Welcome to The Conscious Salon. Here for the real talk salon owners actually need. The Conscious Salon Podcast is where salon owners get clear guidance without the fluff. Hosted by Nic & Tess, we break down leadership, team culture, money, client journey, systems and numbers into simple moves you can use this week. Expect straight talk, real stories, lots of laughs and practical frameworks that help you lead well, grow profit, and have a life outside the salon. You will hear from salon owners, industry leaders and working mums who have done the hard yards. We cover mindset that holds under pressure, meetings that improve your team culture, and the habits that build a self led team. Follow the show and start with leadership posture, client journey design, and money mindset. Listen in, implement, and stay conscious.
The leadership lessons that built multiple award-winning salons | Maria Unali
What does it really take to build a salon that thrives without relying on you every single day? In this episode, Nic and Tess sit down with award-winning salon owner Maria Unali to explore the leadership journey behind building multiple successful salons, creating an incredible team culture, and learning how to step back without sacrificing growth. Maria shares the lessons she's learned over decades in the industry, from taking over her father's salon, navigating motherhood while growing a business, embracing conscious leadership, and using AI to streamline operations and create more freedom. This is an honest conversation about leadership, resilience, personal growth, and building a business that supports the life you want to live. In this episode, you'll learn: 💼 How Maria built multiple award-winning salons and a thriving salon culture 🌱 Why conscious leadership transformed the way she leads her team 🤝 The importance of hiring for values and building long-term team alignment 👩👧 How motherhood changed her approach to leadership and business 💬 Why the conversations you avoid today become the problems you face tomorrow 🚀 How to create a salon that can grow without relying on you every day 🤖 How AI is helping salon owners save time, create systems, and lead more effectively Whether you're growing your first salon or leading a large team, Maria's story is packed with practical leadership lessons and mindset shifts that will leave you thinking differently about what it means to build a successful business. To follow Maria's journey: https://www.instagram.com/maria_unali/ To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
How to build a SALES focused team
Building a sales-focused team isn't about teaching better sales scripts—it's about building confidence. In this episode, Nic and Tess unpack one of the biggest reasons salon teams struggle to sell, recommend premium services, or confidently charge their prices. The answer isn't a lack of skill. It's often a team's relationship with money, self-worth, and the beliefs they've developed over time. They explore how money mindset influences sales conversations, why people-pleasing can lead to undercharging, and how salon owners can coach their teams through these challenges with curiosity instead of judgment. If you want a team that confidently recommends what's best for clients, charges appropriately, and contributes to a thriving salon business, this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll learn: 💰 Why money mindset has a direct impact on your team's sales performance 🧠 How limiting beliefs stop stylists from confidently recommending premium services ❤️ The connection between people-pleasing and undercharging clients 🔍 How to uncover the real reason your team avoids selling or upgrading treatments 🗣️ Coaching strategies that build confidence instead of creating shame 🚀 Practical steps to help your team confidently charge their worth and create a stronger sales culture To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
If you can't leave your salon for a month... This episode is for YOU
Are you so busy working in your business that you've stopped working ON it? In this episode, Nic, Tess and Tae unpack one of the biggest reasons salon owners stay stuck, and it's not a lack of technical skill. If you're constantly behind the chair, putting out fires, struggling to find time for leadership, planning or growing your business, this conversation is your wake-up call. We dive into: ✨ Why taking time off the salon floor is one of the best investments you can make 📈 The difference between being a great hairdresser and becoming a great business owner 💰 Why leadership, marketing and numbers matter more than another colouring or cutting course 🤝 How investing in yourself creates a stronger team culture and a more profitable business 🚀 The mindset shifts that helped us build a business that doesn't rely on the owner being behind the chair every day Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck on the hamster wheel, or wondering why your salon isn't growing despite working harder than ever, this episode will challenge the way you think about business ownership. If you're ready to stop surviving and start leading, this conversation is for you. Ready to take the next step? 🔥 Limited seats remaining for Off the Floor! 🔥 Join us for our intimate two-day retreat designed for salon owners who are ready to step out of the day-to-day, strengthen their leadership, master their numbers, and build a salon that thrives without relying on them every minute of the day. 📍 QT Gold Coast 📅 7–8 September 2026 🎟️ Strictly limited to 36 salon owners With only a handful of spots left, now is the time to invest in yourself and your business. Secure your ticket now: https://the-conscious-salon.circle.so/off-the-floor To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
We've had 532 hours of team sick leave in 12 weeks. The crisis that revealed our Salon Culture.
