The Hair Game

Candy Shaw aka @thebalaylama traded haircuts for schoolwork as a means to get through high school due to her learning disability. This grit & hard work carried through to her career as a hairdresser, salon owner, and educator. We discuss her journey, as well as making difficult decisions as a leader. This week's topics: • Trading schoolwork for cutting hair due to learning disability • Doing appre...

We continue with @thegarrickdixon this week and get into the challenges of creating content in a busy environment, as well as his advice for being successful and productive as a business owner. This week's topics: • Getting recognition and upping his content game • Advice for new barbers/stylists • The origin of his product line; how they help people make money • Advice on being successful and pro...

With 30 years of experience cutting hair, Entrepreneur & Barbertainer @thegarrickdixon has successfully blended his love of comedy with barbering. He shares his journey from corporate America to stand-up comic and actor, all while continuing to cut hair. He discusses combining comedy and cutting, as well as how to make your videos funnier.  This week's topics: • Working a corporate job & cutting h...

As a L'Oreal Educator, stylist, and creator of @cruxebrand hair products, @DrewSchafering juggles a lot of endeavors. We discuss how to balance multiple projects successfully, as well as the challenge of getting logistical stuff done as a creative person. We also get into creating a product line and his creative workshops. This week's topics: • Becoming a teaching artist for Loreal; moving to NY f...

Colorist, Coach, Consultant.... @cassandraplatinum also recently completed a build out of her own salon and beauty boutique @emeraldroombeauty! She describes the different types of mindset therapies she became certified in and how they can help a stylist become more successful. We also dig into the tough stuff: refunds, cancellations, & letting clients go.  This Week's Topics : • Her training as b...

Fred Jones, Chief Counsel of the Professional Beauty Federation of California @probeautyfederation joins us again to discuss the passing of Senate Bill 803 in California. The original version of the bill was to remove the required licensure for certain beauty services. He takes us through the changes they were able to make and how licenses are now affected since the bill took effect Jan. 1st, 2022...

Hair artist and B3 ambassador Wesley Palmer @wesdoeshair had a lot of ups and downs in 2021 and is starting 2022 with new habits, new goals, and new focus. One of these changes was switching to hourly pricing. We discuss why he made the switch and his strategies for handling his clients during this transition. This Week's Topics: • 2021 Ups and Downs: Finding Extensions   • Creating popular conten...

Organizing your TIME is more important than organizing your stuff. As a productivity coach, speaker, and founder of  Life Is Organized , Mridu Parikh has taught thousands of women simple ways to wake up with a plan… take control of their distractions… and drop overwhelm with ease. She shares her simple tips for being more productive instantly, as well as implementing techniques into your day-to-da...

Sharon Spellman @sharon.simplyinsane continues sharing her journey to becoming an indie stylist. We discuss numerous meaty topics such as client expectations, setting boundaries, and knowing your worth. This week's topics: • Quitting position for influencer and striking out on her own from her boyfriend's spare bedroom • Moving to salon atmosphere and leveling up her content • Her approach to clie...

Stylist and brand ambassador Sharon Spellman @sharon.simplyinsane dealt with being bullied throughout school. She shares how this has affected her approach to being an indie stylist and standing up for herself and others. She also shares her horrible experience with assisting and what she decided to do to move on. This week's topics: • Why not everyone should be your client   • Losing her father i...

We continue with @shmeggsandbaconn this week and get into the topic of hair models and your clientele. Are you using models effectively for content and attracting the clients you want? We also cover her position as Visual Editor for BTC and the current state of social media. This week's Topics: • The importance of models for improving your IG • Being BTC's visual editor; what's involved • her life...

Hairstylist and BTC Visual Editor @shmeggsandbaconn realized she needed to change salons to pursue more creative hair opportunities. In part 1, she shares her path to hair and the move to LA, as well as the flexibility you need to have to reach your goals and keep being creative. This Week's Topics: • Finding hair working front desk at a salon • Learning through assisting and gaining experience th...

