Your Day Off @Hairdustry; A Podcast about the Hair Industry!
Published by Follow on IG @hairdustry
Fashion & Beauty
Arts
This is @Hairdustry our weekly “Your Day Off” Podcast. We are hairstylist that bring you the success stories of the Hair Industry! Look for new Episodes with killer hair peeps every week on your day off! instagram.com/hairdustry Become a supporter of this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hairdustry/support
Tabatha Coffey: Intentional Awareness, Cosmetology School Legislation, and Why Your Body Is Running Your Business She spent 11 years studying how the brain and body work. Then she went to Washington DC to fight for the industry. This conversation covers both. Recorded live at ABS Chicago with co-host Geno Chapman, Corey sits down with Tabatha Coffey (@tabathacoffey) for a conversation that moves from Capitol Hill to Cambodia to the neuroscience of why hairdressers self-sabotage their own success. Tabatha is a certified neuroscience and somatic coach, a longtime industry advocate, and is currently touring with Keratin Complex across the US and Australia. The Legislation That Could Close 90% of Cosmetology Schools Tabatha just returned from DC with AACS and NIC, meeting with House and Senate offices about a Department of Education bill that could eliminate financial aid access for cosmetology students. The benchmarks compare the industry to four-year undergraduate degrees, which is not a fair comparison. The number being shared by school associations is stark: up to 90% of cosmetology schools could close within five years if this passes. Tabatha's role was to humanize the industry for government officials. She started every meeting with the same question. How do you feel about your hairdresser? 11 Years of Neuroscience and Somatic Coaching When Tabatha stepped back from the show she went deep into two disciplines. Neuroscience coaching taught her how neural pathways form and change and how thought loops amplify stress. Somatic coaching added the body into the conversation. There is more information traveling from body to brain than brain to body. Sustainable change does not happen until the nervous system can hold it. When it cannot, people revert to what feels safe even when it is working against them. Box Breathing and Regulation in Real Time Tabatha's approach is practical. She teaches people to notice what is happening in their body before they react. Box breathing: inhale for four, hold for four, exhale for four, hold for four. It works because it slows your physiology and gives your mind a task, which interrupts the thought loop driving the stress. A longer exhale than inhale activates the parasympathetic nervous system and calms the body faster. Intentional Awareness The through line of everything Tabatha teaches is awareness. Not retreats. Not complex frameworks. Just noticing where something lives in your body before you respond. For hairdressers this might be the client who never likes her hair. The conversation about raising prices. The moment your chest tightens. Once you can locate where you feel it, you can work with it instead of against it. Keratin Complex Road Tour Tabatha is on the road with Keratin Complex talking about how the industry and the consumer have both changed. Her system breaks service menus into three buckets to help hairdressers rethink pricing, booking conversations, and how to make more money without working more hours. Find Tabatha at @tabathacoffey on all platforms. Follow Geno at @genochapman. 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lLnEgr3UFY7lFDixapkrZ?si=36231da1a5264815 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-day-off-hairdustry-a-podcast-about-the-hair-industry/id1327156219 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairdustry ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hairdustry This episode is brought to you by Serious Business. January 16-18, 2027 in New Orleans. seriousbuisness.net
Universe Walker: Beauty Desk AI and the AI Receptionist Built for the Beauty Industry She took a coding class at Princeton, built a prototype, and created the first AI receptionist designed specifically for salons by someone who actually runs one. Corey sits down with Universe Walker (@universewalkerismyname), Bay Area hairstylist, owner of Knuckleheads and Harlots in Oakland and Scarlet Salon in Berkeley, and founder of Beauty Desk AI. The conversation covers how she built Eve, what Eve actually does, and what the future of AI in the beauty industry looks like. Why She Built It After COVID, Universe was running two salons bicoastal without front desk. New clients were calling and she was missing them. She knew she was leaving money on the table every day. When AI voice technology started to emerge she saw exactly what the industry needed. She took a coding class at Princeton, built a crude chatbot prototype, and knew she was onto something. It took years to build it properly but Beauty Desk AI is now out of beta with real customers and real results. What Eve Does Eve is an AI receptionist that answers incoming voice calls and texts from clients. Clients call your salon number like they always would. Eve answers, handles the full conversation, checks availability, describes services and pricing by stylist, books the appointment, sends a confirmation text, and manages the cancellation policy. Everything lives in one dashboard where you can see every interaction, turn Eve off and take over yourself, and track revenue in real time. Eve also works alongside existing front desk, stepping in after hours, on snow days, or when reception is busy with someone in the salon. Eve vs. Eve Plus Eve handles all incoming voice and text communication without integrating into a booking platform. Eve Plus connects directly with Square for real-time availability and booking. More booking platform integrations are in progress. Head to beautydeskai.com to find out which option fits your business. The Live Demo Corey called Eve live on the podcast. Eve picked up on the first ring, walked him through service options for Scarlet Salon, described Ryan and Sierra's specialties, confirmed a Friday four PM appointment with Sierra, and texted a booking link before the call ended. It is in the episode. Worth listening to. Built for Everyone Eve works for solo suite owners, small salons, large salons, barbershops, and spas. Multi-location operators are on the roadmap. Universe built the architecture to use fewer AI tokens than most competitors, which keeps costs down and reduces environmental impact. Find Beauty Desk AI at beautydeskai.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautydeskai 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beautydeskai Follow Universe personally at @universewalkerismyname on Instagram and TikTok. 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lLnEgr3UFY7lFDixapkrZ?si=36231da1a5264815 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-day-off-hairdustry-a-podcast-about-the-hair-industry/id1327156219 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairdustry ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hairdustry
