Reinventing Beauty

In this episode of the Reinventing Beauty Podcast , we sit down with Sherri Belanger , salon owner of Belle Sirène in La Jolla, California, to explore what it really takes to grow a successful salon while staying grounded in your values. Sherri shares her journey from a small-town background to working in high-end salons, navigating setbacks, and ultimately building her dream 22-chair salon and a...

Domestic violence doesn't always look the way we expect it to. And in an industry built on trust and conversation, beauty professionals often sit closer to the signs than anyone realizes. In this deeply impactful episode of the Reinventing Beauty podcast, we sit down with Susanne Shepherd Post — stylist, salon owner, domestic violence survivor, and co-founder of Shear Haven. Susanne shares how edu...

In this episode, we explore what it really means to show up   whether you're serving one guest or one hundred. We're joined by John Noto, veteran New York City tour guide and founder of The City Shuffle, who brings over a decade of experience crafting high-quality, connection-driven tour experiences. John shares what inspired him to step out on his own, how the tourism industry is evolving post-pa...

In this episode of the Reinventing Beauty Podcast, we're diving deep into the art of hospitality both for salon guests and salon teams. We're joined by Sylvia Landivar, an expert in designing events and experiences that truly connect people. From dinners to educational presentations to full-scale gatherings, Sylvia shares how to create meaningful cultural experiences that engage all the senses—sig...

On this episode of the Reinventing Beauty podcast, we're diving into something close to our hearts: education. Why it matters, how it shapes careers, and why it's never too late to start learning. 💡 We're joined by the amazing Margaret McDonald— Davines International Technical Education Manager, colorist, and proud education geek. Her journey from apprenticeship to global educator is one you won'...

In this episode of Reinventing Beauty, we sit down with Joshua Sturma—owner of Hatch'd STL and one of South City's favorite brunch spots—to talk about the unexpected parallels between the beauty industry and hospitality. Josh shares his journey from working in restaurants at 15 to becoming a local small business owner known for both incredible food and a warm, people-first approach. We dive into t...

Mental health  is business health. In this episode of Reinventing Beauty , we're joined by author, speaker, and therapist Gina Birkemeier— someone who's helped our salon team (and our hearts) in more ways than one. 💛 Whether you're navigating stress, generational trauma, or just trying to find balance, this conversation is for YOU. 👏🏼 Take a moment to listen and learn about how to foster better...

In this episode of Reinventing Beauty , we sit down with Naomi Dove — Aveda's North American Artistic Director of Texture — to talk about the journey, the passion, and the importance of truly understanding texture in hair. From doing hair in her kitchen to shaping the future of the beauty industry, Naomi shares her inspiring story, challenges in beauty education, and why embracing all hair types i...

In today's episode of Reinventing Beauty, we sit down with our daughter-in-law, Caitlyn Hogan, to discuss a real and relatable topic in the salon world: Why do some future stylists choose college before starting their careers in the beauty industry?  We dive into family expectations, societal pressure, and the realities many young people face when trying to choose their career path. Caitlyn shares...

Running a hair salon is no small feat—but doing it while raising four little ones? That's next-level! In today's episode, we're chatting with a dear friend who has been rocking both worlds—owning a successful hair salon for 12 years while raising four little ones under the age of five (plus two dogs!). She shares her journey of balancing business, motherhood, and marriage after moving to St. Louis...

In this episode, hosts Charles and Nicole Gillick interview their daughter Riley to learn about her experience having her parents apprentice her in the salon industry. 

In this first episode of the Reinventing Beauty Podcast, hosts Nicole and Charles Gillick talk with Brittany about salon ownership, and ultimately how to leave the industry better than you found it.