This week, Eric reviews the year 2021 in our industry and offers his predictions and goals for 2022! Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! Thanks to all of you who continue to listen to The Hair Game and share us with your hair loves. We appreciate all the love and support, and hope to keep you educated and entertained throughout 2022.  - Eric & Donovan Have you left a review for The Hair Game Podc...

Two-time Emmy winning stylist and multiple Guild Award winner Robbi Rogers @robbirogers1 has always looked for that 'next level'. She shares how she used that constant feeling of wanting more throughout her career to achieve amazing things.  This week's topics: • Getting into hair at a young age; forging her mom's signature to get into a hair program • Winning the student competition at ISSE and j...

Salon Business Consultants David & Nicole Barnett @highperformancestylist went from hairstylists to salon owners, and have learned a ton along the way. They have taken their knowledge of salon business building and focused on helping other salon owners achieve more success.  This Week's Topics: • Getting into the salon business • Selling their salon and moving back to England for family  • Develop...

LA Hairstylist Jill Buck @jill901 found her way to hair from a small town in Oregon. She shares her story of building the clientele she wanted in a trend-driven city like Los Angeles, and what has changed with her work approach since quarantine. This week's topics: • Building her clientele and business in the culture of LA • What quarantine taught her – slowing down and working smarter • Things yo...

We continue with stylist and salon owner Najah Aziz @najahliketheriversalon and discuss the 3rd and 4th core principles of her business. We also get into how she started her salon, the education and mentoring she does, and the story of her original IG account getting hacked! This week's topics: • The 4 core principles:   - No waiting, double-booking policy - Building w/ talented, licensed stylists...

Stylist and salon owner Najah Aziz @najahliketheriversalon spent 16 years in the insurance industry before finding hair. She shares what she learned from corporate life and how she uses it to find success running a salon.  This week's topics: • Finding her way to hair after working insurance for 16 years • The joy of making a living doing hair • Gaining knowledge outside the hair industry & being...

We continue our discussion with Sal Salcedo @salsalhair. We hear the story of meeting his wife and how raising their son has changed the way he approaches his leadership at the salon and in his education. We also discuss the idea of transformation and why it is an important tenet of Sal's life. This Week's Topics: • Meeting his wife – one of his clients • Decision to become a father • How fatherho...

Cut Artist and salon owner Sal Salcedo @salsalhair grew up as a ranch hand in Mexico. In this first of two episodes, we hear his amazing story about his journey to the U.S., and how he discovered his passion for being behind the chair.  This Week's Topics: • Finding his way to hair: working on a ranch in Mexico • Having an absentee father and how that affects his parenting • Moving to US without k...

We continue our discussion with @heatherchapmanhair and find out why she has decided to leave Instagram alone and focus on promoting her online education exclusively on.... TikTok?  This Week's Topics : • why she is quitting IG & moving to TikTok • Her online edu: what she offers • Dealing with effects from surgery • Social media sapping her creativity • Wedding Hair Horror stories     FOLLOW US h...

Hair Styling Educator Heather Chapman @heatherchapmanhair was inspired by the success of her stylist was and realized she needed to go back and finish beauty school. Through self-teaching, she became a styling expert and realized her future was moving toward educating. We discuss that transition and how she has taken her in-person education online.  This Weeks Topics : • Her journey to finish hair...

Josh Skinner is a Television Producer and Host of the podcast American Influencer Real Talk. He gives us a rundown of the awards show, as well as a frank discussion about the realities of being an influencer and the psychological effects of social media in general.  This Week's Topics: • How society views and defines influencers   • How influencers are nominated for the AIA awards • Adapting to th...

Stylist and Educator Samantha Harman @samanthasbeautyconfessions was constantly told she was a failure and would not amount to anything... we discuss how her relationship with her father affected her personal and professional life. She also explains how she was able to build a massive clientele and following living in a town of 4,500 people. This Week's Topics:   • Leaving college and going to hai...

Salon owner Kelly Cardenas @kellycardenassalon grew up with constant positive encouragement... he shares how it profoundly affected his career in hair and other aspects of his life. We also discuss his salon strategies that guarantee success for his stylists.  This Week's Topics : • What it was like growing up with positive encouragement • Finding his way to hair; trimming his basketball teammates...