Hairbrained Conversations

Description: In this episode of HB Conversations, we sit down with the always entertaining and insightful Jacob Khan, who has just taken on the role of Hairbrained's first-ever Creative Director! Jacob shares his journey from hairdresser to social media sensation, educator, and brand ambassador—now stepping into a leadership role that will shape the future of Hairbrained's content and events. Jacob opens up about the turning point that skyrocketed his career on Instagram, his unique approach to blending humor with hair education, and the lessons he's learned about balancing creative freedom with brand partnerships. He also gives us an inside look at his vision for Hairbrained's future, working closely with the team to elevate education, empower hairdressers, and create opportunities for emerging artists. Key Topics Covered: ⏩ How a viral moment led to 22K followers overnight ⏩ The evolution of hair education & making learning fun ⏩ Navigating brand partnerships without losing authenticity ⏩ The power of social media in building a personal brand ⏩ Jacob's new role as Hairbrained's Creative Director and what's next ⏩ The future of content creation for hair professionals With his signature humor and unfiltered honesty, Jacob breaks down what it takes to thrive in today's industry—whether you're behind the chair, behind the camera, or building a brand.

In this episode of Hb Conversations, Gerard Scarpaci sits down with Ashley Mooney to discuss Areté, a groundbreaking beauty brand focused on sustainability and innovation for hair professionals. Ashley shares her journey from intern to CEO and the inspiration behind creating Areté, a brand that champions clean, high-performance products while staying true to the needs of stylists and their clients. They dive into industry trends like scalp care, the importance of balancing artistry with sustainability, and how mentorship and collaboration shape the future of the beauty world. Don't miss this conversation full of passion, purpose, and practical insights.

  At age 29, Carlos Rojas (@colorbycarlos) shifted gears into hairdressing. His years in the food service industry served him well—as did his touch of theatrical flair. Now Carlos is one of the industry's most relatable voices. Carlos discusses how inspiration in the moment helps him craft his Instagram and TikTok posts, which blend education with comedy and resonate deeply with hairdressers and clients alike. He also talks about @schwarzkopfusa's versatile IGORA COLOR10 range and explores how his content showcases its many uses, beyond just quick root touch-ups.

Connections build opportunities, and no other industry proves that point more than the hairdressing industry. In this episode, we're joined by @stef_fox and @jenbaudier, co-founders of Talent Match (@mymatchable), a groundbreaking platform that works like a dating app to match salon owners and hairdressers. Learn how they're using data to solve the industry's biggest hiring challenges, the lessons they've learned along the way, and what's next for this innovative tool. Whether you're a salon owner or a stylist, this episode is packed with ways to help you find the perfect match.

In this episode, we chat with Ian Mayer-Marszalek @ianhairspray, Senior National Trainer for Schwarzkopf Professional, about his journey from hairdresser to educator. Ian shares insights on career paths beyond the salon chair and how he's reshaping education by adapting to hairdressers' needs. We also explore the science behind Schwarzkopf's Fibre Clinix range, designed for personalized hair care, and dive into their latest innovations like anti-yellow toning drops and bonding oils. Plus, Ian shares expert tips on how to choose and use these oils based on hair type. 

A quick glance at Ben White's Instagram bio (@benmichahwhite) reveals his unique perspective. From his tongue-out profile pic to identifying his business as a Grocery Store, you can immediately sense Ben's irreverent approach to life. In this episode, we explore how his creative mind works, how his background as a musician and singer (he's in three bands!) has shaped his outlook on hairdressing, and what surprises he has in store for the lucky hairdressers attending Hb Fest. (Hint: It may involve giving away some @babylissprousa tools!)    

In this episode, Brittany Bird @blondebybritt, owner of @blondifystudio, discusses the growing trend of clients taking to social media to criticize their hairdressers—whether justified or not. Brittany recently faced a viral TikTok post from a client upset about pricing, but thanks to her well-established systems, she was able to post a detailed rebuttal that protected her reputation. Together, Gerard and Brittany explore the importance of having strong systems in place to safeguard your business against online backlash and share tips on how to navigate the challenges of social media.    