What happens when two senior team members are suddenly off work, hundreds of hours of leave stack up, clients need to be rescheduled, and then your salon ceiling collapses? That was our reality . In this episode, we're taking you behind the scenes of one of the most challenging seasons we've experienced as salon owners. From unexpected injuries and staffing shortages to a flooded salon and a ceiling literally caving in during a fully booked day, we're sharing what happened in real time—and what it taught us about leadership, resilience, and culture. Because here's the truth: culture isn't built when everything is going well. It's revealed when things aren't . This conversation is an honest look at navigating pressure, supporting a team through uncertainty, and what leadership actually looks like when the plan falls apart. Inside this episode: ✨ The unexpected challenges that tested our business all at once 👥 Managing a salon with key team members suddenly off the floor 📅 Navigating client expectations during staffing shortages 💥 The day our salon ceiling collapsed and flooded the salon 🧠 How stress compounds when your reserves are already low 💪 The leadership decisions that matter most during difficult seasons 🤝 What real salon culture looks like when everyone is under pressure 🌱 How challenges create opportunities for team growth and development ❤️ The power of communication, ownership, and supporting each other through adversity 🔥 Why your hardest seasons often reveal your strongest foundations This episode isn't about having all the answers. It's about showing you the reality behind running a business, leading a team, and navigating the moments that don't make it onto Instagram. If you're currently facing challenges in your salon or business, we hope this conversation reminds you that you're not alone—and that some of the most important growth happens when things don't go to plan. Join Us Live This September If you're a salon owner ready to step away from the day-to-day and work on your business instead of constantly working in it, we'd love to see you at Off the Floor. Hosted by The Conscious Salon and Salon Society, Off the Floor is an intimate two-day event designed to help you build stronger leadership, gain financial clarity, improve your marketing, and create the systems that give you more freedom as a business owner. 📍 QT Gold Coast 📅 7–8 September 2026 🎟️ Strictly limited to 36 salon owners Learn more and secure your ticket: https://the-conscious-salon.circle.so/off-the-floor To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
From Luxury Business Owner to Rock Bottom: The Untold Story of La La Nails
Some business stories are about growth. This one is about survival, resilience, and finding the courage to begin again. In this episode, we sit down with Samantha Camilleri, nail artist, entrepreneur, and founder of Herr Co., to talk about the reality behind building a successful beauty brand, and what happens when everything you've worked for is suddenly taken away. Starting from home with a small client base and a big vision , Samantha built La La Nail into a sought-after brand known for its luxury experience, strong community, and loyal following. But while the business was thriving on the outside, a series of devastating events would eventually force her to close the doors on the salon she had poured her heart into creating. For the first time, Samantha shares the emotional toll of losing her business, navigating public pressure, rebuilding her identity, and finding the strength to create a new chapter after unimaginable setbacks. This is a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and what it really takes to keep moving forward when life doesn't go to plan. Inside this episode: ✨ Building a beauty brand from the ground up 💅 Creating a loyal client community and luxury salon experience 💰 The business lessons nobody teaches you early on 💔 Losing something you've invested years of your life into 🌪️ Navigating grief, trauma, and the emotional impact of starting over 🔁 Rebuilding your confidence after major setbacks 💪 Backing yourself when nothing feels certain 🌱 Reinvention, growth, and stepping into a new chapter with Herr Co. 🤝 The role of support, mentorship, and community during difficult seasons 💛 Redefining success on your own terms This conversation is honest, vulnerable, and deeply inspiring for anyone who's faced adversity, experienced loss, or found themselves rebuilding from the ground up. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that setbacks don't have to be the end of the story. 📲 Follow Samantha on Instagram: @herr.co_ @samantha.camilleri Join Us Live This September If you're a salon owner ready to step away from the day-to-day and work on your business instead of constantly working in it, we'd love to see you at Off the Floor. Hosted by The Conscious Salon and Salon Society, Off the Floor is an intimate two-day event designed to help you build stronger leadership, gain financial clarity, improve your marketing, and create the systems that give you more freedom as a business owner. 📍 QT Gold Coast 📅 7–8 September 2026 🎟️ Strictly limited to 36 salon owners Learn more and secure your ticket: https://the-conscious-salon.circle.so/off-the-floor To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
