Level Up with Lacey

Being fully booked does NOT mean you’re profitable — and some of the busiest salon owners I know are the most financially stressed. In our very first Money Monday, we’re talking about the numbers and habits salon owners avoid but absolutely need if they want real financial freedom. This episode is all about the one-hour weekly habit that completely changed how I run my business and how I feel abou...

Because let’s be honest… Every salon owner has one. Had one. Or is currently avoiding one. 👀 If you’ve ever had a team member who: – Doesn’t listen – Pushes back on feedback – Skips meetings – Gossips – Drains your energy – Is wildly talented but slightly (or very) toxic This episode is for you. When you first open a salon, you think leadership is: - Hiring cool people - Training your team - Cele...

You say… “Not having enough time to train well.” “The time it takes to train.” “Not enough time in the day.” “My time is valuable and it takes time to train.” “No time to train.” Sound familiar? 👀 In this episode, I’m lovingly calling you out. Because I get it. I lived it. I built my salon in the “I’ll train when things slow down” era… and guess what? Things never slowed down. We’re diving into t...

Ever caught yourself thinking (or saying 😬): “My assistant is lazy.” “They don’t take initiative.” “I’ve told them a hundred times and nothing changes.” Can we please have an honest conversation. In this episode, I’m breaking down one of the biggest misconceptions in the salon industry and it might be the ONE THING that is keeping you exhausted, frustrated, and stuck doing everything yourself. 👉...

…and this episode might be the most honest one I’ve ever recorded. This was not an overnight decision. This has been four years in the making , and inside this episode I’m sharing the real story behind it. In this episode, I walk you through: The one decision I made at 23 years old that created every ounce of freedom I have today Why stepping away from behind the chair was the hardest and best mov...

Before we dive in, I want to personally invite you to my upcoming free live training — The Co-Stylist Confidence Workshop!! It is BACK and better than ever!! If your goals this year include hiring stylists, working less behind the chair, making more money, and building real systems in your salon, this training is for you! Inside the workshop, I’m teaching: A simple way to pay a Co-Stylist or assis...

If you’re booked out, exhausted, drowning behind-the-chair a nd trying to keep the salon afloat… yet you keep telling yourself “I need help”… This episode is for you . Most salon owners aren’t avoiding hiring because they don’t want the support. They’re avoiding it because they’re scared as hell and unsure of the unknown. In this episode, I’m getting real and personal about: One of my first assist...

Color is one of the largest expenses in your salon… and yet most owners are still guessing. 😬 In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly how we track, upcharge, budget, and invoice color for booth renters at Salon Lace. If you’re eyeballing color, “doing your best,” or avoiding the numbers altogether… this one’s for you. Here’s what I’m walking you through: Why tracking every single drop of color...

✨ Final episode of The Level Up with Lacey Podcast for 2025 ✨ I’ll be honest, I’m really bad at celebrating how far I’ve come. I move the goalpost fast, judge myself even faster, and usually skip right past the “wow” moment straight into “what’s next?” In this final episode of 2025, I’m sharing the mindset shift that completely changed my peace, confidence, and anxiety this year- learning how to...

If assistants feel frustrating, inconsistent, or exhausting… this episode is for you. Because here’s the truth: that’s usually a leadership and systems issue, not a people issue… Mic drop. 🎤 In this episode, I’m breaking down the 6 standards I would absolutely be holding my assistants to in 2026 — not to be controlling, but to create clarity, structure, and confidence for everyone involved. We’re...

Before we dive in, don’t forget, I’m hosting a 3-day mini training on my Instagram Close Friends list called Your 2026 Habit Reset: Because You Can’t Do 2026 with 2025’s Bullshit. It’s happening Dec 28, 29, 30 and everything will live in that little green circle. To join: DM me the word “Close” on Instagram → @lacey_gebo → https://www.instagram.com/lacey_gebo/ Now let’s get into the purchases that...

If you want support setting YOUR 2026 SMARTER goals, come join my Close Friends List on Instagram! December 28–30, I’m teaching a free 3-day mini series: Your 2026 Habit Reset- Because You Can’t Do 2026 with 2025’s Bullshit. DM CLOSE on IG ( @lacey_gebo ) to join. Why SMARTER Goals Matter A goal without a plan is just a wish. Last year I hit 7 of my goals, missed 2, and learned that clarity + simp...