With decades of experience in the hair industry, Stephen Moody, Artistic Director of Paul Mitchell, is a celebrated educator and innovator. Stephen's recent wins at the North American Hairstyling Awards have garnered attention, particularly for his bold hair and model choices. In this interview, he discusses his frustration with "Lego" hair, and how this spurred him to enter and showcase textured hair and more mature models with attitude. Tune in as we explore Stephen's journey, his passion for redefining beauty standards, and his insights into the future of hair and education.    

After 10 + years of salon ownership with all it's ups and downs Amanda and Jamie decided to build a "home " salon on their property in Florida. We discuss the process from all angles and what the outcome is like after  nearly 4 years of work and planning. Ro Style House isn't like any "home" salon you may have seen before and Amanda & Jamie are loving their new venture.

Sometimes hardships break a person; other times, they make a person. Such is the case with Fady "Fred" Helou (@fredhelou), whose difficult origin story propelled him to create the billion-dollar company Vagaro (@vagaropro). After leaving war-torn Lebanon at 18 and having his life savings pickpocketed en route to the U.S., Fred quickly got a job and began attending night school. In this episode, Fred shares how he started climbing the corporate ladder while fostering the idea of a system to facilitate online booking for salons and barbershops. Discover what finally compelled him to create Vagaro, the lessons he learned along the way, and his invaluable advice for other budding entrepreneurs.

Sometimes hardships break a person; other times, they make a person. Such is the case with Fady "Fred" Helou (@fredhelou), whose difficult origin story propelled him to create the billion-dollar company Vagaro (@vagaropro). After leaving war-torn Lebanon at 18 and having his life savings pickpocketed en route to the U.S., Fred quickly got a job and began attending night school. In this episode, Fred shares how he started climbing the corporate ladder while fostering the idea of a system to facilitate online booking for salons and barbershops. Discover what finally compelled him to create Vagaro, the lessons he learned along the way, and his invaluable advice for other budding entrepreneurs.  

This Mother's Day, we're giving it up to @ashleenormanhair, who juggles motherhood along with her roles at Schwarzkopf and K18. Of course Ashlee's family (her husband in particular) is central to her success, but she also attributes the diversity of her background as a key factor. She shares how obtaining a degree, interning at a fashion magazine and pursuing advanced education, including at Vidal Sassoon and Bumble and bumble, helped shape her unique approach to hairdressing, education and presenting—not to mention her high standards. We talk about how Ashlee is paying these lessons forward, not only to hairdressers through her leadership and education, but also to her three children by showing that, with the right support, education and determination, women (and mothers) can have it all. 

In this episode, we celebrate Aveda's newest line, Be Curly Advanced. We're joined by scientist Christine Hall (@christinebhall) and textured hair expert Renée Gadar (@reneesrh), who, along with their teams, co-created the groundbreaking line to meet the needs of curly and coily hair types. We discuss the new range's technology and ingredients as well as how Aveda is supporting hair pros through education and training so they can excel with services for curly and coily hair.  

In this episode, Gerard Scarpaci chats with Ray Civello (@raycivello), renowned salon owner and founder of the environmentally friendly brand, Back of Bottle (@backofbottle). Ray talks about his background, what led him to product manufacturing and what sets BOB apart. From sustainability to products, they talk about the impact that product choice has not only on the client, but also the stylist, the environment and the health of the future. 

    Meet Allison Daza (@allisondazahair), a salon owner and @davinesnorthamerica educator who is committed to sustainable beauty and regenerative agriculture. Allison shares how she puts her beliefs into practice at her studio and how she embarked on a journey of documenting sustainable beauty in partnership with Davines in a short-film series called “Stories From the Field.”  

 Evan Joseph (@evanjosephcurls) relishes being an independent educator. But it shouldn't come as much of a surprise, considering he has been fiercely independent his whole life. In this episode, he explains how growing up gay in a small Midwestern town influenced him and his desire to help people whom mainstream hairdressing had tended to overlook: those who wanted to embrace their naturally curly hair. He reflects on how the industry has evolved, how his education is different, and what he has in store for the future. 

