deeply human.

I share a couple of stories from my time behind the chair that have stayed with me for decades. One client who reminded me never to underestimate the importance of kindness, and another who became part of my family in the most unexpected way. T...

At the end of every year, I like to take a step back and look at what’s really happening in our industry. Not just at a surface level, but underneath it all. In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend Gordon Miller for one of our now-regular “state of the nation” conversations, where we dig into the biggest shifts shaping the hairdressing industry right now.

We talk about the growing importance of data, what AI is actually being used for inside real salons, and why understanding the numbers is no longer optional if you want...

In this episode, I’m joined by Hayley Mears, former hairdresser, branding expert, and the driving force behind Six Underground Media. Hayley is also one of the guest educators inside our marketing course, and she brings a level of insight into social media, branding, and digital trends that most salon owners simply don’t have access to.

We dive deep into what salon owners should expect from Instagram in 2026, why the platform is about to shift in a major way, and how AI is going to become a natural part of your marketing workflow, whether you like it o...

In this week’s episode, I’m tackling the flip side of a happy, high-performing team, what to do when things are not going smoothly. Because after the recent episode titled “The Beautiful Chaos of Building a Team,” I received a flood of emails from salon owners struggling with people issues.

So today, I’m breaking down the key elements that set your team up to succeed, and what to do when they don’t. From defining the vision for your business, to recruiting for cultural fit, to onboarding properly, communicating clearly, and embracing change… this...

In this week’s episode, I sit down with someone who’s grown up alongside one of the most respected salon organisations in the United States.

Today's guest is Coco Wagner, daughter of David and Charlie Wagner owners of the Juut Salon Spa’s. 

Coco brings a fascinating blend of global experience, fresh perspective, and deep respect for the culture her family has built over 40 years. What I love about this conversation is how open and thoughtful she is about stepping into a leadership role in a family business, especially one with 450 team members and mul...

I've been thinking a lot about what really makes a great salon, and it's not always what you might think. Sure, brilliant technical skills matter, but what really sets exceptional salons apart is the energy, the culture, and the people.

A coaching client told me recently about the atmosphere in her salon, no drama, no bitchiness, just fun, laughter, and genuine support. Her clients connect with that positive energy the minute they walk through the door. 

It got me reflecting on something I talk about in my new marketing course, that we need r...

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Rita Marcon, whose story perfectly captures the courage it takes to follow your intuition and reinvent yourself. Rita is a former hairdresser who climbed the corporate ladder to become the Australian General Manager for one of the biggest haircare brands before taking a leap of faith to start her own business, I Am Conscious Living.

Rita’s journey is full of wisdom about courage, leadership, and self-awareness. We talk about what it takes to leave the comfort of the known, how to stay grounded when everything’s changing...

As the end of the year approaches, it's tempting to push for maximum productivity, rush through holiday celebrations, and then collapse in a heap on Christmas Eve and call it done.

But I want to challenge that. In this week’s episode, I’m talking about the power of celebration, why your team party isn’t just a party, but a culture-building strategy disguised as fun.

I share stories from my own salons, where what started as a Christmas party evolved into something far more meaningful, a night of reflection, recognition, and connection. You’ll...

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Blake Dufault, whose story is as raw as it is inspiring. From a turbulent childhood filled with chaos and heartbreak to finding purpose through hairdressing, Blake’s journey is one of relentless growth and unshakable resilience. His book I Am_____ captures that journey beautifully, reminding us that our past doesn’t define us, our choices do.

We talk about how hairdressing quite literally saved him, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and his powerful belief that no one is coming to save you; you have to choose gro...

This is part three, the final episode, in my three-part salon marketing series, and today it’s all about solutions.

If you’ve listened to the first two episodes, you’ll know that the biggest problem in most salons isn’t attracting new clients, it’s keeping them. So in this episode, I’ll show you how to identify where your business is leaking clients, how to use your data to pinpoint what (and who) needs improvement, and how to start fixing it.

