What you need to know about Salon Team Development Days
What if the key to building a strong, connected salon team before the silly season isn’t another checklist but honesty, pressure, and celebration?In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of our Life Ahead Team Development Day: a mix of raw journaling, a horror-themed escape room, and a practical debrief on communication, roles, and trust. It was messy, emotional, and incredibly powerful. The biggest surprise? How clearly our team patterns showed up, and how small shifts in language and leadership can completely change the way your salon operates.We talk about why journaling first thing clears emotion before the day even starts, and how a Saw-style escape room revealed who naturally leads, who supports, and who needs a moment to find their feet. It turns out, the way we play games is the way we work. From there, we dive into real tools like short scripts for asking for help, mapping communication styles, and reframing leadership as a circle where everyone can both give and receive support.You’ll also hear real reflections from our stylists and leaders about sisterhood wounds, boundaries, and how to celebrate each other without losing focus. This is a must-watch for any salon or spa owner who wants to build a more united, resilient, and self-aware team especially before the holiday rush.🎧 If this conversation resonated, make sure to like, subscribe, and share it with another salon owner who’s ready to elevate their culture. And don’t forget to leave a quick comment below. We’d love to hear how you support your team through big growth moments.To follow our journey:Instagram @aheadhair_@the_conscious_salon
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37:07
How Jess Lewis went from a Home Salon to a Blonde Empire
The moment you meet Jess Lewis, you feel it: a rare mix of warmth, authenticity, and unstoppable drive that has made her a legend among millennial hairdressers across Australia. From humble beginnings in a home salon with her sister as an apprentice, Jess built one of the country’s most recognised blonde specialist salons, attracting clients who would travel hours for her craft.Her influence extends far beyond the salon chair. Jess pioneered live workshops that transformed the way stylists learned together and later embraced online platforms to make education accessible nationwide. She has inspired and mentored a generation of hairdressers who continue to cite her as one of their biggest influences.Behind the success lies a personal story marked by resilience. Jess speaks with raw honesty about returning to work only ten weeks after her first child, navigating miscarriage and divorce, and redefining her identity as both a mother and an entrepreneur. Now a mother of three, she has reimagined family and business life with her husband Luke, launched JL Hair Tools, and created programs that nurture the next generation of stylists.This conversation is filled with insight, vulnerability, and inspiration. Jess reminds us that it is possible to build something extraordinary while staying true to yourself. 🌟 Whether you’re a salon owner, hairdresser, or entrepreneur, you’ll walk away with practical wisdom and motivation to grow your business. Tune in now for a powerful story of resilience, reinvention, and redefining success on your own terms.Follow Jess:Instagram — @jesslewis | @hairbyjesslewis🎙️ More from The Conscious Salon:Website: https://theconscioussalon.com.auTo follow our journey:Instagram @aheadhair_@the_conscious_salon
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49:23
We have to answer each other HONESTLY! NO SMOKE AND MIRRORS
Ever felt like your brand looks like a swan gliding gracefully across the water, while underneath your legs are thrashing just to stay afloat? In this episode, we dive straight into the “smoke and mirrors” that so many salon and clinic owners face: the glossy grids, pedestal leaders, and feel-good routines that often hide shaky numbers, wobbly culture, and leadership habits we’d rather not admit. No shame. No spin. Just truth, clarity, and the real power that comes from facing what matters.We start by separating story from stats. Loving your clients isn’t the same as leading them, so we unpack what a truly aligned clientele looks like from pre-booking rates and home-care commitment to average ticket and openness to your process. Then, we pull back the curtain on “culture theatre”, how public gratitude can coexist with private tension, and explore how to shift from avoidant or reactive leadership to calm, conscious candour. Expect honest talk about awards, imposter syndrome, and the reality that even top-tier salons sometimes fight fires while collecting trophies.Money also gets the daylight it deserves. We share the lessons that came from under-pricing, chasing headcount over profitability, and the months we paused our own wages. You’ll learn how tracking break-even by week, capacity by stylist, and maintaining a clear cash runway can help you make confident decisions — and why being transparent about numbers with your team often builds trust, not fear.If you’re ready to drop the pedestal, align your prices with your time, and build a culture that holds boundaries without losing heart, this episode will feel like a breath of clean air. Press play, get honest, and start choosing outcomes over optics.🎧 If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a salon friend who needs a reality check, and leave a quick review. What “smoke and mirrors” habit are you ready to let go of?To follow our journey:Instagram @aheadhair_@the_conscious_salon
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20:10
Tess' Truth: An Abusive Relationship
In this vulnerable episode, Tess shares her story of a past relationship that left deep emotional scars, and the strength it took to walk away. She reflects on how grief made her more vulnerable, how the red flags were easy to dismiss, and the pivotal moment that gave her the courage to finally choose herself.Seven years on, Tess speaks with honesty about the lingering impact of shame and self-doubt, while also showing how her healing has given her a renewed sense of purpose. She opens up about the lessons she learned and the inner work that continues long after leaving.This conversation is both raw and hopeful. It reminds us that while trauma may leave its mark, it can also be a catalyst for growth, self-trust, and empowerment. Tess’s message is clear: if something feels wrong, it probably is, and you always have the power to change your path.For anyone who has experienced a difficult relationship, or for those who want to better understand and support someone they love, this episode offers validation, compassion, and the reminder that healing is always possible.Tune in now, and share this episode with someone who might need to hear these words today. To follow our journey:Instagram @aheadhair_@the_conscious_salon
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27:08
Listen to this when a team member resigns (pep talk)
That gut-wrenching moment when a team member resigns. We have all been there. The sinking feeling, the self-doubt, the questions about what this means for your business. You are not alone, and you do not have to navigate it from a place of panic.In this episode, we offer your emergency pep talk for when a resignation lands on your desk. We share our own vulnerable mistakes (yes, even the tearful clinging!) and the lessons that helped us shift from taking resignations personally to seeing them as part of the natural cycle of business.Here is the mindset shift that changes everything: every team member has an expiry date. And that is okay. You do not own your staff any more than you own your clients. When you create a safe environment where career conversations can happen openly, departures feel less like rejection and more like evolution.Whether you are in the thick of a resignation right now or preparing yourself for when it happens, this conversation will help you:Respond with grace instead of reactivityHold space for your feelings without making it about youSee staff transitions as an opportunity for growth, for them and for youRemember: this change is happening for you, not to you. You have navigated challenges before, and you will navigate this too.Press play now, and save this episode for the day you need a grounded, heart-led reminder.To follow our journey:Instagram @aheadhair_@the_conscious_salon
Welcome to The Conscious Salon.Here for the real talk salon owners actually need. The Conscious Salon Podcast is where salon owners get clear guidance without the fluff. Hosted by Nic & Tess, we break down leadership, team culture, money, client journey, systems and numbers into simple moves you can use this week. Expect straight talk, real stories, lots of laughs and practical frameworks that help you lead well, grow profit, and have a life outside the salon.You will hear from salon owners, industry leaders and working mums who have done the hard yards. We cover mindset that holds under pressure, meetings that improve your team culture, and the habits that build a self led team.Follow the show and start with leadership posture, client journey design, and money mindset. Listen in, implement, and stay conscious.
Australia