The Salon Scoop

We're back with another fan-favorite Rapid Fire segment — and this time, we've got the incredible J Ladner in thehot seat! He shared so much insight and valuable information in his episode, Why Your Instagram Isn't Turning Followers Into Clients (if you haven't caught that yet, make sure to put it on queue! ) Why Your Instagram Isn’t Turning Followers Into Clients with J Ladner but...

Opening a salon often feels like the natural next step after building a successful career behind the chair. But many owners quickly realize that salon ownership requires a completely different set of skills—and a completelydifferent version of themselves. In this episode of The Salon Scoop, we sit down with salon owner Lyndsay Maderis, owner of two Thairapy salon locations in the Pacific Northwest...

For many stylists, getting on a stage like the Redken Symposium in Las Vegas is the dream. The lights, the audience, the chance to teach and inspire the next generation of professionals — it's the kind of career milestone that feels both inspiring and a little out of reach. Most stylists know they want it. Very few know how to actually get there. The truth? Becoming a platform artist isn't...

From the audience, it looks effortless. The lights come on,the music starts, and the educator takes the stage with the kind of confidence most stylists can only dream of. But what most people never get to see is what's actually happening just minutes — sometimes seconds — before that performance begins. In this episode of The Salon Scoop, we sit down with 9 of theworld's top hairstylists —...

Every 2 years, the biggest names in hair head to Las Vegas to take the stage at the Redken Symposium — and for many in the audience, those few days completely shift how they think about their craft. But what if you could get a behind-the-scenes look at what each educator is actually planning to share before they ever step on stage? In this episode of The Salon Scoop, we sit down with anincredible...

Most people see the final moment on stage — theperfect lighting, the flawless model, the polished demonstration that makes itall look effortless. The truth? Performing on a stage like the upcoming RedkenSymposium in Las Vegas isn't just about being a great stylist — it's about being a great communicator, educator, planner, and artist all at once. And the prep process for that kind of stage...

Most salon professionals dream of building a long, meaningful career in the beauty industry…but few ever do. The pace is intense, trends shift constantly, and even the most talented professionals can lose their passion somewhere along the way. So what does it actually take to stay inspired, stay relevant, and keep evolving — for decades? The truth? It's not about a single big moment, the right...

Most salon professionals post before-and-after photos hoping they'll bring in new clients…but they don’t. The problem? Most salon before-and-after photos prove the work is good — but they don't properly showcase the transformation. And in a feed full of stylists posting the same kind of content, "good" isn't enough to stop a scroll, earn a save, or trigger a DM.   In this epi...

There are more podcasts available today than ever before…but are they actually delivering what salon professionals want?  Most podcast hosts assume they know what their listeners are looking for, but very few stop to ask the people pressing play. The problem? When podcasts are built on assumptions instead of listener feedback, episodes start to feel repetitive, surface-level, or disconnected from...

Most salon owners spend time marketing for their business...until reality sets in. Clients need attention, the team needs support, and operations take over. Marketing for salons quietly gets pushed aside — until bookings drop and the panic posting begins. The problem? Inconsistent marketing doesn’t just slow your growth. It actually trains your audience to forget about you. In this episode of  The...

Are you posting consistently, following trends, and trying to grow your Instagram but still not seeing it translate into real clients? You’re not alone! In this episode of The Salon Scoop, Scott sits down with J Ladner, a Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist and educator who has built an audience of over 270,000 followers, and more importantly, knows how to turn that attention into real busines...

What do some of the most successful professionals in the salon industry have in common when it comes to how they got started? Surprisingly… almost nothing. In this special 200th episode of The Salon Scoop, we’re revisiting clips from past conversations with five incredible industry leaders: Wendy Belanger, Candy Shaw, Farhanna Premji, Sean Godard, and Sam Villa. Each shares how their journey into...

