The Hairdresser Strong Show

In this episode, salon owner and color specialist Kimberly Christoph shares her 22-year journey from behind the chair to opening her own salon ( Mane Street Georgetown ) in DC. She speaks honestly about financial risk, long-term planning, continuous education, and how building with purpose shaped the kind of salon, culture, and experience she wanted to create. Follow/subscribe to be the first to k...

In this episode, salon owner and serial entrepreneur Tanya Tymus-Bellamy shares lessons from a 39 year career spanning ten salons across multiple cities. From funding and staffing to mentorship and long-term strategy, Tanya breaks down what it really takes to build a sustainable, high-end beauty business. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear?...

In this episode, Avery Wilder shares what it's really like to move from cosmetology school into the salon world, from confusing interviews to finding the right culture and education. This is an honest look at the lessons every new stylist learns in their first years behind the chair. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! Key...

In this episode, Corey Gray and Alana Zylkowsky share what it’s really like volunteering with Hair Aid , a global charity teaching haircutting skills to break the cycle of poverty. From Cambodian prisons to women’s shelters, this conversation explores service, resilience, and the power of education. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave...

In this episode, natural hair specialist and educator Kayli Nicole shares how she rebuilt her career from Texas to DC, created a waitlist before she ever arrived, and transformed her business through content, clarity, and courage. Her story is a masterclass in resilience, navigating debt, rebuilding financial confidence, and intentionally growing a client base. Follow/subscribe to be the first to...

Signing a commercial lease is one of the biggest and irreversible decisions a salon or shop owner will ever make. In this conversation, Sheila Laderburg Tarasiuk of Pedal Retail Advisors explains what it truly means to be transaction-ready and shares the essential steps, costs, and protections every beauty professional needs before moving into a retail space. Follow/subscribe to be the first to kn...

From earning her cosmetology license at eighteen to opening three thriving salons, Jannay McIver shares how mastering business systems, finances, and leadership transformed her from a behind-the-chair stylist into a visionary salon owner shaping the future of beauty entrepreneurship. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!  K...

Most people wait until they feel ready — Jahnaya didn’t have that luxury. In this honest conversation, she shares what it’s like to build a career and a business at the same time, how she’s learned to trust the process, and why entrepreneurship is more about courage than confidence. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! KEY...

Today’s episode is a little different— because instead of just talking about business models, we’re walking through them in real time. While in Chicago, we spent time with Dana Fountain , visionary beauty entrepreneur, author of The Beauty Blueprint , and founder of Chicago’s largest bridal beauty agency, Pin Me Up Chicago. She’s built 7 unique salon concepts, each designed around the stylists who...

What does it look like to build a business with heart over 25 years — not just success on paper, but a legacy rooted in people, purpose, and service? In this powerful conversation, Winn Claybaugh (author, speaker, and co-founder of Paul Mitchell Schools) shares what it means to lead with generosity, stay grounded in discipline, and build a culture where kindness is non-negotiable. From mentorship...

Special Edition: Live from the Beauty Business Brunch What does it really take to build a thriving local industry? In this fireside chat recorded live at the 2025 Beauty Business Brunch, Herson Bautista —CEO of DC Barber Expo and Owner of Heritage Barber & Co.—joins Host, Robert Hughes , to talk entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and the power of community. From lessons learned launching the DC Ba...

This week’s episode is a little different — and more personal. Recorded on our anniversary trip in Greece 🇬🇷, we took a moment to pause, reflect, and talk honestly about what it really takes to build a business — and a life — together. 💬 How do you find balance when your work and your purpose are so deeply connected? 💬 How do you give yourself space to think when you’re always in “go mode”? From...

From stylist to $13M CEO, Terra Harvell shares how she built her empire through hair extensions, smart systems, and leadership—and why new talent and startup hairpreneurs need to think beyond the chair to create lasting success. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!  KEY TAKEAWAYS: 🔅 Build a strong foundation first — new s...

Join us for Part 1 of our docuseries with Gabby and Franky , two first-time salon owners in Washington, D.C., as they open Corte —sharing the real challenges, surprises, and lessons of building a salon from the ground up. 👀Watch this episode on YouTube to see their salon! Corte is being built to be a space where clients feel at home and stylists feel supported. Gabby and Franky aim for their salo...

In this episode, learn how purpose-driven leadership, mentorship, and community-building can transform businesses, lives, and the future of the beauty industry with Beauty Gives Back Co-Founders Mireya Villarreal & Julie Hightower Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!  KEY TAKEAWAYS: 🔅 Build with purpose: Tie your busi...

Financial advisor Kevin Caldwell shares the money moves every beauty business owner needs to know—from separating personal and business finances to building an emergency fund, leveraging fractional CFOs, and mastering cash flow so your salon can thrive today and in the future. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! KEY TAKEAW...

In this episode, Jake Sturm —salon owner, educator, and brand ambassador—opens up about the realities of salon ownership, the resilience it took to overcome personal and professional challenges, and how building authentic relationships has shaped his journey beyond the chair. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! KEY TAKEAWA...

From the barber chair to the tech world, Dorian shares how he turned a gap in the booking app market into Cutnova —a platform blending appointments with community to help barbers grow, connect, and thrive. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! KEY TAKEAWAYS: 🔅 Identify gaps in your industry by listening to pain points —Dori...

Industry veteran Jeremy Stephens shares how he built a thriving salon and long-term brand partnerships with names like BaBylissPRO and Living Proof—offering a blueprint for stylists who want to grow in and beyond the chair. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! KEY TAKEAWAYS: 🔅Jeremy began his career in the industry through...

Entrepreneur, CEO, and Co-Founder Dharmendra Manwani shares the startup journey behind ArtistOnGo , offering a real-world look at how to turn an idea into a product—through validation, iteration, and solving the right problem at the right time. ArtistOnGo is a business in a box solution for beauty and wellness professionals empowering them with all the resources needed like space, digital storefro...

In this episode, Salon owner and business coach Kat Scott shares how she went from burned out in traditional salons to thriving as the owner of a micro salon —and what stylists need to consider before jumping into salon suites or opening a space of their own. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! KEY TAKEAWAYS: 🔅 Not all in...

In this episode, Diane Cole Stevens —CEO of Cole Stevens Salon —shares how she built a high-performing team, established white-glove systems, and grew a brand rooted in excellence, mentorship, and leadership that scales. 🚨Diane will also be a Panelist at our upcoming Beauty Business Brunch on July 27th in Washington, DC. Use this link to learn more, and join us! - https://www.eventcreate.com/e/bb...

Cameron Moore reveals how she turned a passion into a growing hair business—balancing school, marketing work, and a passion for empowering others through braiding and beauty. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! KEY TAKEAWAYS: 🔅Cameron taught herself how to braid during the COVID-19 lockdown and began offering services whi...

Hospitality expert Daniel Samir shares what today’s customers really want, how COVID reshaped service expectations, and the lessons salon professionals can take from the restaurant world. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! KEY TAKEAWAYS: 🔅Clear communication and setting expectations upfront are critical for ensuring posi...

In this episode, Jared Scott —barber, business owner, and board member—breaks down the real-life lessons from two decades in the industry, from building clientele and opening a shop to redefining what ownership can look like through micro-shop/salon suites. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! KEY TAKEAWAYS: 🔅 Jared’s barb...