Salon owners… we’re going there today. Because every December, we all have the SAME question running through our minds: “What the heck do I even get my assistants for the holidays?” How much is normal? What’s too much? What if money is tight? How do you show appreciation without blowing your entire December revenue on gifts? This episode breaks it ALL down- honestly, clearly, and with zero fluff....

As we head into Thanksgiving week, I wanted to slow things down… just a little. This season has a way of making us breathe deeper, notice more, and really reflect on what truly matters. Inside Salon Lace, we call it  Gratitude Friday and today, I’m bringing that same energy straight into this episode. In this heartfelt conversation, I’m sharing the things, and people who carried me, challenged me,...

If you’re juggling a full salon, a booked client schedule, DMs, team drama, color orders, laundry, walk-ins, phone calls, and somehow trying to remember to pee and eat lunch… this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. I know that feeling of having 462 tabs open in your brain while wondering, “Why am I so forgetful? Am I getting old? What is happening?” You’re not alone. Every salon owner I...

Do you ever feel like your team meetings last about  two days  before everyone slips right back into old habits? 🙋🏼‍♀️ Been there. For years, I poured my heart (and hours) into monthly team meetings- snacks, agendas, motivation, the works, only to leave frustrated and drained. Everyone nodded, smiled, and then… nothing changed. Until I made one tiny shift that completely transformed how my team...

Four years ago, I made one of the scariest decisions of my life, I walked away from behind the chair. My books were full, the money was great, and from the outside, everything looked perfect… but I was exhausted. I knew deep down that if I wanted to hit big numbers and do big things, I couldn’t keep operating the same way. Sometimes, you have to quit really cool , money-making things to get to whe...

This one’s hands-on! Grab your planner, Google Calendar, or wall calendar because we’re mapping out  every single  major date, goal, and event for 2026. From one-on-ones and education days to retreats, content days, and (yes!) your own vacations, this episode will help you build the kind of rhythm and structure your team needs to thrive. If it’s not on the calendar… it’s not happening! Let’s plan...

Everyone loves the idea of having a team… until they actually have one. When I hired my first assistant at 23, I thought it would make my life easier… instead, it made me a better leader. It gave my body a break, but not my mind. “New level, new devil. New opportunities come with new challenges.” Fantasy vs. Reality We all think once we hire, everything will get easier. But in reality, chaos comes...

Tired of holiday promos that flop or feel forced? In this episode, Lacey shares the story behind Salon Lace’s most successful holiday promotion ever - Luck of the Draw.  It boosted retail sales, built team momentum, and turned the salon into a place of pure excitement all month long. 1. The Concept: Every guest drew a card when they walked in- and their discount depended on it: 2–10 = 15% off, Fac...

“Am I too intense? Do I expect too much? Am I the problem?” If you’ve ever asked yourself those questions, you’re not alone. In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on a conversation that so many salon owners are having behind closed doors. Maybe you’ve had a stylist say,  “This job is too mentally taxing.”  Maybe a team member made you feel like your standards are “too much.” And maybe,...

If you avoid conflict to keep the peace, you start a war inside yourself... Sit with that for a second. In this episode, I’m diving into one of the toughest, but most necessary parts of salon life: conflict. We’re talking about why so many stylists bounce at the first sign of tension, why it’s destroying salon culture, and how you can start repairing instead of replacing. I’ll share personal stori...

Back in 2020 when we switched to a rental/hybrid model, I made a big mistake: I brought in renters from other salons who weren’t aligned with our culture. They were talented, sure… but they didn’t know our systems, our standards, or the “Salon Lace way.” And honestly? That was on me. That’s when I realized: chair rental without structure = chaos. In this episode, I’m sharing how we turned things a...

Minimum wage in Oklahoma has been $7.25 since 2009 and for years that’s exactly what I paid my assistants. Later, I raised it to $10 an hour… and nothing changed. So why do salon owners feel pressured to pay assistants “well above” minimum wage? In this episode, I’m sharing the pros, cons, and my perspective on paying assistants minimum wage, how to set pay based on your numbers (not guilt), and w...

In today’s episode, I’m sharing 12 of my favorite activities we’ve used to grow future leaders. These aren’t fluffy icebreakers… they’re the exact exercises that have shaped my team, strengthened our culture, and created lasting impact. They’re practical, interactive, and you can start using them with your team right away. I even created a free companion resource for you! 🎉 It’s called Leadership...