We Almost Walked Away from Our Business (Here’s What Saved It)
Every successful business has challenges behind the scenes. This episode is about one of ours. For the first time, we're sharing how close we came to walking away—not just from our business, but from our partnership as sisters. What looked strong on the outside was carrying pressure, frustration, and patterns we didn't fully understand. It wasn't until we committed to doing the work together that things began to change. In this honest and vulnerable conversation, we unpack the lessons that transformed the way we communicate , navigate conflict , and lead both our business and our relationship . Whether you're working with family, leading a team, managing a partnership, or simply trying to improve an important relationship in your life, this episode will give you practical tools and powerful mindset shifts you can apply immediately. Inside this episode: ✨ The hidden pressure that can build when you work closely with someone you love 💭 Why conflict is rarely about who's right and who's wrong 🔄 How opposite conflict styles can create ongoing tension and misunderstanding 🧠 The mindset shift that changed everything: seeking to understand before being understood ⚡ The "Auto vs Manual" framework and how it transformed our communication 🚩 The warning signs most people ignore until it's too late 🛠️ Why waiting for things to get bad is one of the biggest mistakes you can make 🤝 How we rebuilt trust, respect, and connection when things felt stretched too far 🌿 The role emotional responsibility plays in leadership and relationships ❤️ What to do when the other person isn't meeting you halfway This isn't just a conversation about therapy. It's a conversation about growth, self-awareness, leadership, and the courage to work on the relationships that matter most. If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Join Us Live This September If you're a salon owner ready to step away from the day-to-day and work on your business instead of constantly working in it, we'd love to see you at Off the Floor. Hosted by The Conscious Salon and Salon Society, Off the Floor is an intimate two-day event designed to help you build stronger leadership, gain financial clarity, improve your marketing, and create the systems that give you more freedom as a business owner. 📍 QT Gold Coast 📅 7–8 September 2026 🎟️ Strictly limited to 36 salon owners Learn more and secure your ticket: https://the-conscious-salon.circle.so/off-the-floor To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
The Reinvention Story Every Business Owner Needs to Hear | Natalie Chadwick
Natalie Chadwick's story is one of resilience, reinvention, and learning to trust yourself through every chapter of life. In this episode, Natalie shares her journey from starting hairdressing at 16, to salon ownership, building a music career, navigating single motherhood, and overcoming significant financial challenges before stepping into her role as Global Creative Director at CPR Hair. This conversation goes beyond career milestones. It's an honest look at what it takes to rebuild when life doesn't go to plan, how to keep moving forward through uncertainty, and why backing yourself can change everything. We also discuss an exciting new chapter for CPR Hair, including what's ahead for the brand and the opportunities emerging within the hair industry. If you've ever questioned your next move, faced setbacks, or found yourself starting over, this episode is for you. Inside this episode: ✨ Starting a career in hairdressing at just 16 years old 🏢 The realities of salon ownership and the lessons learned along the way 💸 What nobody teaches you about money, business, and financial pressure 👩👧 Navigating single motherhood while pursuing ambitious goals 🎤 Building a music career and balancing creativity with responsibility 🔄 Rebuilding after setbacks and creating stability from the ground up 🔥 Learning to trust yourself when the future feels uncertain 🚪 Recognising opportunities and stepping into leadership 🤝 The impact of mentorship, support, and being seen by the right people 🌿 Creating a career and life that feels aligned with who you truly are This is a powerful conversation about resilience, growth, and finding the courage to begin again. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs this reminder: your next chapter can be your best one yet. Follow Natalie on Instagram: @natalie_cprhair Join Us Live This September If you're a salon owner ready to step away from the day-to-day and work on your business instead of constantly working in it, we'd love to see you at Off the Floor . Hosted by The Conscious Salon and Salon Society, Off the Floor is an intimate two-day event designed to help you build stronger leadership, gain financial clarity, improve your marketing, and create the systems that give you more freedom as a business owner. 📍 QT Gold Coast 📅 7–8 September 2026 🎟️ Only 36 tickets available Secure your ticket and learn more : https://the-conscious-salon.circle.so/off-the-floor To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
How to Remove Overwhelm - TRY THIS!