What are the trends quietly shaping the salon industry right now… that most salon owners aren’t paying attention to yet? If you’ve ever wondered what’s really happening behind the scenes in the beauty industry — not just from one brand or one perspective, but across thousands of salons — this episode will give you a fresh perspective. In this episode of  The Salon Scoop , Scott sits down with Anne...

When salon owners think about marketing for salons, they usually focus on external strategies — social media marketing for salons, SEO for hair salons, updated websites for salons, or improving Google rankings through digital marketing for salons. But one of the most powerful salon marketing strategies actually starts inside your business. Your team's performance is part of your brand and dire...

More cosmetologists than ever are leaving traditional salons to open their own suites. The promise? Freedom, flexibility, and full control of your business. But what does that actually look like behind the scenes? In this episode of  The Salon Scoop , Scott sits down with Tatiana Masone (@thateverythingmom) and Tessia Hollinger (@beauty_stylesbytess) — two successful independent artists — to share...

Consumer behavior in the beauty industry has changed dramatically. Today’s salon clients are more informed, selective, and digitally driven than ever before. Before committing to a service provider, most potential guests will conduct what is essentially a full digital audit of your business. From browsing Instagram for salons to reading Google reviews and visiting websites for salons, clients are...

What if increasing your salon’s retail sales didn’t require pressure, scripts, or awkward conversations… but actually felt natural and aligned with great client care? In this episode of  The Salon Scoop , Scott sits down with longtime stylist, salon owner, and educator Kristie Leslie, whose salon team has achieved an astonishing 100% retail-to-service ratio, meaning their retail sales match their...

Running a salon today means managing people, clients, and operations — while also investing in digital marketing for salons. From websites for salons and social media for salons to SEO for hair salons and salon loyalty programs, marketing can become one of your biggest expenses… and one of the hardest to evaluate. In this episode of The Salon Scoop, we tackle a big question: Are you truly investin...

Want an unbiased look at where the salon industry is heading, what challenges lie ahead, and where the biggest opportunities are emerging?   In this episode of  The Salon Scoop , Scott sits down with Leslie Perry, CEO of the Professional Beauty Association (PBA). Leslie brings both boardroom brilliance and salon-floor soul to everything she does, offering a uniquely balanced perspective on what’s...

Running a salon means making decisions all day — for your team, your clients, and your future. But the biggest growth moments don’t come from working harder… they come from asking better questions. In this episode of The Salon Scoop, Scott and Sarah talk about the powerful questions salon owners often avoid — and how those questions lead to better retention, stronger leadership, and smarter salon...

What you’re about to hear are the most replayed moments from one of our top episodes, a roundtable conversation that sparked major discussion across the industry. In this special highlight episode of  The Salon Scoop , Scott revisits key insights from the Salon Structure Showdown, where industry experts break down the pros and cons of commission-based salons, booth rental, and salon suite models....

One of the hardest truths for salon owners to accept is this: clients don’t always leave because something went wrong. Many of the guests who quietly stop booking loved their results, trusted their stylist, and felt comfortable in your space. Client loss is usually slow, silent, and tied to life changes, convenience, or simple disconnection — not dissatisfaction. In this Digital Debrief, Scott and...

What happens when the identity you’ve built for decades no longer fits and you decide to start again anyway? In this episode of The Salon Scoop, Scott sits down with Sheri Doss, an Education Icon who has reinvented herself recently not once, but twice. From leading global education at Redken, to stepping away into early retirement in Costa Rica, to returning as Head of Education for Bumble and Bum...

In a world driven by reels, trends, and overnight success stories, it is easy for salon owners to believe that going viral is the goal. High view counts look impressive, but when it comes to real growth, viral moments rarely translate into consistent bookings or long-term success. In this Digital Debrief episode, Scott and Sarah break down why consistent salon marketing strategies outperform viral...

Every January starts the same way… fresh goals, big intentions, and the belief that  this year will be different . Motivation is high, routines feel possible, and commitments are written down with confidence. And yet, for most people, those resolutions don’t make it past the first few weeks. Not because we lack discipline. Not because we don’t want growth badly enough. But because most of us were...