How to rebrand and reinvent your salon with Lauryn Mathrick
A tired but functioning salon is easy to tolerate. The real challenge is admitting it is not the business you truly want and having the courage to rebuild it into the space you imagine. In this episode, we sit down with our friend and client, Lauryn Matrick, to explore how she transformed an inherited and successful salon into Self The Salon, a place designed for deep client connection and a work environment where mums can thrive.Lauryn shares the twenty four hour crossroads that changed the direction of her life. Sign a home contract or buy the salon. That single decision opened the door to years of growth, trial and error, and ultimately clarity about the kind of business she wanted to lead. She speaks openly about hiding her old space online, the moment she chose action instead of perfection, and the design elements that elevated her client experience. From the calming basin lounge to intentional tea rituals to a softer pace that lets clients actually breathe, every choice supported the vision she held.This was far more than a renovation. It was a complete leadership reset. Boundaries became clearer, conversations happened sooner, and alignment became more important than tenure. Once the space matched the mission, the culture no longer relied on goodwill. It ran on intention and shared values.We also honour the legacy of Den, whose influence is still woven into the heart of the new space. Lauryn proves that reinvention can hold both evolution and love at the same time. For salon owners sitting in the messy middle, her approach offers a simple and brave blueprint. Set a loving deadline, move quickly on the ideas that feel true, and let your values guide the difficult decisions.If you are craving a salon that feels like a retreat and a team culture that supports the people who deliver it, this conversation will offer clarity, courage, and the first steps toward your next chapter.Follow the show, share it with a salon owner who needs a nudge, and leave a review so more salon owners can find these conversations.To follow our journey:Instagram @aheadhair_@the_conscious_salon
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"I was going to sell my salon." with Dominique Molusso Piggot
What happens when the dream you chased becomes the cage you’re stuck inside? Dom from NEIKE Hair joins us for a brutally honest ride from opening a salon at 22, to surviving lockdowns, to nearly selling everything when burnout and doubt took over. The twist: one hard conversation made her choose community over exit, and that choice reshaped everything.We dig into the early wins and hidden costs of being fully booked, how a scrappy pivot to tint kits and e‑commerce kept the lights on, and why leadership by proximity fails once growth hits. Dom lays out the moment she stopped identifying as “just a hairdresser” and started operating like a CEO: setting standards, publishing numbers, and building systems that let the salon thrive without her glued to the chair. It’s not hype; it’s training pathways, financial clarity, and weekly rhythms that turn chaos into consistency.There’s a powerful identity thread here too. Dom revisits Fashion Week, once the pinnacle of her ambition, and admits she outgrew that dream. Her body knew first; her mind caught up later. We talk about choosing better rooms, collecting evidence that freedom is possible in the salon industry, and leading in a way that heals old workplace wounds. If you’ve felt chained to your calendar, scared to step back, or unsure how to translate values into profit, this conversation offers proof and practical steps to move forward with less hustle and more intention.If this story hit a nerve, follow the show, share it with a salon owner who needs it, and leave a review so more founders can find these tools. Your next brave step starts here.To follow our journey:Instagram @aheadhair_@the_conscious_salon
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How becoming health obsessed changed our salon business
What happens when you treat your health with the same urgency you give a boardroom deadline? In this episode, we run a real-time experiment on discipline, systems, and self-trust — and the results surprised us.One of us jumps from an average of 874 steps a day to 10,000 plus structured strength training. The other reframes yoga and movement as daily anchors for a neurodivergent brain. The shift was undeniable: better thinking, stronger boundaries, and delegation that finally stuck because movement time became non-negotiable.We also talk honestly about the messy bits. The gym mishaps. The walks in the rain. The moments where “I’ll do it later” tries to win. This is the essence of weapon season: removing negotiation, reducing friction, and building self-trust through small, repeatable wins.Inside the episode, we share the practical levers that actually changed our momentum: • Booking help within twenty four hours • Protecting calendar blocks • Anchoring steps to existing routines • Using wearables for quiet accountabilityIf you’re someone who is highly disciplined at work but inconsistent with your health, this conversation will feel like a mirror and a roadmap. You’ll walk away with simple systems and a three step framework to kickstart your next seven days: commit daily, act quickly, and move through discomfort without excuses.Listen in, try the experiment yourself, and let us know what shifts for you. If this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs a nudge and leave a quick review so more people can find these tools.Your next seven days might change everything.To follow our journey:Instagram @aheadhair_@the_conscious_salon
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Building Sakara Collective - with Tamsin Kirkus
A suitcase, $300, and a window out of a small coastal life — Tamsin’s story begins with a bold leap and unfolds into one of the most powerful salon journeys we’ve shared.We sit down with Tamsin, founder of Sakara Collective, to explore how a teenage dream became a decade-long vision of artistry, culture, and leadership. From leaving school at 15 to building one of Australia’s most beautiful salons, her story is raw, honest, and deeply human.Tamsin opens up about the highs and heartbreaks: a full salon fit-out during pregnancy, losing key team members, and the courage to rebuild from truth. She shares how mindfulness, structure, and presence became her anchors and how motherhood reshaped her idea of success and leadership.This episode is a masterclass in resilience, self-trust, and building something beautiful without losing yourself. Whether you’re a salon owner, stylist, or creative entrepreneur, you’ll walk away grounded and inspired to redefine your own version of success.✨ Inside this episode: • Rebuilding after loss and burnout • Creating mindful systems and rituals in salon life • Balancing motherhood, leadership, and ambition • What the “Sakara way” means in action🎧 Follow the show, share this story with someone who needs courage today, and leave a review to help more salon owners find these real, honest conversations.To follow our journey:Instagram @aheadhair_@the_conscious_salon
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Buying a commercial salon space - featuring Carla Crowley
What if the gap between where you are and where you want to be is simply how fast you act on what you already know?In this episode, we sit down with salon owner and mother of two, Carla Crowley, whose quiet fire turned a spare room in Gembrook into a thriving clinic, a trusted team, and now a commercial property that will become her forever business home. Her success didn’t come from hacks or luck, but from decisive action, self-awareness, and a money system that turned stress into structure.Carla shares how journaling helped her see her progress, how one-on-one mentorship fast-tracked growth, and why speed of implementation beats perfection every time. We unpack real leadership lessons structured one-on-ones, psychological safety, and empowering a team that grows the business with you, not around you.This episode is a grounded playbook for regional salon and clinic owners ready to grow without burning out. You’ll hear how Carla made bold moves with little cash, secured her dream property, and built a business that runs smoothly while she’s at the Melbourne Show with her kids.If this story inspires you, follow the show, share it with a salon owner who needs a boost, and leave a quick review telling us one action you’ll take this week.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