Your brain doesn’t need another colour-coded to-do list. It needs a circuit breaker. We start with some very real-life Easter chaos (including questionable chocolate choices and parenting economics), then we get straight into what we’re seeing across salons right now: overcomplication, overwhelm, and decision paralysis that keeps good salon owners stuck in ideation instead of execution. We share the framework we keep coming back to when everything feels like it’s piling up: AWS . It stands for what I Actually need to do, what can Wait, and where can I Simplify. We talk through how this three-question reset helps when you’re juggling clients, leadership, content, home life, and the mental load that comes with running a business. It’s not about doing more, it’s about choosing better, faster, and with less drama. We also go a layer deeper into the uncomfortable truth: the doom spiral can be tempting. Cortisol can be addictive, and sometimes we unconsciously chase the reward of being seen as the one who has it hard. We unpack how to catch that pattern and use a simple boundary statement, “I’m not available to spiral”, then bring it back to practical action you can take today with pen and paper. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a salon owner who needs a reset, and leave a review so more people can find the AWS method. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
How to Build a Salon that Runs Without You - with Loz Main
A salon can look “successful” and still be one bad day away from falling over. That’s why this chat with Loz Main, founder of Melbourne salon The Rumours Are True, hit us so hard. Loz started hairdressing young, bought her first salon at 21, and quickly learned the brutal lesson of being sold “booked out” books that didn’t exist. The hustle was real, but so was the identity wobble that comes from trying to act like a polished business owner before you’ve even finished growing up. We talk about what changes when you stop performing and start leading as yourself. Loz shares how culture, hiring, and client experience shift when you build a salon around who you actually are, not who you think you should be. And yes, we get into the wild fun too, including her legendary Christmas-week “12 days” energy boost and why a topless waiter can be a surprisingly practical staffing solution. Then the conversation turns deeper: a frightening accident at home that exposed how much the business relied on her, plus the systems she built to stop that happening again. We unpack her headset communication setup, code words, and how process can create calm without killing creativity. We also move through COVID lockdown pivots, lease stress, fertility struggles, grief, and the moment she finally held Freddie after months of fear and disbelief. If you’re a salon owner, hairdresser, or emerging leader looking for real-world salon management lessons, team culture ideas, and systems that actually work, this one is for you. Subscribe, share it with a friend in the industry, and leave a review telling us what you’re changing in your salon next. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
This is why your team isn't performing
If you’ve ever promoted your best stylist into a team leader role and then wondered why nothing really changed, we get it. Leadership in a salon doesn’t fail because people don’t care. It fails when we give someone a title but no structure, no decision rights, and no time to lead. So they hesitate, they double-check everything, and you end up carrying the load anyway. We sit down with Tae and Nikki to talk about what actually works: getting painfully clear on responsibilities, building trust, and making “time off the floor” non-negotiable so a salon manager can think, plan, coach, and problem-solve. We also unpack the real-world shift that happens when a leader has permission to make calls, move clients when needed, and speak up early when they’re overwhelmed, instead of pushing through until everything cracks. One of the biggest takeaways is the safe feedback loop . We share how direct, respectful feedback (including a retreat exercise that puts truth on the table fast) helps owners and leaders make better decisions together, even when they don’t fully agree. If you’re a salon owner, clinic owner, team leader, or manager trying to build a calm, accountable, high-performing team, this one will hit home. Subscribe for more practical salon leadership conversations, share this with an owner who’s struggling to delegate, and leave a review to help the podcast reach more leaders. What’s the one responsibility you need to define clearly this week? To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
Your team IS NOT a 'Family'
The fastest way to lose trust with a great team? A “quick” message on their day off. In this episode, we have a real conversation about after-hours texting, busy work group chats, and the small leadership habits that can quietly turn your team’s downtime into stress. It’s something many salon owners don’t think twice about, but the impact is bigger than it seems. We start with the human side. Life happens, things come up, and sometimes it feels easier to just send the message. But if we want to lead high-performing teams, we cannot rely on constant access to our staff. What feels quick and harmless on your end can land very differently for the person receiving it, especially for newer team members or anyone already feeling pressure. We talk through what’s really happening behind the scenes when those messages come through. Tone gets lost, anxiety can build, and your team can walk into their next shift already feeling on edge. From