You’ll learn the key retention metrics to track, how to interpret them...

This is part two of my three-part series on salon marketing, and today we're diving into why most salons are reasonably good at attracting new clients but not nearly so good at keeping them. If you listened to last week's episode, you'll know that 60% of new clients never return for a second visit, and only one in ten make it to six visits. Today, I'm explaining exactly why that happens and what marketing really has to do with it.

Here's the thing most salon owners get wrong: they think marketing stops once the client walks through the...

In this episode, I’m kicking off a brand-new three-part series on one of my favourite topics - marketing. When I had salons, marketing was something I loved, and it even won us a few awards. But here’s the thing: most salon owners completely misunderstand what marketing actually is.

So today, we’re starting at the beginning, with the real definition of marketing. I’ll walk you through what I call the three functions of marketing: attracting, converting, and retaining clients. You’ll see why most salons only ever master the first part and how that keeps them...

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Kristin Firrell, who after more than 40 years in the professional beauty industry, is stepping into the next chapter of her life. Kristin’s story is all about connection, trust, and education. From the very beginning, when Kristin realised that in hairdressing she had found her people, to stepping into leadership roles at John Paul Mitchell Systems, her career has been shaped by authentic relationships and a passion for helping others grow.

We talk about the importance of reinvention, why trust is the cornerstone of success, and how educ...

In this episode, I’m joined once again by salon owner Luke Reynolds, who’s just taken a massive step that so many owners dream about, moving from a 50-square-metre boutique salon into a stunning, purpose-built space. Luke and I talk through the entire journey: the decision to expand, the design process, managing a ballooning budget, and the lessons learned along the way.

If you’ve ever wondered how you’ll know when it’s time to grow, or what it really takes to pull off a move like this, you’ll love Luke’s honest insights. From...

This week, I’m diving into what is often an overlooked growth strategy for salons, market research. The starting point for effective market research is to remember that “you are not your client.” The decisions you make about pricing, services, and the salon experience shouldn’t always be based on what you would want.

In this episode, I share simple, practical ways to gather real insight from the people who matter most, your clients. From casual conversations in the chair to formal surveys and even visiting other salons yourself, you’ll learn how to collect feedback, “feed it forw...

In this week’s episode, I speak with Chris Baran. Chris has worn just about every hat in our profession: stylist, salon owner, podcaster, and global ambassador, but above all, he is a teacher. For nearly 60 years, he’s been evolving, reinventing, and staying at the forefront of education.

We talk about what it really takes to be an educator, how education has changed in the wake of the pandemic, and the role of curiosity, humility, and vulnerability in teaching.

Chris shares not just technical wisdom but also the mindset shifts that make the difference betw...

In this week’s episode, I share the true story of a local salon that went from being fully booked and thriving to empty and struggling, all in less than two years. It’s a perfect example of how quickly things can unravel when leadership, standards, and systems disappear.

We’ll break down what happened, what went wrong, and the ten key lessons that every salon owner can take away from this story. Whether you run a hair salon, a spa, or a beauty clinic, these insights will help you avoid the same mistakes and build a busine...

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Australian salon owner and stylist, Mikki Auld. Earlier this year, Mikki left her Brisbane salon in the hands of her team and took a huge leap, moving to Los Angeles to start over from scratch.

Within no time at all, she was fully booked, not because of luck, but because of hustle, grit, and sheer determination.

We talk about why she made the move, how she built a client base in a new country with no connections, and the strategies she uses to keep her Brisbane salo...

I'm calling BS on the idea that hairdressing doesn't pay well. The truth? There are plenty of hairdressers earning great money - some are even in the top 5-10% of all income earners. The difference isn't about age, experience, or even how good they are doing hair. It's about productivity.

In this episode, I'm addressing one of the biggest frustrations I hear from salon owners: why aren't my team members busier, earning more, and caring about the numbers like I do? The answer is simple - your team can't earn more money until they learn to...

I’ve never done an episode solely about coaching before, but as more salon owners than ever are either having a coach or wanting to become a coach, I think it’s about time. 