When Jorge Blanco met @davinesofficial's Davide Bollati some 20 years ago, little did he know how much it would change the trajectory of his life. At the time, Jorge was flexing his editorial and entrepreneurial muscles as co-founder of a lifestyle magazine. But a meeting of the minds found Jorge quickly accepting a six-month contract to work at Davines. In this episode, Jorge shares the story of his evolving role at Davines and how his storytelling abilities have transcended all aspects of the brand, from sustainability to education to product manufacturing, all while remaining true to Davines' core ethos of culture and sustainability.

Nick Stenson (@nickstenson) has had his hand in nearly every facet of the beauty business. His achievements include being a makeup artist and nail tech, not to mention an award winning hairdresser, brand ambassador, salon owner and founder of his own brand, @nickstensonbeauty. This cumulative experience gives him a unique and valuable perspective when it comes to his current role as the Senior Vice President of Store and Services Operations at @ultabeauty. In this episode, he shares how he champions the hairdresser at Ulta, how he helps celebrate hairdresser success, and how he was able to launch his own product line while juggling all of his other responsibilities. 

What began with a childhood love for painting has blossomed into a two-decade career that has taken Patricia Nikole around the world, helped her brand @paintedhair amass more than 1 million followers on Instagram and nearly 500K on TikTok, and made her one of the industry's most sought-out educators. Recently named Schwarzkopf Professional's Artistic Ambassador, Patricia shares what makes her high-contrast painting style so unique, why her partnership with her husband is essential to her success, and why it continues to be so important to engage on social media.  

Diana Osborne's near miss with leaving the hair industry is a rather common one: Health issues triggered by certain salon products. Rather than leave the industry however, in 2019 Diana opened her own natural-products salon in Toronto. And when shutdowns paralyzed the world, Diana pivoted to an e-commerce focus and now has an online storefront that retails natural products like Innersense Organic Beauty. Tune in to learn how Diana overcame health challenges to not only thrive as an independent stylist, but also as a holistic hairdresser who will soon be offering education focused on holistic hair care.   

After a short stint in college, Carly Zanoni decided to take a chance on hair, and the rest is history. In this episode, Carly shares her beginnings as a young, insecure stylist to her reinvention as @the.blonde.chronicles, a brand that now includes a salon, education and a collaboration with Schwarzkopf Professional. She touches upon the challenges she faced and how she leveraged them as teachable moments, as well as her content creation strategy. Spoiler alert! Carly is a devout believer in recycling successful content, using editing apps and staying adaptable to social media trends. Tune in for more!

The idea that the opportunities are endless in the beauty industry needs no further proof than Kristin Firrell (@kfirrell). Now the VP of Salon Development at @paulmitchellpro, Kristin got her start as a salon stylist, and it was a transformative course at Sassoon in London that informed and drove her passion for education, which continues to this day. This focus on continuous learning, adaptability and understanding the "whys" behind our actions is the backbone of the new Paul Mitchell Pro Rewards program. Of course, the tier-based program rewards purchases, but what truly elevates it to superstar status is that it also rewards hairdressers for completing continuing education. What's more, the points earned can be used beyond the salon space: for financial literacy, travel, even donations to their favorite charities. Be sure to tune in to learn all about this exciting new endeavor and how it helps support Paul Mitchell's commitment to transparency, culture and social responsibility. 

    One year ago, Melissa Parizot (@melissawillcutyou) and Olivia Casanova (@livcasanovahair) became co-owners in the much-lauded IGK Salon in the tony SOHO neighborhood in New York City. In this episode, they reveal their backgrounds, career journeys and how they came to their current positions. Additionally, they share their strategies on salon training, social media and retail sales, with a particular focus on the importance of home care for maintaining hair color and health. Tune in to learn more about the fascinating world of salon management at a top salon. 

Some of the world's best ideas have been born from dreams: Einstein's Theory of Relativity, the sewing machine, The Beatles' song "Yesterday"—and now we can add Roger Molina's captivating stop-motion haircutting videos to the list. In this episode, we talk with @rogermolinahair, Master Stylist at Lunatic Fringe salon in Park City, Utah, and Sam Villa ArTeam member, about how a dream inspired him to transform his Instagram content creation, which led to a four-fold increase in his following nearly overnight. With Robert sharing his personal struggles as well as his creative process, the episode explores the challenges faced by content creators, including moments of self-doubt and burnout, and the importance of encouragement and remaining true to your creative spirit.

  To honor World Mental Health Day, we are joined by Todd Faulk (@spiritualgangster75), educator at Aveda Arts + Sciences Institute in Dallas, to discuss the importance of understanding and recognizing the mental health challenges prevalent in our industry. From discussing how ADHD presents differently in men and women to the power of listening and practicing empathy, Todd emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive environment where individuals feel heard and understood. Tune in for several practical tips that will help you foster a more compassionate and supportive community, both within your salon and in your own life.

  It may be hard to remember, but there was a time when social media was in its infancy. But @alfredo_lewis, Global Ambassador for K18, remembers—and it's because he was among its first early adopters. We talk with Alfredo about what first led him to understand social media's full potential, how social media has evolved from embracing influencers to content creators (and the perceived differences between the two), and how engagement on social media has changed—for better and for worse. What's more, in addition to sharing how K18 supports him and helped give him a platform to reach a broader audience, Alfredo also discusses the future of content creators and how social media has lived up to its potential in serving the hairdressing community.

  Tatum Neill's roots in the professional beauty industry run deep. His father, Edwin Smokey Neill, played a pivotal role in helping iconic hairdressers like Horst Rechelbacher, Paul Mitchell, and Irvine Rusk grow and distribute their respective brands during the 1970s and '80s. Today, Tatum and his family run 18 cosmetology schools, own and manage a distributorship, and have launched events such as Serious Business. And Tatum is leading the charge in the digital arena with his own brainchild, Elevate Hair. In this episode, Tatum reflects on the past and looks to the future, stressing the need for elevating cosmetology instructors, the future of events and competitions, and what's next for the industry. 

Some people go through their whole lives not knowing what they want to do, and then there are people like Christopher Aaron (@christopheraaronstudio), who always knew he wanted to be a hairdresser. Luckily for him (and us), his high school offered a program that allowed him to attend beauty school. It wasn't always easy, but luckily his mentors helped him through. His first job at Supercuts allowed him to hone his craft and master all hair types and textures. Fast forward to today, and Christopher is an Advanced Healing Artist with L'ANZA. His expertise meant that he was instrumental in developing the brand's new Healing Curls line and most recently the line's newest product, Butter Whip Styling Foam. He also has branched into celebrity styling, doing hair for the Oscars and morning television shows. 

We are honored to count Adam Federico as one of the first Hairbrained Community members, as well as a longtime friend and fellow #crafthairdresser. In this episode, we trace Adam's and his family's deep roots in professional beauty education, going all the way back to his grandfather. And for Adam, what started with playing with student kits in his garage developed into fulfilling a passion for hairdressing, not to mention becoming a salon owner and world-class educator. We talk about what inspired him to invest in bringing overseas talent to the U.S., as well as offering classes with brands like Z Gat, Dove Palmer and more, many for the first time in the states. His love for education continued to blossom when, after selling his salon following the pandemic, he began working with R+Co and created the brand's educational identity while developing courses for both the updated Miami studio and salons around the world.

We've long heard that scalp health equals hair health, but what exactly does that mean? In this episode, Ricardo Dinis (@ricadodinis), @Aveda Global Artistic Director of Haircutting, sheds light on scalp health and scalp solutions. He shares his journey to becoming a trichologist, a specialist who focuses on problems related to the hair and scalp, and how this has perfectly dovetailed with his career at Aveda. We also discuss how Aveda is helping to train hairdressers to become more knowledgeable about the scalp (Did you know that there's a scientific reason why shampoo benefits the scalp?), and how this will in turn help hair health, not to mention client retention and your bottom line. 