there, we move into practical leadership shifts that make a real difference. We share how we keep communication within paid hours, how we use meetings more intentionally, and why separating work and personal channels matters more than ever. We also walk through simple tools that have helped us, like keeping a running list of notes instead of messaging in the moment, scheduling messages to send during salon hours, and setting boundaries with notifications so they are actually upheld. If you’re a salon owner , manager , or team leader who wants stronger communication, better culture, and a team that feels respected and supported, this episode will give you clear, practical steps to start with. If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show, share it with a fellow salon owner, and leave a review. We would love to hear the boundary you are committing to this week! To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
How we run our salon in our busiest season
February tried to take us out. Not in a dramatic way. In the quiet, sneaky way that happens when every weekend is booked, you’re living out of a suitcase, and you still need to show up for your team, your clients, and your family with a clear head. Now that we’ve had a moment to zoom out, we’re reflecting on that season and what it taught us about leadership, pace, and staying grounded when everything feels full. In this episode, we share a behind the scenes update from the Conscious Salon world while Tae’s away. From retreats we’ve locked in, to a live event idea we may have announced before securing a venue, to navigating the momentum of saying yes to opportunities that genuinely align with our values. We also reflect on Salon Forum. The unexpected power of meeting inspiring people in real life. And a standout leadership moment where we watched someone handle disruption with total composure and what that taught us. Then we take you to Tasmania. Hobart, Spring Bay Mill glamping, outdoor showers in wild weather, long lunches, near missed flights, and that very real feeling of being both grateful and completely exhausted. If you are in the salon industry, running a small business, or moving through a busy season right now, this will feel very familiar. We talk about how to grow without losing yourself in the pace. Most importantly, we break down the two simple anchors that helped us stay regulated through it all : • A calendar that plans your whole life, not just work • A daily mindful moment to reset before the day begins If things have felt fast lately, this episode is your reminder to slow down, reset, and lead with more intention. 👉 Follow the show, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find tools that actually help. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
The One Leadership Shift that will calm your salon - featuring Julia Lambert
Chaos can look like confidence. But to your team, it often feels like stress. In this episode, we sit down with fan favourite Julia Lambert to unpack a deceptively simple leadership shift that changes everything. What starts as a story about riding a bike quickly turns into a powerful conversation about calm leadership, psychological safety, and why teams perform better when they can trust how you respond, what you prioritise, and whether you follow through. We explore how unpredictability shows up in everyday leadership. Think vague “quick chats” that instantly create anxiety, shifting priorities that kill momentum, and inconsistent reactions that leave your team second guessing everything. In a salon environment where days are full and pressure is constant, these small habits have a big ripple effect. Julia shares a practical and grounded approach to leading with more clarity and consistency . From giving your team permission to say no in a way that still supports the business, to a simple framework for handling mistakes without blame or shame. We also break down our favourite “how to work with me” blueprint. Clear expectations, simple boundaries, and communication preferences that make teamwork smoother and decisions faster. ✨ In this episode, you will learn: • Why predictability builds trust and psychological safety • How unpredictable leadership creates stress and confusion • Simple ways to communicate more clearly with your team • How to manage up and prioritise without overwhelm • A better way to handle mistakes without damaging culture • How to create a “how to work with me” guide for your team If you want a calmer salon, a stronger team, and more consistent leadership, this episode is your reset. 👉 Follow the show, share this with a leader who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
How to Hold Space Without Lowering Standards In Your Team
Ever found yourself in a one-on-one where a team member gets emotional… and you’re not sure whether to comfort them or hold the standard? In this episode, we unpack one of the most important leadership skills for salon owners: knowing when to hold space and when to hold accountability, without slipping into people pleasing or becoming overly harsh. This is a practical, real-world conversation designed to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and consistency in those moments that actually shape your team culture. We share: The difference between holding space and holding accountability in leadership How to support emotions without lowering standards Why rescuing or avoiding hard conversations creates bigger issues over time A simple framework for handling tough conversations with clarity How to regulate the room before trying to solve the problem The importance of naming expectations and identifying performance gaps Why SMART goals still matter in salon leadership How to set clear next steps with timelines and measurable outcomes The follow-up system that turns conversations into real behaviour change Scripts you can use immediately in one-on-ones and performance conversations How to handle repeated patterns without frustration or avoidance The balance between listening deeply and leading decisively Great leadership is not about choosing between empathy and standards. It is about learning how to hold both at the same time. If this episode helped you, follow the show for more salon leadership and team management conversations, share it with a salon owner who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the podcast. Which phrase are you going to use first? To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