Coaching has been one of the biggest game-changers in my own career and in the lives of hundreds of salon owners I’ve worked with across more than 14 countries. Yet for many, it’s still a bit of a mystery.

In this episode, I unpack what coaching is (and what it isn’t), how it’s different from mentoring, consulting, and teaching...

Have you noticed that every second hairdresser you talk to these days seems to have been diagnosed with ADHD? 

That’s why this week I’ve invited Skye Waterson, a former academic turned ADHD coach and founder of ‘Unconventional Organisation’ onto the podcast to give us a proper crash course in understanding ADHD. 

Skye shares actionable tips that salon owners and stylists can implement immediately, whether you're trying to support a team member with ADHD or manage your own symptoms while running a successful business.

Whether you've been diagnosed with ADHD yourself, suspect yo...

This week, I’m picking up where Episode 304 left off, diving deeper into the practical strategies that successful salon owners use to build strong teams, great cultures, and profitable businesses.

If you've ever asked yourself, "Why can't I find good people?" or "Why won't my team step up?"  this episode is for you. I'm walking you through the exact traits, systems, and standards that top-performing salons share from how they hire, to how they train, to how they reward results. 

These aren’t theories. These are lessons from real salons, doing real numbers, with r...

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Sam Kendall, CEO of SalonIQ, one of the UK’s leading salon software companies. I always enjoy conversations with tech providers because they see real data, and that means real insights into what’s happening inside salons across the industry. Sam and I talk about AI, automation, online booking, the shift towards self-employment, and the surprising number of salons still not using salon management systems.

We also dive into the trends SalonIQ is seeing in average bill size, rebooking, client retention, and retail sales. Plus, we explore how soft...

In this episode, I’m diving into a conversation that might annoy some people, but it’s a conversation that needs to be had. We’ve got a leadership crisis in our industry. Not because people don’t care, but because too many salon owners don’t realise what they signed up for when they opened their doors. Leadership isn’t optional. It’s the job.

This episode is for every salon owner who wants their team to succeed but feels stuck, frustrated, or just plain exhausted. I’ll break down why so many stylists aren't earning what the...

In this episode, I sit down with long-time industry leader Keri Davis-Duffy, whose career as a salon owner and educator spans more than three decades. Keri shares the wisdom earned through real-life experience, leading employee-based salons in a state that turned compensation models on their head, navigating leadership challenges, building culture, and bouncing back from the inevitable setbacks every salon owner faces.

We talk candidly about staff walkouts, transitioning to hourly pay, creating flexible schedules for today’s workforce, and the crucial difference between being a great hairdresser and being a great business owner. Keri doesn’t su...

In today’s episode, I want to get real about something that many salon owners don’t like to hear… your team problems might not be about your team. They might actually be about you and your style of leadership.

We talk about the difference between being “the boss” and being a true leader. Because if you want loyalty, innovation, trust, and long-term commitment from your people, barking orders or crossing your fingers and hoping for the best won’t cut it. 

This episode is about finding the balance, between control and chaos, between comma...

In this episode, I sit down with Australian salon owner Luke Reynolds to talk about one of the most powerful drivers of salon success, which he believes is investing in the personal development of your people.

Luke shares how he's integrated monthly life coaching sessions, meditation practices, and even equine therapy into his team culture. It’s a fascinating conversation about building confidence, communication, and community in the workplace, and the profound effect this has on the day-to-day salon environment.

What I really loved about this chat is how naturally these initiatives grew in...

In this episode, I sit down with Australian salon owner Luke Reynolds to talk about one of the most powerful drivers of salon success, which he believes is investing in the personal development of your people.

Luke shares how he's integrated monthly life coaching sessions, meditation practices, and even equine therapy into his team culture. It’s a fascinating conversation about building confidence, communication, and community in the workplace, and the profound effect this has on the day-to-day salon environment.

What I really loved about this chat is how naturally these initiatives grew in...