The Hair Game

This episode is all about building your clientele. Not from a simple numbers perspective, however. We want to help you build a clientele that is specific to the services and people you WANT. We put together audio from clients and industry professionals to give you strategies, advice, and techniques to fill your books with the people you WANT.  SHOW NOTES: Ep. 59  - Street Interviews #3 – How clien...

We continue our conversation with Leysa Carillo and discuss her difficulty retaining clients as she adjusted to life in the USA. Though curly-haired herself, she was not trained and versed in textured hair initially. We also get into the topic of curly vs. straight hair services and what you can do to learn and expand your clientele with textured hair. This week's topics : • Difficulty in retainin...

Redken ambassador & 2020 AIA Textured Stylist of the Year Leysa Carrillo gives us a glimpse into life in Cuba. She shares her amazing story of defecting to the USA and finding hair. This Week's Topics: • Life in Cuba & defecting to the USA   • Finding hair and struggling to connect with clients • Learning English and appreciating what we have  Have you left a review for The Hair Game Podcast yet?...

We pick up with Caitlin again this week to cover her strategies and advice for creating and monetizing your content, as well as how to avoid the obstacles of self-sabotage and imposter syndrome. This Week's Topics: • Building her brand on YouTube & Suggestions on starting a YouTube channel • Struggles with clientele after shutdown; changes in the business since COVID • Dealing with imposter syndro...

2020 AIA Hair Colorist of the Year Caitlin Ford lost her index finger in an accident two years ago and had to adapt to her new situation. We discuss this, as well as her love of self-teaching and how she followed her creativity into coloring hair. This Week's Topics: • Losing a finger on a table saw remodeling her studio: how she adapted doing hair • Landing a position at a high end salon, but los...

We continue with Carly Zanoni from last week and discuss her best business advice for hairdressers. We also cover what you need to know about hiring an assistant. This week's topics: • Building her online education during quarantine– @the. BCU • Best business tips for hairdressers • Hiring an assistant: what to look for, how to train, holding accountable   • Exploring other social media platforms...

Hairstylist and educator Carly Zanoni struggled her entire first year of booth rental. Building a clientele became her number one focus, and has now achieved success along with becoming a Schwarzkopf ambassador and a part of the BTC team. She shares what worked for her then, and what works now in the Instagram era. This Week's Topics: • Being a part of the BTC team & the Schwarzkopf Digital Artist...

Accountant Michelle Cook @smallbusinesscpa breaks down the requirements of the second PPP grant and how to apply. She also gives us lots of info & advice on the tax implications of this and any unemployment benefits received this past year.  This Week's Topics : • The new PPP situation: what are the specifics? Who qualifies?   • Calculating what amount of money you can get   • The updated processe...

Daytime Emmy winner and AIA nominee Ray Christopher took an early opportunity on set with Prince and never looked back. He discusses with us the highs and lows of set life, and what it takes to be successful in this highly coveted sector of our industry. This Week's Topics: • How an early gig on-set with Prince vaulted his career • Balancing in-salon work and set work • A day in the life of regula...

Fred Jones, Chief Counsel of the Professional Beauty Federation of California, sued Gavin Newsom & the CA state gov't during the first shutdown of California salons. Within days of filing, salons & barbershops were reopened... and they just recently did it again.  This Week's Topics: • Intro to the PBFC: raising the professionalism and defending the industry   • How PBFC has lobbied for our indust...

When it comes to the service, clear and open communication is key. It's the only way to make sure your work aligns with the client's expectations. This all begins with your consultation. It's one of the most important aspects of the appointment... and we've compiled the best strategies, tips, and techniques to help you nail it! SHOW NOTES: Ep. 120 - Street Interviews #4 – Client experience w/ cons...

We continue our discussion with Oligopro Artist, Modern Salon Top 100 & American Influencer Awards nominee Ashlee Allen on effective social media strategies. Check out Ep. 175 if you missed part 1! This Week's Topics: • Effective social media strategies – IG Stories, Reels   • Effect of COVID on her business   • What she would be doing if she wasn't in hair   • Who inspires her in the industry   •...