Why you don’t trust yourself as a salon owner (and what it’s costing you)
Your gut is speaking. The real question is… are you listening? A lot of salon owners struggle with self trust , and it shows up in ways that quietly impact everything. Decisions get delayed. Standards become inconsistent. Team issues are ignored until they turn into bigger culture problems. In this episode, we unpack what a lack of self trust actually looks like in real salon leadership . From overthinking decisions, to constantly asking for validation, to allowing behavior you already know is not aligned. These patterns are more common than you think, and they come at a cost. We also explore the people pleasing trap and the “I can change them” mindset. This is not just personal. It directly affects how you manage your team. If you have ever avoided difficult conversations, waited for the “right time” to address issues, or tried to be liked instead of respected, this conversation will hit home. You will also learn how to start rebuilding trust in yourself . We talk about how intuition shows up physically, why noticing it matters, and how to create more calm and clarity in your decision making. Plus, why having the right support system can help you lead in a more grounded and consistent way. In this episode, you will learn: • How low self trust affects your leadership and team culture • Why indecision and overthinking hold your salon back • The danger of people pleasing as a leader • How to recognize and trust your intuition • Practical ways to make more confident decisions • The role of support in becoming a stronger leader If you want to become a more confident salon owner and build a stronger, more aligned team, this episode is for you. Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and share this with a salon owner who needs it. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
Salon Owners: You've gotta stop worrying what your team think of you
What if the only thing keeping your salon small is the story you tell yourself about what your team might think? In this episode, we talk honestly about the quiet fear that stops many salon owners from stepping off the floor. The worry about being seen as lazy, distant, or only focused on money can keep owners stuck behind the chair long after the business needs them elsewhere. We share how one simple day off the floor became the most focused strategic day of the week and eventually led to a full transition into visionary leadership. This conversation explores the shift from technician to business architect and why creating space to think, plan and lead is essential for long term growth. In this episode we share: The mindset shift from working in the salon to leading the business Why many owners feel guilt about stepping off the floor How one weekly day off became a strategic leadership rhythm The difference between technician work and visionary work How empowering therapists and stylists improves team performance The numbers that actually show salon growth including rebook rate, NPS, retail conversion and wage to turnover ratio How to communicate leadership changes without over explaining When to step in for difficult conversations and when to step back Navigating team perceptions around success, flexibility and leadership freedom Why building a vision creates better pay, development and opportunity for your team Leading a growing salon requires courage to step into the role of architect, not just technician. When the vision is clear and the culture is strong, growth becomes something the whole team benefits from. Follow the show for more conversations about salon leadership, culture and business growth, and share this episode with a salon owner who might need the reminder that working on the business is real leadership. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
Leading a 20-Person Salon through Grief | Prue Taylor’s story
How do you keep leading when your world changes overnight? In this episode, we sit down with Prue Taylor , founder of Lady and The Hair, for a heartfelt conversation about love, loss, and the quiet strength it takes to keep showing up for your team while navigating deep personal grief. From starting in a garage in Melbourne’s west to building a thriving two location salon, Prue shares the journey behind her business and the life experiences that shaped her leadership. When the sudden loss of her partner Damian changed everything, she had to find new ways to care for herself while continuing to support the team and clients who relied on her. Inside this conversation we explore: Building a salon from a garage into two thriving locations Leading a 20 person team while navigating profound personal loss The emotional weight hairdressers often carry for their clients What the first year of grief can really feel like Learning when to step off the salon floor to honour healing How breathwork helped regulate the nervous system during overwhelming moments Simple ways salon teams can reset and support one another Creating services like extensions and hair loss solutions that restore confidence for clients Showing up honestly and vulnerably as a salon owner online This episode is about more than business. It is about humanity, resilience, and the courage it takes to keep going when life does not unfold the way we expected. If this conversation resonated with you, follow the show and share it with someone who might need a little strength today. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
