Salon Rising

Ever juggled clients, kids, and business—and felt like you were barely holding it together? In this honest and heart filled episode, Samara and Jen dive deep into the real talk so many women in business crave. From the early solo days to salon ownership, they unpack the guilt, the financial faceplants, and the little wins that make it all worth it. 💬 Inside: The truth about mum guilt (and why it...

What’s it really like to run a salon with your best friend? In this episode, we sit down with Tiff & Phoebe—co-owners of Blond Therapy. A values led salon in a small Queensland town, to unpack the real behind the scenes of co-owning a salon. From splitting roles without resentment, to managing finances and raising families on different timelines (four kids vs. no kids), they share the honest h...

What if the anxiety you feel isn’t just in your mind, but stored in your body? In this episode, we go deep with Sherri from Connected Being Co as she shares how nervous system healing and breathwork can help you regulate your stress. Process trauma, and show up in your life with more calm, clarity, and connection. We talk about everything from breathwork myths and burnout recovery to ex-prisoner r...

What does it really mean to command a room, without being the loudest in it? In this magnetic episode, we sit down with Tiana Baxter , a powerhouse in business and personal transformation, to explore the kind of leadership that begins behind the scenes. From corporate boardrooms to building multiple million dollar businesses, Tiana opens up about reinventing herself, integrating faith, and learnin...

What happens when the worst has already happened? In this powerful follow-up, Ashe Hornsby returns to the Inner Sanctum to deliver the raw, unfiltered truth about what it really takes to survive the unthinkable—and come back stronger. From losing her partner, her business, and almost herself, Ashe shares how she navigated grief, burnout, legal battles, and letting go of the fight. We talk rebuildi...

In this highlight, Samara and Jen chat with Sherri , who leads ANZ partnerships for Timely. They talk about why many solo businesses shut down within 18 months…and how you can stop that from happening to you. They share easy tips to help your business stay strong and explain what it really costs to work for yourself…beyond just time and money. They also talk about how hard it can be to do everythi...

On this episode we dive into the power of connection, community, and finding your people in the hair industry. Aimee, owner of Bhava Salon and creator of Mane Union , shares her journey of moving interstate, the unexpected loneliness that followed, and how she turned that experience into something bigger. Mane Union was born from a desire to create a space where hairstylists and salon owners could...

Trigger warning: This episode discusses pregnancy loss. This week, Samara was flying solo in the Inner Sanctum (thanks to Jen getting stuck with a client—#SalonLife) for a deeply personal and powerful chat with Ash Bailey, also known as @socialcoachash . Together, they dive into the raw reality of navigating pregnancy, running a business, and processing loss. Ash opens up about her journey through...

In this episode, we chat with the incredible Ashe Hornsby . She has faced unimaginable loss and emerged stronger. After losing her husband, the face of their successful stonemasonry business, Ashe had to deal with her own grief and support her young family. At the same time, she managed the challenges of a male-dominated industry. Ash talks about resilience and why having the right safeguards, lik...

In this episode in the inner sanctum, we’re keeping it real about the New Year—no fluffy resolutions, just practical ways to set goals and actually follow through.  We dive into navigating multiple roles, business shifts, and making lifestyle changes that feel good (hello, dopamine hacks!). Plus, we’re shaking up traditional goal-setting by swapping vision boards for something way more fun—Bi...

In this episode of Salon Rising The Podcast , we chat with the incredible Sarah Lancaster—salon owner ( Cole & Co Hair ), mum of three, and the brains behind The Relief Hairdresser . Sarah’s built something pretty special, growing her business from a home setup to a full salon while creating a much-needed service that helps salons find reliable, temporary stylists when they need them most. We...

In this episode in the inner sanctum , we chat with Bridget, owner of The Tortoise and the Hare , about the unfiltered reality of running a salon—through the highs, the struggles, and everything in between. From navigating staff changes to expanding her salon while battling severe illness during her pregnancies, Bridget shares her raw and personal journey. This honest, heart-to-heart conversation...