atum Neill: Serious Business, Elevate Hair, and Why Hairdressers Can Change the World** He threw a rogue after party before anyone asked him to. That is just how Tatum Neill operates. Recorded live at ABS Chicago with co-host Geno Chapman, Corey closes out the weekend with Tatum Neill, co-creator of Serious Business and founder of Elevate Hair. This one covers the origin stories of both, the current state of AI and what it means for the industry, and a full New Orleans survival guide for anyone heading to Serious Business in January 2027. **What Serious Business Actually Is** Serious Business started as a business conference and evolved into something harder to name... a personal development experience that fills cups you didn't know were empty. Mel Robbins has been there. Brene Brown has been there. But Tatum's advice is to just show up without looking at the lineup because the speakers always end up being exactly what you need. January 16-18, 2027 at the Sanger Theater in New Orleans. **Elevate Hair** It started as a salon jam session. Tatum missed the education lifestyle after years working in New York and started inviting the salon across the street to come hang out. Beer, wine, hair, music. Then he went rogue and threw an after party for Serious Business. Then it grew. Now Elevate is a brand neutral stage show with no talking, no sales, just artists in a full flow state with a DJ running the room. The biggest one drew 1300 people to First Avenue in Minneapolis... the venue where Prince filmed Purple Rain. The tape from Prince's last soundcheck is still on the back wall. Elevate Orlando is May 30th. More cities to follow. **AI and Where It Is Actually Headed** Tatum went to South by Southwest and came back thinking about the printing press and early film. Every disruptive technology looks clunky at first because we use it the way we used the thing before it. The first movies looked like plays. The first recordings were just a band in a room. We are at that same early stage with AI... using it like the old thing instead of discovering what it can actually become. For hairdressers the most immediate practical application is consultations. Show the client what they would look like with the cut or color before you start. In real time. On their face. **The New Orleans Survival Guide** Eat the gumbo at the airport before you leave the terminal. Emeril's is in one wing, John Besh's restaurant in the other. Get that base in before you hit the hotel. Your first drink will be a triple so treat it accordingly. Order a Dong Phuong king cake now because they sell out before January 6th every year. And know that Serious Business lands in the middle of Carnival season so there will be parades that Friday and Saturday night if you stay the full weekend. --- Find Tatum at @tatumneill on all platforms. Follow Geno at @genochapman. 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lLnEgr3UFY7lFDixapkrZ?si=36231da1a5264815 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-day-off-hairdustry-a-podcast-about-the-hair-industry/id1327156219 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairdustry ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hairdustry This episode is brought to you by Serious Business. January 16-18, 2027 in New Orleans. seriousbuisness.net
Bobbi Powell: Beauty School, Haven House, and Building Something Nobody Asked For She cold emailed a press team, showed up with no connections, and built something the industry didn't know it needed. Recorded live at ABS Chicago with co-host Geno Chapman, Corey sits down with Bobbi Powell (@beautyschoolbobbi) for a conversation that covers beauty school ownership, community service, self-advocacy, and what it actually means to show up for people. Bobbi is co-owner of Tennessee School of Beauty, a fifth generation school opened in 1934, and has been partners with the family for seven years after walking in to do admissions and operating like she already owned it. How She Got Here Bobbi grew up near Pittsburgh in a close-knit Italian family and almost became a high school English teacher. After one semester of observations in inner city Akron middle schools she knew it was not the path. She followed her mom to Knoxville, connected with a salon owner tied to Tennessee School of Beauty, and took the admissions job with zero beauty industry experience. She fell in love immediately. Seven years later the fourth generation owner made her a partner. Own the Space You Are In Bobbi did not wait for permission to build something at ABS. She emailed the press team cold, showed up with a small crew, and asked if they could have a bigger presence the following year. That became what it is today. Own every space you are in regardless of whose name is on the door. Whether you are behind the chair on commission or running a media operation at a hair show, treat it like yours. Haven House Bobbi partners with Haven House, an organization that supports girls in foster care who have experienced sex trafficking. Multiple times a year those girls come into the school as clients. Students work on them. Bobbi handpicks which students are in the room because she knows who needs to be there. Every time without fail those students walk out changed. The girls get to be normal teenage girls for a day. The students get a perspective shift that no classroom can manufacture. The Tennessee Beauty Professional Awards and a New Nonprofit The Tennessee Beauty Professional Awards happen August 16th in Knoxville. The first year benefited the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network with a scholarship in honor of her business partner's son who died by suicide. This year Bobbi is announcing a new nonprofit to fund real product and hands-on training in underfunded public school cosmetology programs. Corey is going to be a judge. Find Bobbi at @beautyschoolbobbi on all platforms. Listen to the Beauty School Bobbi podcast every Monday. Follow Geno at @genochapman. 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lLnEgr3UFY7lFDixapkrZ?si=36231da1a5264815 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-day-off-hairdustry-a-podcast-about-the-hair-industry/id1327156219 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairdustry ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hairdustry This episode is brought to you by Serious Business. January 16-18, 2027 in New Orleans. seriousbuisness.net