Our Salon Update
Ever felt your team lose its spark and slip into autopilot? In this episode, we share how we recognised the shift early and led a full culture realignment: resetting standards, strengthening communication, and recommitting to people-first leadership. Between school drop-offs, travel, closures, and a packed calendar, this is how we brought clarity and momentum back to the salon floor. This wasn’t about new colour formulas or more product training. The real shift came from mindset work, honest conversations, and a team willing to recommit out loud. Inside this conversation: The early signs your team is drifting into autopilot What a true alignment reset looks like in practice Why training humans matters more than training technique The weekly leadership rhythm that protects culture How to repair behaviour quickly without drama Why mindset work lifted performance more than technical education Rebuilding energy during closures and sick leave The role of community in sustaining long-term culture Strong culture isn’t accidental. It’s built through cadence, courage, and clear standards. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
Steal our Morning Pump Up format
Want a calmer start, clearer goals, and a team that actually owns the day? We break down our ten‑minute morning pump‑up that’s taken us from scattered huddles to a self‑led, high‑performing salon. It’s simple, fast, and designed to be implemented tomorrow without adding chaos to your diary. We start with what changed everything : making the meeting paid, scheduled, and non‑negotiable. From there, we walk through each section of our board and why it works. Wins come first, with reasons that build confidence and recognition. Then a single shared focus aligns the team around today’s priority: rebooking before holidays, retail momentum, promo pushes, or content capture, so every touchpoint supports the target. Awareness flags the likely bottlenecks before they bite: stacked evenings, towel flow, stock, even a stylist’s sore back, so support can be planned rather than begged for at 5pm. The heart of our system sits in the three daily tasks per person . These aren’t routine duties; they’re outcome‑based actions like home‑care goals, treatment upgrades, or content deliverables. We follow up the next morning with honest accountability and loud celebration, which turns individual effort into shared energy. Gratitude prompts deepen trust without getting fluffy, while a concise weekly task list keeps momentum steady between clients. And the love notes ? They stay up all week and they change the room—public praise that makes people feel seen, safe, and ready to stretch. You’ll hear real examples, the cadence we use, and the small details that drive results, including the 94% rebooking spike during Christmas week. If you want the full framework, we also share how to access our Conscious Meetings course for team meetings, one‑on‑ones, front of house, and leadership rhythms. Try the ten‑minute pump‑up tomorrow, then tell us what shifts first—energy, results, or both. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a salon owner who needs it, and leave a quick review so more teams can level up. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
HR truths for Salon Owners with Taryn Evans
Ever wished you had a people and culture director on speed dial for those tough leadership moments? We sit down with our long-time friend Taryn , a seasoned director of people and culture , to talk through fair terminations, sick leave patterns, feedback that truly lands, and repairing workplace culture in a way that feels human, practical, and doable. We start with one of the hardest parts of leadership: ending employment with respect . Taryn shares a clear, defensible approach built on setting expectations, giving genuine opportunities to improve, and documenting each step so when it is time to part ways, it can be done with kindness and clarity. From there, we explore chronic sick leave in service-based businesses, where last-minute call-ins impact clients and revenue, and how compassionate boundaries paired with clear consequences help reset patterns. Taryn also offers steady scripts for emotional one-on-ones, guidance on supporting mental health while holding standards, and tools for rebuilding culture through trust-based conversations, values alignment, and structured mediation. We cover how to address gossip, cliques, and passive aggression, plus practical ways to coach performance without triggering defensiveness. We round out the episode with advice on workplace celebrations, psychosocial safety, and small changes that lift both wellbeing and results. If you lead a salon and want real-world scripts, steps, and systems that make you calmer and your team stronger, this episode is your toolkit. Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another owner who is ready to lead with both compassion and backbone. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon
