Hairbrained Conversations

Aveda Global Artistic Director, Hair Styling Allen Ruiz is an award-winning artist (NAHA x 2!), editorial stylist, successful salon owner, working professional and renowned educator.  Listen in as Allen discusses with Gordon the Covid-19 related changes occurring throughout the industry, and his team's plan to proactively react to ...plus lessons learned as a salon owner and globe-trotting educato...

Kao's Cory Couts (Global President, Salon Division) and Trevor Attenborough (Vice President, Americas Region) offer up an insightful global perspective on how salons are reacting to and recovering from the pandemic.  Home to Goldwell, Oribe, and KMS, Kao has recently launched a global effort - the Kao Salon Recovery Initiative in support of the global salon community - the details of which we dig...

Industry veteran John Moroney, VP Creative and Communication for Kao Salon Global (home to Goldwell, KMS, and Oribe), offers a global perspective on salons - as well as details behind #WorthTheWait, a consumer-facing social media campaign reminding clients of their unique relationship with salon professionals. The program is just one part of Kao's Salon Industry Recovery Initiative helping salons...

Anthony & Pat Mascolo, TIGI co-founder and International Artistic Director and TIGI Global Make-up Director respectively, join Hb for a talk about the day to day life passions that drive their immense creativity.  Married since 1986, Anthony and Pat are also co-editors in chief of Infinge.com -- one of the industry's most fascinating 'media' websites and print publications  - one very much focused...

R+Co co-founder @HowardMcLaren shares his passion for art (including his interest in creating collages), as part of his larger interest in creativity - and how it feeds his work as a globally renowned artist hairdresser.  We also discuss the impact of "Stay at Home" response to Coronavirus on professionals and how to make the most of our changing world.

Lucie Doughty is Creative Director for John Paul Mitchell Systems where she leads the creative vision for the entire portfolio of Paul Mitchell brands.  A renowned master educator, platform artist, and award-winning colorist and editorial stylist (including 2020 NAHA!). Lucie shares some of the personal passions that help define who she is as a human -and inspire her work as one of the most creati...

Sassoon Salons and Academies International Creative Director Mark Hayes shares a behind-the-scenes look into the passions that have influenced him personally and professionally throughout his 40+ year career. For added context from Mark, listen in to popular episodes #23 and #56- conversations with one of the industry's leading educational leaders.

Alfredo Lewis, Lisa Walker, Paul Falltrick, Desmond Murray, and Constance Robbins each join Gordon for a 1-on-1 conversation in Part 2 of this series focused on bringing to our audience the voices of leading educators and artists from the world of Matrix.  This varied collection of conversations offers up a diverse list of lessons learned, great advice, and varied experiences.  Go back to Episode...

Next stop - a lakeside home not far outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota where @antoinettebeenders, Global Creative Director, Senior Vice President of Creative for @Aveda, took the time (while 'self-isolating') to share the stories behind her passions for photography, art, fashion, nature and more.  One of the industry's most highly recognized and awarded artists, Antoinette never fails to inspire.

With Coronavirus taking over so much of our collective conversations as of late, we are changing things up a bit by digging into the personal side of some of our favorite educators/artists. First up is Anh Co Tran, creator of "Lived In Hair" and Global Creative Director for Milbon, who shares many of his personal passions as well as a conversation about how they fit into his professional work.

Neeko and Tanya Abriol are successful celebrity stylists and co-owners of the Lab Lounge in Beverly Hills. Four-time NAHA winner Neeko Abriol has helped make over clients like Halle Berry, Jada Pinkett Smith, Nathalie Emmanuel, Tyra Banks, and Pink. Partner in business and life, Tanya Abriol counts Sandra Bullock, Kate Hudson, Salma Hayek, and Gwyneth Paltrow among her roster of A-list clients.  L...

Pulp Riot founder & CEO David Thurston joins Gordon for a talk about coping with  Coronavirus, how to best prepare for the coming, post-crisis 'new normal', and much more.  Known throughout the professional salon industry as an entrepreneur, educator, and disrupter, David is passionate about sharing his considerable insights on how to adapt to the changes caused by the digital revolution and thriv...