Byrd Mena... From a Basement in Waterbury to Stages Around the World Byrd Mena (@byrdmena) is one of the most original minds in the hair industry. Venezuelan roots. Connecticut hustle. Third degree black belt. Call of Duty leaderboard legend. And a brand builder who figured out content creation, community, and global reach before most people knew those were even skills. Fair warning... this one was a blast. Venezuelan food debates, Chuck Norris jokes, a Chuck E. Cheese trauma story, and two guys who walked into the podcast couch as strangers and left as best friends. Plus a special cameo from fellow Venezuelan Alejandra Wolff Pickering (@ale_wlff) who crashed the couch, proved her cachapa credentials, and earned her stamp of approval from Byrd himself. Recorded live at the American Beauty Show in Chicago. Hosted by Corey Gray (@hairdustry), co-hosted by Geno Chapman (@genochapman). Part of our live series sponsored by Serious Business (seriousbusiness.net | January 16-18, 2027, New Orleans). The Origin Story Byrd grew up in Waterbury, Connecticut... the dirty waters... with a barber brother, a hairstylist sister, and a best friend with clippers. He started cutting hair at 13 in a basement with an orange extension cord running to the neighbor's outlet. No proper shop. No formal training. Just a kid who wanted in and friends willing to sit in the chair. From Call of Duty to Content Creator Before Sharp Fade, before the stages, before the 40 countries... there was a PlayStation 3 and a Call of Duty leaderboard obsession. Byrd taught himself content creation making YouTube gaming videos in 2007... before Google even bought the platform. That same creative muscle became the engine behind everything that followed. Building Sharp Fade In 2015 Byrd launched Sharp Fade... a barbering media brand inspired by ESPN. He spotlighted independent artists, flew them around the world with no agency fees, and built a platform with millions of followers that changed how the industry thinks about branding. He did it all while staying faceless for two years... pure Banksy energy. Live Fashion Hair and Giving Back A show in the Canary Islands opened his eyes to a whole new level of creative possibility. Today he is a part owner of Live Fashion Hair, doing shows in Brazil, Las Vegas, and Brooklyn with Davines. Off the stage he helped rebuild a barbershop in the favelas of Brazil for a man who lost his daughter to a stray bullet and his shop to fire... surprising him on stage with the keys in front of 5,000 people. He has also collaborated with Disney and Pixar on the film Soul, runs an annual mentorship retreat, and gives free haircuts to the homeless through a mobile barber program. What You'll Learn in This Episode How to build a brand before anyone is watching. Why authenticity closes million dollar deals better than any suit. The dopamine hack Byrd uses to help creatives grow. And the live idea Byrd and Corey cooked up on the couch that might just become the next big thing. Follow Byrd: @byrdmena on Instagram Special cameo: @ale_wlff on Instagram Co-host: @genochapman on Instagram Hosted by: @hairdustry on Instagram Learn more: Sharp Fade | Live Fashion Hair Subscribe to Your Day Off wherever you listen. New episodes every week. 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lLnEgr3UFY7lFDixapkrZ?si=36231da1a5264815 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-day-off-hairdustry-a-podcast-about-the-hair-industry/id1327156219 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hairdustry 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairdustry
What Do Hairdressers Do for Retirement? Anna Manukyan Has the Answer. Over 800 hairdressers answered that question in a viral Facebook post. The responses ranged from "marry someone rich" to "we die with scissors in our hands." Certified financial educator and licensed fiduciary Anna Manukyan is on a mission to rewrite that ending... one beauty professional at a time. Recorded live at the American Beauty Show in Chicago with co-host Geno Chapman (@genochapman), this episode is part of our live series sponsored by Serious Business (seriousbusiness.net | January 16-18, 2027, New Orleans). Anna's Story Anna Manukyan immigrated to the US as a political refugee at 9 years old. She quickly learned what hustle really means. Fell in love with the beauty industry working at a local salon. Signed herself up for beauty school before she could legally rent a car. Her dad's response: "We brought you to the United States so you can cut hair? How dare you embarrass the family." That contrast... the dream of possibility versus the harsh reality of how the world sees this industry... lit a fire that never went out. She went on to spend 20 years at L'Oreal in education and business development, leading teams of 30 artists, sitting in boardrooms, and working with beauty professionals at every level across the country. The Money Problem Nobody Talks About After decades in the industry, Anna kept seeing the same thing. Hairdressers working into their 70s. No retirement. No plan. Just scissors and hope. She became a certified financial educator, got her securities license, and became a licensed fiduciary... the only financial designation legally required to act in the client's best interest. Then she founded Beautiful Wealth Academy to make sure no hairdresser ends their career with a GoFundMe. Because knowledge really does equal power. Beautiful Wealth Academy Anna built Beautiful Wealth Academy to make financial education accessible and digestible for the creative brain. Download the Level Rewards app, find Smart Finance or License to Thrive, enter code THRIVE for a free $250 finance class. Grab the free 7-step money guide at beautifulwealth.com. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why the longer you stay in the industry without a financial plan, the less money you actually make. How inflation is quietly making you pay your clients to sit in your chair. ETFs vs. mutual funds in plain language. Why $27,000 in Starbucks could have been a $116K portfolio. How to open a brokerage account from scratch. Free Resources from Anna Follow Anna: @amanukian on Instagram Learn more: beautifulwealth.com Subscribe to Your Day Off wherever you listen. New episodes every week. 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lLnEgr3UFY7lFDixapkrZ?si=36231da1a5264815 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-day-off-hairdustry-a-podcast-about-the-hair-industry/id1327156219 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hairdustry 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairdustry
Alfredo Lewis and Emily Chen: Qoat and the Product the Hair Industry Has Been Missing Five minutes. One bottle. Up to $32,000 in added annual revenue. And a brand new category that has never existed before. Recorded live at ABS Chicago with co-host Geno Chapman, Corey sits down with Alfredo Lewis and Emily Chen to introduce Qoat (pronounced coat)... the first ever professional hair color top coat that seals, protects, and illuminates every color service. Compatible with all color brands. Five minutes at the back bar. Launching in Salon Centric July 1st. What It Does The concept came from nail polish. Nobody was putting a top coat on hair color, and the result was the same as skipping it on a manicure: the color fades fast. Alfredo spent two years with a chemist developing a proprietary blend called Hydro Glow Shield. After toning, you apply one to three ounces of Qoat, comb through, process five minutes, rinse. Alfredo's vivid pink client went from calling him two weeks after her service saying her color was already gone... to making it two and a half months. Emily tested swatches thousands of times trying to make them ugly. They refused. The Shareholder Model Alfredo built Qoat with five artist shareholders, not ambassadors. Each one owns a piece of the company. Emily Chen, Kara Williams, Jacob Conn, Zach Mesquite, and Philip Wolff. Every one of them comes from a different brand family. That was intentional. Qoat is brand agnostic and compatible with every color line on the market. The Numbers Approximately 17 services per bottle. MSRP around $55 to $58. Add-on service charge of $15 to $35 per client. Profit per year between $15,000 and $32,000. For five minutes at the back bar. Launching in Salon Centric and Modern Beauty Canada July 1st. Emily Sold Her Salon Eight years in, with her education career pulling her in a different direction, Emily gifted her salon to Megan, a former assistant who had built her book faster than almost anyone Emily had ever seen. She gave the team four months notice, laid out both outcomes clearly, and let Megan step into it. The culture she spent eight years building is intact. Break Room Emily Emily taught two ways for years without realizing it. Brand-approved stage Emily and break room Emily who made analogies involving Cool Ranch Doritos. When she started bringing break room Emily into her presentations, people retained more and rooms responded better. She has been full break room Emily ever since. Find Alfredo at @alfredo_lewis and Emily at @emchenhair. Follow Geno at @genochapman. Qoat launches in Salon Centric July 1st. 🎧 Spotify📸 @hairdustry This episode is brought to you by Serious Business. January 16-18, 2027 in New Orleans. seriousbuisness.net
Tyler Kelbert and Dayna Gamba: Depot North America and What a Real Brand Relationship Looks Like Some brands want your following. This one wants you. Recorded live at ABS Chicago with co-host Geno Chapman, Corey sits down with barbers Tyler Kelbert and Dayna Gamba, two of the newest additions to the Depot North America team. The conversation covers what drew them to the brand, what the product has been like behind the chair, and why Depot's culture feels different from anything else in the barber space. Tyler tells the story of doing 365 consecutive days of content twice. Dayna talks about using her chair to quietly change lives. Two barbers. Two ways of showing up. Both doing it right. What Is Depot Depot is an established European men's grooming brand covering scalp health, hair, skin, body, and scent. The US launch is building deliberately. Products are organized by numbers: pre-wash in the 100s, washing in the 200s, styling in the 300s. Tyler's go-to is the 304, a strong-hold product that holds all day. Dayna's clients are already asking to cocktail products and wanting more. Distribution is still being worked out but the demand is there. The Culture Is the Product Depot does not require influencer status. No follower count minimum. They want authentic artists who are good at what they do. Corey and Geno, who spent time with the Depot and Milkshake teams in Ibiza, came away with the same read: family, not a hair brand. Tyler put it plainly... if you're a good barber and you're not a dickhead, there's probably a home for you here. What Dayna Brought to the Room Tyler called out Dayna's positivity as one of his biggest takeaways. She'd flip a negative into something constructive without missing a beat. Contagious. Twenty-three years in the industry, time with Orbe and Davines, and a genuine belief that Depot fills gaps the barber space has been missing. She also runs a charity raffle out of her salon. The prize is free haircuts for a full year. Tickets run $20 to $50 and every dollar goes to a family in need. Quiet generosity. No big following required. Tyler's 365 Days of Content... Twice First run was great for his career and rough on everything else. The second time he came in with a plan, used AI for content ideas, built variety across tutorials, education, humor, and unboxings, and thought about it from the consumer side first. He also brought a carry-on full of outfit changes to the salon every day. His coworkers thought he was out of his mind. Eventually he figured out nobody's watching that closely. It was always about the content. Depot is actively building its US team. Real artists. No ego. Throw your hat in.
Nick Stenson: Cancer, Clarity, and What It Really Takes to Build a Brand He left one of the most powerful jobs in the beauty industry to bet everything on himself. Then he got cancer. This is that story. Recorded live at ABS Chicago with co-host Geno Chapman, Corey sits down with Nick Stenson, celebrity hairdresser and founder of Nick Stenson Beauty, for a conversation that earns every minute of your time. Nick has been a creative director at Matrix, rose to Senior Vice President of Salon Services and Store Operations at Ulta Beauty, and spent seven years quietly building his own hair care line before leaving corporate life entirely. Months after walking away, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin Lymphoma. This episode covers all of it. Seven Years to a Bottle Nick started developing his product line before he even accepted the job at Ulta. The brand, built around a three-step philosophy covering what you do in the shower, out of the shower, and before you walk out the door, currently sits at 12 SKUs. Every product was designed to be a hero. Nick spent 19 formulations on his hairspray alone. His goal from the start was to create a brand complete enough that he'd never need another one. The line is now available in Ulta, Nordstrom, Macy's, and Amazon, with more retail partnerships coming. He put his name on the bottle because he wanted his reputation attached to everything inside it. Building a Brand in the Wild Nick breaks down what marketing a hair brand actually looks like from the inside. TikTok rewards hooks and speed. Instagram builds community and brand culture over time. Google runs differently from both. He's learned that most founders pull the plug on a marketing channel too early, before the algorithm has had enough time to respond. Six months is the minimum before you can evaluate whether a platform is working. Each retailer also operates in its own ecosystem, and breaking through to their consumer requires its own strategy layered on top of your own. The Diagnosis Nick had been in pain across his chest and back for months. Chiropractors, x-rays, adjustments three times a week, up to 20 Advil a day. He wrote it off as a workout injury. The fatigue he attributed to stress. Then a lump appeared on his collarbone and a doctor friend spotted it at a weekend trip. Four weeks later it had doubled in size. He found out through his patient chart, sitting in a car with that same friend, who started to cry. By Monday he was in a doctor's office. By Thursday he was in surgery. He had cancer in his lymph nodes around his shoulder, vocal cords, chest, armpit, and back. His doctor told him clearly: we are going to cure you. Those five words changed everything. What It Changed Nick describes going public with his diagnosis as a deliberate choice to be a safe place for people who didn't have his network, his doctors, or his support system. He spent hours in bed responding to DMs from strangers going through cancer. He calls that healing. On the other side of treatment, he is calmer, more generous when things go wrong, and quicker to celebrate his team instead of spiral. He also got clear on who belongs in his life. Some people who showed up during the hardest moments were removed not because they did anything wrong in that moment, but because their access to him had already expired. Cancer just made it easier to see. Presence, Meditation, and the Hard Conversation The episode ends somewhere unexpected. Corey opens up about experiencing suicidal ideation every day of his life until two years ago, and the realization through meditation that it was never really about wanting to die. It was about pressure. Seeing it for what it was made it stop. Nick picks up the thread and talks about learning to separate the hard moments he created in his own head from the ones that are actually real. Both men land in the same place: the world is happening for you, not against you. Doing the hard things now is the only way to earn the easy later.
Ted Gibson and Jason Backe Live at ABS Chicago Some conversations remind you why you got into this industry in the first place. This is one of them. Recorded live at ABS Chicago with co-host Geno Chapman, Corey sits down with Ted Gibson and Jason Backe for an hour covering three decades of hustle, heartbreak, reinvention, and beauty from the inside out. The Roads That Led Here Neither Ted nor Jason took a straight path in. Jason was a raver kid in Minneapolis who walked into beauty school and for the first time felt seen by a teacher. Ted was a Texas athlete who walked into a salon called Zan and Friends, saw a room full of stylish people in starched Wranglers, and decided that was the life. What followed was barber school, a cross-country move seeking fame, a detour to Atlanta to answer phones while switching his license, and a room with Confederate flags on the wall. He stayed anyway. The sacrifices nobody sees are always the foundation of the success they do. What Fame Actually Costs Saying yes to Angelina Jolie's hair for Tomb Raider changed everything. Vogue. Marie Claire. A PR firm that told them to drop the name Fame and call it Ted Gibson. A Fifth Avenue salon. A DC licensing deal tied to the Real Housewives. A move to LA where they gambled everything and learned more than they earned. Three years in Palm Springs that have brought more inspiration than anywhere else they've lived. Success is not linear. It never was. The Client Relationship... and When It Ends Ted's rule: treat every client like it's the first time you've seen her. She is a different person. Jason goes deeper, describing 20 years of New York clients who didn't care what it cost, and how COVID ended it overnight. He had to create a new category... client friends. Losing them felt like grief. It changed how he understood his work entirely. Ted Gibson Beauty Wellness Science After Ted's mom was diagnosed with dementia, they dove into brain health and found lion's mane mushroom. They felt it. They kept going. A scientist in Oregon with 30 years studying fungi and algae helped them build a superfood powder: lion's mane, chaga, reishi, tremella, and blue-green algae in a coconut milk base with vanilla and coffee. Tremella is shown to be 100 times more effective than hyaluronic acid at moisture retention. Mix it into anything. A book is coming. Convergence: Beauty Wellness Science Summit May 2-3 in Palm Springs. Professionals and consumers in the same room to collaborate, not compete. Mainstage education in cut, color, and dressing. Panel discussions including Guts, Brains and Beauty and Stars, Shrooms and Psychedelics. Breakout rooms. A cocktail party. The Beauty in Motion Evening Performance headlined by Ted and his artistic team. Day two is all professional education with business coaching from Steve Gomez. Blue Zones leads a purpose workshop for the Palm Springs community. Hotel reservations at the Marriott via the link in bio. @tedgibson... @jasonbacke... @genochapman Sponsored by Serious Business. January 16-18, 2027 in New Orleans. Tickets at seriousbuisness.net