Hey lovers, we’re back! It’s our first pod of the year, and we’re kicking things off with a chat you won’t want to miss. This week in the Inner Sanctum, we’re joined by Sherri from Timely , where she leads ANZ partnerships, working closely with partners in the hair and beauty industry. We’re talking about the real stuff – money, mindset, and why reaching out for support early (whether it’s a coach...

Babes! It's our final episode in the inner sanctum for 2024! It's time to reflect on the whirlwind it's been personally and professionally. This year has seen the Salon Rising Team navigating major life changes. New relationships, blended families, new business ventures and some incredible opportunities. As well as the constant evolution of our business practices. We talk about overcoming challeng...

We changed things up in the inner sanctum for this episode. It was Samara's turn to interview Jen about her recent experience of buying a salon. Jen shared the challenges and triumphs of her journey, and boy, was it a journey. From the initial decision to buy a salon to the drawing and planning phase to the various obstacles she faced. Let's say that dealing with solicitors, bankers, etc, is not s...

In this bonus episode, Samara chats with Jess from J & Co Hair in Wollongong. The pair discuss Jess's transformative experience with the Solo Rise Online program. Jess shares her insights on the program. Including the importance of mindset, community support, and practical tools like the budget spreadsheets. Jess emphasizes how the program helped her overcome imposter syndrome, gain confidence...

We are back in the inner sanctum with Justine from Eve the Salon . This was Justine's second episode with Salon Rising; much has changed in her world. Justine joined us straight off the back of our Mastermind retreat, with the pending arrival of her 2nd child drawing ever closer. We spoke about the immense support she received from the amazing women who joined her in this round of the Mastermind,...

In this bonus episode, Samara chats with Naomi from Blondie the salon . The pair unpack Naomi's journey in the Rising Finances program. Naomi shares her experiences on how the program has helped her overcome financial challenges in her salon. This has led to significant mindset changes and practical financial management. They delve into topics such as budget management, understanding pricing, and...

In this profound episode, we delve into the complex nature of grief with our special guest Lauren from the Young Blonde Salon in Sydney. This was the second time Lauren had joined us in the inner sanctum. Her raw insight into the journey she's been on is a testament to the incredible woman that she is. We spoke with Lauren about the sudden and unexpected loss of a beloved team member and dear frie...

In this highlight, Samara and Jen explore the important distinction between scaling and growing a salon business. They share insights from an inspiring business leader who explains how scaling involves expanding your team and stepping away from the floor, while growing focuses on increasing efficiency by adding support without necessarily increasing the size of the team. They discuss practical tip...

We're back in the Inner Sanctum with Casey, the owner of Maverick Hair and Art on the Gold Coast. Casey shares her journey of taking over the business she had worked in and changing from stylist to owner. In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges for the new business owner. Maverick is located on the Queensland and New South Wales border which meant many of Casey's staff and clients were s...

In this episode of the Inner Sanctum, we talked about the T word! That's right, lovers. It was Tax and Relationships with your accountant and chat with Paris from Group One Accounting. You will often hear the team singing the praises of Paris. Not only is she an exceptional human, she's also an incredible Accountant! This chat covered Paris's journey into accounting. Some background into Samara an...

In this episode of Inner Sanctum we're joined by the beautiful Jess, the creator of Honey and Muse in Sydney. Jess, took us through her journey in the industry and her decision to go from Salon to Solo. From taking over an established salon at age 21 to rebranding it into Honey and Muse. Jess has been bold and strategic with the changes she's made and her passion and love for her craft is clear. S...

In this highlight, Samara and Jen talk about how managing salon staff has changed over time. They explore how old, toxic work environments, where staff felt bad for taking sick days, are being replaced with more supportive and understanding workplaces. The hosts share their own stories about how they create a salon culture where employees feel safe taking time off when needed and comfortable shari...

For this episode in the inner sanctum we're joined by Sarah , the owner of The Luxe Beauty Co . Sarah was raw and real on the challenges and growth that come with owning a beauty salon. She shared her personal journey, including managing two salon locations. And spoke into balancing family life, and navigating leadership as a woman. We delve into topics like resilience, the importance of vulnerabi...