Longtime Hairbrained community member Shannel Mariano says she graduated beauty school "not knowing how to cut hair. People would tell me how much they admired my passion for learning. They were wrong. Fear drove me to education, not passion." Fast forward to today and Shannel has found her true passion: educating others by way of her unique approach to teaching the fundamentals of haircutting.  W...

Inspired conversations with two of the industry's leading coaches and voices. Tabatha Coffey, Matrix Global Business Ambassador &  Nina Kovner, founder, Passion Squared each share thoughts on how to best cope with the challenges facing salons and professionals in the wake of COVID-19. 

Sheri Doss is  Global VP, Education of Redken (and all of L'Oreal's other American Brands); Suzanne Strum Is VP of Redken Education US- and together they are a powerhouse of insights into the world of learning in professional beauty, and more specifically, education at Redken (the first major haircare company to make professional development a cornerstone of the brand essence). Recorded live at th...

Nick Stenson, Eric Vaughn, Danielle Keasling, Mustafa Avci, Daniel Roldan & Philip Wolff each join Gordon for a 1-on-1 conversation as part of this 2-part series focused on bringing to our hb audience the voices of leading educators and artists from the world of Matrix.  This varied collection of conversations offers up a diverse list of lessons learned, great advice, and varied experiences.  Stay...

Hairbrained co-founders join Gordon and a live audience in the Hb Community Room at PBA's 2020 ISSE show to talk about the inspiration behind some of Hb's most iconic programs and platforms, the evolution of the community, and take some questions from our audience. 

Gordon invited 'fellow geek' Ronan Perceval, CEO, creator and founder of Phorest Salon Software, for an inspired conversation about some of the big learnings that come from collecting millions of pieces of data from salons literally across the globe - including best practices for stylists and salon owners based on that data, coming global trends that the data points towards and much more. 

With an eye focused squarely on innovation and how it can best benefit the future of salons and professionals, Sylvie Moreau joins Gordon immediately following her visit to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).  The global leader of Wella Professional, Sebastian, ghd, OPI and more talks about learnings from this future-focused event - and the award-winning premiere there of Wella Professionals' aug...

Redken General Manager Leslie Marino and VP, US Marketing Carrington Cole join Gordon for a rare face-to-face conversation in Miami at the Redken Artist Connection Event.  With decades of experience between them, these two passionate leaders talk about the opportunities abounding for professionals in today's highly competitive salon marketplace, the importance and power of mentorship as well as in...

British native and recent transplant to NYC Darren Oram is the VP of Education for L'Oréal  Professionnel USA. From his early days as a globe-trotting cruise ship based hairdresser to the evolution of his career into that of an international educator, Darren shares great insights into what it takes to succeed in the professional salon industry - behind the chair or in front of the classroom. 

Award-winning, international artist Tom Connell joins Hb to share the story of his journey from a young stylist working in his parent's salon in Manchester, England to the newly announced position of Davines Hair Art Director.  The former Trevor Sorbie artistic director shares the inspiration behind his love of editorial and session work as well as his growing passion for Davines, it's evolving br...

Hb's Director of Engagement Courtney Bright takes over the hosting duties to talk with Gordon about the questions we all have about where salons are headed as digital disruption and new innovations continue to change how consumers experience the world -and how salon owners and professionals can proactively leverage the same as opportunities for growth. Hb's FutureCast conference, an event created...

NYC hairstylist, salon co-owner, educator, artist, and Dad, @markbustos shares the story behind his rise to prominence, his passion for making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, his dedication to his craft as well as his journey to salon ownership. Another "must listen to episode", not to be missed.

Matrix Global Business Ambassador Tabatha Coffey answers Gordon's call to help identify the steps in finding the right coach to help up one's game in professional or personal life. As always, Tabatha offers great insights and advice into a topic that is getting lots of attention today.