Episode Title: Sheri Doss… From Redken to Costa Rica to Bumble and Bumble Hosts: Corey Gray and Katie May Guest: Sheri Doss, Education and Artistry at Bumble and Bumble Episode Summary Sheri Doss spent 30+ years at Redken before walking away to be near her mom in Costa Rica. She opened an 80-seat taco restaurant and thought she was done. Then Bumble and Bumble came calling. As of February 2025, Bumble is on Salon Centric shelves for the first time ever... and Sheri is leading the education behind it. Corey and Katie May dig into what that means for every hairstylist in America. What We Cover Why a third of hairdressers leave the industry every year How 50 hours of cutting curriculum isn't enough to survive behind the chair What Bumble's Salon Centric partnership means for suite stylists and independents Building a team around mission... not contracts or post quotas The House of Bumble New York Experience launching June 2025 How to get into brand education as a working stylist About Sheri Doss Sheri grew up the daughter of a struggling salon owner in Southern California. She earned her manicuring license first, then her cosmetology license, built a color clientele fast, and was recruited by Redken as an artist. She spent 30+ years educating, managing teams, and helping hairdressers build sustainable careers. She now leads Education and Artistry at Bumble and Bumble. Find Bumble and Bumble Pro Instagram: @bumblepro YouTube: Bumble and Bumble Pro Searchable Terms bumble and bumble education 2025, sheri doss bumble, hair industry podcast, why hairdressers quit, how to work for a hair brand, salon centric bumble, razor cutting education, your day off podcast, hairdustry, Katie May hairdustry, Corey Gray hairdustry
Episode Summary Corey Hairdustry is joined by co-host Katie May for a conversation with Ajahn Tri Dao , a Buddhist monk and spiritual counselor. Inspired by the Walk for Peace, they explore the shift from “world peace” as an idea to internal peace as a daily responsibility—and why that change matters in a loud, fast, overstimulated world. What You’ll Learn • Why Buddhism can be understood as both a religion (protected by law) and a philosophy/practice (tested in real life) • The Walk for Peace’s core message: inner peace creates the conditions for world peace • A clear definition of “suffering” (dukkha): the uneasiness that comes from resisting reality, clinging, and trying to control what you can’t • How coping behaviors often show up when people can’t sit with pain (and why slowing down changes everything) • Why America’s pace (work, stress, constant stimulation) fuels emotional reactivity and disconnection • The Middle Way: not grinding yourself into burnout, and not numbing yourself into stagnation • How to start building awareness without making it complicated: journal first • A practical journaling framework: track sleep, mood, triggers, and reactions to expose patterns you’ve normalized • Beginner-friendly meditation advice: start guided with music, then build toward silence and breath-focused practice • Breath techniques shared: counting breaths, noticing temperature, and training the mind to do one thing at a time • What progress looks like: it’s not “no thoughts,” it’s responding differently when life pokes you • The takeaway: “Stop. Reflect. Write. Breathe.” and finish what you started. Key Quote-Level Takeaway “Peace is free from disturbing emotions—and you can train for it.” If you want, tell me: do you want the IG caption to feel more spiritual/soft , or more hard-hitting/straight talk ?
Show Notes – Season 9, Episode 2 What does it really take to work Paris Fashion Week as a behind-the-chair hairstylist? In this episode, Corey sits down with Dallas-based master colorist Michelle Bowden to unpack how one simple ask turned into a backstage pass to Paris. Michelle has spent 23 years in the same salon, building a loyal clientele and refining her craft as a specialist colorist. Fashion Week wasn’t part of some grand master plan. It came from staying curious, investing in education, and having the courage to raise her hand when opportunity showed up. Here’s what you’ll hear in this conversation: • How Michelle built a long-term career in one salon without job hopping • Why specializing (cut vs. color) helped her master her craft • How taking a wig and styling masterclass opened the Fashion Week door • The exact moment she asked to be considered for the team • Why she almost said no when the Paris invite came • What backstage at Fashion Week is really like (tight spaces, fast timelines, controlled chaos) • Why speed and solid technique matter more than glam • How creative projects improve your confidence behind the chair • The truth about “pay to play” Fashion Week scams Michelle shares honestly about insecurity, imposter syndrome, and the mindset shift required to step into rooms where no one knows your name. She also talks about how staying grounded behind the chair keeps her creatively fulfilled—even while expanding into global opportunities. This episode is a reminder that: Opportunity doesn’t always knock loudly. Sometimes it shows up quietly and waits for you to speak first. If you’ve been waiting to feel “ready,” this is your nudge. You don’t need to leave your chair to elevate your career. But you do need to put yourself out there. Listen in and let us know: If you got the invite to Fashion Week… would you go?
Season 9, Episode 1: State of the Industry w/ Gordon Miller In this annual “State of the Industry” conversation, Corey and Katie sit down with Gordon Miller to unpack what actually happened in 2025 and what salon pros should pay attention to moving into 2026. We’re kicking off Season 9 with perspective, data, and real talk — not clickbait. Gordon, now the new General Manager of Intercoiffure , brings decades of industry insight to break down what’s actually happening behind the headlines. According to aggregated industry data (KIM Report pulling from thousands of POS and booking systems): Overall revenue was roughly flat Guest counts are down Frequency of visit is declining Retail dipped, especially in smaller businesses and suites Larger team-based salons (20+ providers) are seeing growth again Price increases helped stabilize revenue — but without them, many businesses were slightly down. Emotionally? The industry feels uncertain and reactive — mirroring the larger world. From “don’t prebook” to “retail is dead,” viral advice is spreading fast — even when it applies to only a small percentage of stylists. The reality: Most stylists are not booked out months in advance. Smart prebooking and retention systems still work. Social media today is marketing-driven, not community-driven — and that shifts what voices get amplified. Retail didn’t collapse — but it’s soft. Historically, retail accounts for about 5% of salon revenue (7% at its peak). The larger issue? The industry never consistently built strong retail systems. The act of recommending matters — even if the client doesn’t purchase from you. It builds trust, retention, and authority. For suite owners especially, inventory strategy and cash flow management are critical. Suites surged during COVID but growth is leveling off. Larger suite companies are now acquiring smaller regional operators. Chair rental remains larger overall. Meanwhile, 20+ person salons are seeing team growth again — suggesting a quiet shift back toward structured environments. Many newer stylists have never experienced strong in-salon education or structured mentorship due to post-COVID cuts and digital pivots. Independent educators can be transformational — but they reach only a small portion of the industry. Education — especially business education — remains the biggest opportunity. From AI concierge systems booking appointments after hours to tools helping managers communicate and analyze numbers more effectively, AI is already improving operations. It’s not replacing stylists — it’s supporting better business. The opportunity to do great hair depends on sitting on top of a strong business. Creativity matters. But sustainability requires systems, education, and intentional leadership. The industry isn’t broken — it’s evolving. The question is: Are you building a business that evolves with it? 2025: Flat — But Not FineThe Clickbait EffectRetail: The Real StorySuites, Rental & Team-Based SalonsEducation & The Missing ExperienceAI in Real SalonsThe Core Takeaway
Stop Putting Sh*t In Your Hair — with Boone & Ben of Highland Style In this episode of Your Day Off Podcast , Corey sits down with Boone and Ben , founders of Highland Style , the clean-beauty disruptors behind the now-iconic phrase: Stop Putting Sh*t In Your Hair . What started as two friends fed up with toxic, lab-engineered formulas turned into a mission to create prestige products rooted in health, sustainability, and uncompromising performance. From ruined cookware to award-winning products now found nationwide, this story is equal parts grit, curiosity, and conviction. How frustration with toxic products sparked the Highland mission The early apartment-stovetop era and the first Glacial Clay Pomade batches Why clean, earth-based ingredients outperform “chemical soup” The DM to Mad Rabbit’s Oliver Zak that shifted everything Why aluminum packaging is a non-negotiable The truth about preservatives & Yuka scores Why natural doesn’t mean “weak,” especially behind the chair Avoiding SKU overload in a cluttered product landscape Highland’s mission: style without compromise What’s coming in 2026 (conditioner, leave-in, high-hold, and more) “We resolved to create prestige products that deliver on the promise of style without compromising on health or sustainability.” Glacial Clay Pomade Glacial Cream Highland Wash Apply for a wholesale account at Highland.style → Wholesale tab. What We Cover:Highland’s Mission:Products Mentioned:For Pros:
AI for Hairstylists: How Chrystal Graves’ LiQUiD Boosts Salon Profits Season 8, Episode 46 — Your Day Off Podcast Chrystal L. Graves — Founder & CEO of LiQUiD , the first AI-powered business assistant built for hairstylists and salon owners. A former stylist, salon owner, and educator, Chrystal created LiQUiD to help beauty professionals make more money without working more. She’s a Techstars alum , Modern Salon Top 100 honoree , and Missouri Startup Weekend winner , with over 16 years in the beauty industry. Chrystal has coached hundreds of salon owners, led innovation for major beauty brands, and now leads the charge in bringing AI to the beauty business. Can AI actually make your salon more profitable? 💡 In this episode, co-host Katie May joins Corey to sit down with Chrystal Graves , the visionary behind LiQUiD — the first AI-powered business assistant for hairstylists. Chrystal shares how a single idea in a coffee shop turned into an award-winning tech startup that’s changing how stylists price, plan, and grow. From real-time pricing intelligence to automated consultations and smart decision-making, LiQUiD is redefining how salon professionals think about business — so you can create more and stress less. How Chrystal turned a 56-hour startup pitch into a funded AI company Why hairstylists need data-driven pricing, not emotional pricing How AI helps you track profitability and retention Automating consultations and product recommendations The future of tech-driven growth in the beauty industry 💻 Try LiQUiD for free: https://getliquid.ai 📱 Follow Chrystal: https://www.instagram.com/chrystalgraves_/ 🌐 Learn more: https://www.getliquid.ai 🎧 Your Day Off Podcast — available on all platforms 🎙️ Co-Host: Katie May Guest:Episode SummaryKey Topics & TakeawaysLinks & Resources
Guest: Jennifer Boutwell — salon owner, industry leader, consultant, and author of I See You: A Guide to Finding Your Inner Strength, Confidence, and Voice after Trauma and Abuse (Gretna, LA). She spent 30 years behind the chair before stepping into full-time entrepreneurship and consulting. She’s also a proud mom to Conner & Bryson (and furbaby Cooper). From a mall salon start to owning Salon Sanity , from a Redken makeover to paying off IRS debt in a year, Jennifer opens up about rebuilding with structure, healing after loss, and writing a book to help others move from trauma to true self-worth. We dig into NLP, morning rituals, meditation, gardening, and the power of “white space” in your calendar. Origin story: Gretna roots → Foxy Lady with Grandma → Regis → owning her own salon Rebrand & rebirth: why she dropped the founder’s name and created Salon Sanity — a calm space in an insane world Summit shift: systems, accountability, and paying off debt fast Healing & the book: losing her sister Gabrielle, confronting childhood trauma, and transforming pain into purpose NLP & self-awareness: spotting blind spots, rewriting patterns Presence & surrender: rituals, nature, and saying no to misalignment Leadership & legacy: empowering others to rediscover voice & confidence Barnes & Noble Balboa Press More info: jenniferjboutwell.com 📲 Connect with Jennifer Instagram → @jennifer_j_boutwell Key Topics & Takeaways **Links & Resources Amazon
Guest: Ben F’n Mollin — celebrity hairdresser turned endurance athlete, suicide prevention specialist, and author of Deconstructed: Kill the Thing That’s Killing You. Corey sits down with longtime friend and industry legend Ben F’n Mollin for a raw, unfiltered conversation about burning down everything that was killing him — and rebuilding a life grounded in truth, grit, and miles. From Bravo’s Shear Genius to rockstar educator status, Ben lived the dream: fame, travel, and recognition. But behind it was debt, addiction, and a breaking point that almost ended his life on April 1, 2018. Instead, he chose to deconstruct everything — walking away from the salon, the brands, and the spotlight to rediscover himself through endurance sports and deep inner work. Now a punk-rock, Cali-sober, non-practicing Jew who turned survival into service, Ben shares how he became an Ironman , an ultramarathoner , and a suicide prevention speaker — pacing others on their path back to purpose. From Shear Genius to the Edge: What overnight fame feels like and why success can be just as dangerous as failure. Breaking Point: The moment Ben told his wife he planned to end his life — and how speaking up saved him. The Deconstruction Process: How he “killed” his career instead of himself and rebuilt from silence, sobriety, and stillness. Movement as Medicine: How walking became running, which became Ironman Mont-Tremblant and eventually 100+ mile ultramarathons. Mindset of a Warrior: Lessons from endurance racing that mirror survival, discipline, and recovery. From Burnout to Purpose: Why Ben now helps others confront their demons through The Ben Mollin Project and public speaking. Redemption at 50: Returning to the Sedona Canyon 125 in 2025 , the race that once broke him — and finishing it in spiritual triumph. “Don’t kill yourself — kill the thing that’s killing you.” “When it gets hard, that’s when you have to create.” “Success can be just as dangerous as failure.” “Discomfort isn’t pain — it’s growth.” 🌐 Website: benfnmollin.com 📘 Pre-Order the Book: benmollin.systeme.io/pre-order 🎤 Founder of The Ben Mollin Project — transformational events on mindset, recovery, and finding your power If you or someone you love is struggling, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Episode OverviewWhat You’ll LearnQuotable MomentsConnect with Ben
Shock & Awe Guest: Garrison Neill – Neill Group (@garrisonneill) Mentioned: @seriousbusinessconf Episode Summary: In this episode of Your Day Off Podcast , host Corey Gray sits down with Garrison Neill , Chief Marketing Officer of Neill Corporation and President of Paris Parker Salons and Spas . As part of a third-generation family business shaping the future of beauty through education, artistry, and innovation, Garrison shares how Neill Corporation continues its 78-year legacy of helping people reach their full potential through beauty. Neill Corporation’s portfolio includes Paris Parker , Parker Barber , VoMor Hair Extensions , Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes , and the industry’s leading personal and business development conference — Serious Business . In this inspiring conversation, Garrison and Corey explore the story behind Neill’s multi-generational success, how Serious Business became the hair industry’s TED Talk, and why connection-based leadership is transforming how salons grow. The 2025 theme, Shock & Awe , challenges professionals to find gratitude, wonder, and presence in a world that never stops moving. Highlights: The Neill family legacy: 78 years of leadership, education, and evolution How Serious Business became a movement for personal and professional growth “Connection drives results” — the modern leadership philosophy reshaping salon culture The comeback of craft, artistry, and in-person learning The purpose behind Shock & Awe : seeing beauty in the chaos 🎧 Your Day Off Podcast – Season 8, Episode 43 Available on all podcast platforms
Corey Gray and co-host Geno Chapman (@genochapman) sit down in Ibiza with Depot Male Tools Global Ambassadors — Luca Malnati (@luca.malnati) , Dario J Braun (@dariobarbers.nl) , and Tom Hoffman (@diligents_tom @diligentssalons) — for a raw, funny, and inspiring conversation about creativity, connection, and community in the barber world. Recorded live at Hairtopia , powered by BeautyNova , this episode captures the unique energy of an event that feels more like a beach festival than a hair show. The group dives into how freedom fuels artistry, what it means to collaborate without ego, and how barbers can protect their mental space while building meaningful careers. You’ll hear: • How the Depot team turned a stage show into a full-on Ibiza vibe • The art of street casting real people for authentic work • Why teamwork and honest feedback create better shows • How to reset after high-energy events without burning out • The practice of asking for opportunities — not waiting for them • Why what you consume shapes your next five years The conversation moves easily from humor to honesty — from travel chaos and music inspiration to deep talk on leadership, self-awareness, and gratitude for the craft. It’s barbers being human, and that’s exactly what makes it resonate. 🎧 Your Day Off Podcast Season 8 Episode 42 – Depot Male Tools Global Ambassadors-Luca Malnati, Dario J Braun, Tom Hoffman Available on all podcast platforms