Oligopro Artist, Modern Salon Top 100 & American Influencer Awards nominee Ashlee Allen joins us to discuss what has been most important in gaining success in her career. We also build an Instagram post from the ground up to learn how to create the most effective post possible. This week's topics: • Growing up with rebellious tendencies – working at mom's hair salon • Building her clientele & open...

Our candid discussion with Sarai Speer continues, plus we get into some important topics regarding your business and how to adapt in our new reality. This week's topics: • Her experience during COVID shutdown staying sober • Back to work after shut down: figuring out how to be successful • Adapting her education platform this year to digital   • Common mistakes stylists make in her classes   • Pri...

This is part 1 of an incredibly inspirational and candid conversation with Sarai Speer.  Artist, educator, and Artistic Director Sarai dealt with addiction through most of her adult life until one important person stepped in and kept her from losing everything, including her life. She shares her amazing journey with us. This week's topics: • Getting into hair and being stifled creatively at her fi...

Do you struggle with the love of doing hair...but not earning enough to make a living? You're not alone.⁠ ⁠ After repeatedly being in and out of the industry, Johnee Livingston gave himself ONE year of being fully committed to hair to see where it could take him. ⁠ ⁠⁠ This week's topics:⁠ ⁠ • The importance of listening & learning ⁠ ⁠ • Going in and out of the industry because of personal issues ⁠...

We continue the discussion with Keya Neal about George Floyd and how this led her to get brands involved in the racial equality movement. Also, she explains why adaptation is a key ingredient in continued success. This Week's Topics:     • Helping spread knowledge & action after George Floyd death   • Working to involve brands in the racial equality movement   • Discussion on the texture of hair v...

Can we look at hair as a fabric, not a race? This week is part 1 of a beautiful conversation with Keya Neal  - industry activist, educator, and visionary for @thekolourkulture & @texturevsrace We discuss her path towards a multi-cultural salon, and how her experience helps her education: breaking past the fear of working on someone who looks different than you. This week's Topics:    Dropping out...

Do you take every client possible? You shouldn't. Our second part with @lugarciareynoso gets into the specifics of focusing your clientele to level up your business. We also discuss the underground hairdressing being done since Covid and why prices in the industry are wildly different. Show Notes:    Getting involved in political activism during the shutdown  The lack of support from large industr...

When @barbersocietyla & @modownbarberexhibit founder Lu got her haircut from shoulder-length hair to a skin fade, it turned her life upside down. She shares her journey toward her authentic self and how she chose to keep living.  SHOW NOTES: • Her experience in barber shops shaping her journey to hair • How getting a haircut showed her the power of hair and freed her to explore her true self • Gro...

The second part of our chat with Lisa Walker, aka @lisalovesbalayage takes us into the discussion of responsibility... are you owning up to the things you need to? We also chat about business tips and the common mistakes colorists are making. SHOW NOTES: • Starting Balayage Boot Camp • How Covid has affected her education business • Common mistakes colorists are making   • Hairdresser business tip...

Educator & Global Brand Ambassador Lisa Walker spent 16 years in the hair industry before realizing she had much to learn in regards to color theory. We discuss her journey towards education and how showing her vulnerability gained her a huge following. Episode Notes: • Finding her way to hair; wanting to prove her instructor wrong • Working at a diverse salon and learning different techniques • M...

Our 2-part series with @asil continues as we touch on getting paid what your worth, connecting with brands, and a turn of the tables where Asil asks questions to our host @loveerictaylor Episode Notes: • How he connected with Brands; the importance of hair shows and showing genuine enthusiasm ⁠• Pay rates for brand ambassadors • Hair shows coming back again • His top insecurities • What he would c...

Is charging hourly right for you? Will you make more money, have less hassle.... maybe even BOTH? Color Correction & Balayage Specialist Asil Simsek explains his pricing system and why he simply charges an hourly rate for all services. We also get into how he established a clientele here in USA (through Groupon!!) and his strategies for using his IG/Tiktok accounts (hint: personality counts) SHOW...

Do you have healthy boundaries with your clients? This means more than just what you discuss behind the chair: it means raising prices, changing hours, giving discounts... every aspect of the relationship with a client.⁠ ⁠ Part 2 with @adriennedara this week focuses on managing the emotion of your business, and using fear as an opportunity for growth. We discuss:⁠ • Her online education and the Li...