In this episode, we get to know Kati Whitledge (@katiwhitledge), entrepreneur, salon owner, professional speaker, author and fellow podcaster. She shares her journey of how, as a "thirsty" hairdresser, she was fascinated with business development and why people choose brands or, more importantly, connect with certain types of people. She developed a survey that matches potential clients with hairdressers at her Madison, Wisconsin salon, Be Inspired (@be_inspired_salon). This not only helped her to dramatically increase revenue and retention, but it also led to the creation of her matchmaking software company, Mya (@join_mya). From there she launched the Beyond the Technique podcast to further business advice. Kati shares how you too can build and manage great teams, increase client satisfaction and retention, and grow revenue. 

In this episode, Maggie Hancock, @maggiemh, @schwarzkopfusa artist reveals how determination, grit and humility helped her achieve her goals. She shares how she not only took on multiple jobs to make her dream of opening a salon a reality, but also volunteered her time and talent on photo shoots, which led her to her current role at Schwarzkopf Professional overseeing creative direction on photo shoots. We also discuss the value of showing up and assisting; the nuances of hustle culture; and how AI is impacting the landscape of creativity. 

To celebrate our 300thpodcast episode, Hairbrained cofounders Gerard Scarpaci and Randy Taylor reflect on Hb's past, present and future—and the immense gratitude they feel to each of you who have been part of the journey. They reminisce about the early days, when over pizza and beer they realized the massive opportunities that social media created for the industry, and how these thoughts became actions with the first app created for hairdressers and led to the Hairbrained community. They discuss what is working today, but more importantly dream of future opportunities and connections. Since many of you have been along since the beginning, we'd love to hear more your thoughts about Randy and Gerard's ideas for tomorrow and beyond!

Aristotle once said, "The more you know, the more you realize you don't know." Ben Brown (@benbrownhair) had this epiphany when a student asked him why he was doing a technique in a certain way, and he realized he didn't actually know. So the left-handed hairdresser made it his mission to master his craft by becoming the ultimate student. He began filming his work to learn from his mistakes, and later decided to post them to his Instagram page, which now boasts more than 300k followers. In this episode, Ben reveals how perfecting his craft and showing up authentically as himself led to opportunities he could never have imagined, including being a guest on the Hb Teach In stage and imparting his knowledge with students the world over both in person and online.

On the eve of @paulmitchellpro's latest release, the nine-SKU semi-permanent hair color line Colorways, we're joined by Artistic Director for Color @colincaruso and Colorways Brand Ambassador @fernthebarber. Creative color is experiencing a renaissance, and not just in the salon—as a barber, Fern shares how he's seen an uptick in client requests as well. Colin and Fern discuss the line's versatility and creativity and how, just like sneaker brands drop special editions, so too will Colorways release limited edition hues as trends emerge. 

Now celebrating the 10th anniversary of his seminal book, “Hair: Fashion and Fantasy,” Laurent Philippon is, in his own words, “a hair-thinking war machine.” The world-renowned session stylist never stops dreaming about hair, and his passion for the art and craft of hairdressing is unparalleled. Laurent's background and training with both Alexandre de Paris and Julien d'Ys has made his work a truly unique blend of timeless French technique and intuitive organic vision. As such, his work has been featured not only in every significant fashion magazine, but also on the runways of innumerable top fashion houses. This can't-miss episode delves into Laurent's history and thoughts on the craft of hairdressing.   

Lupe Voss is known within the #crafthairdresser community as a top-notch educator and colorist. For a lot of her career, she tailored her education around a color line. But with Color Space, she decided it was time to tailor the color around education and color theory. In this episode, she explains what led her to create Color Space, how deeply she embeds with a salon when they decide to take on a color line, and the robust ongoing education that Color Space salons experience.   

Hair extensions have come a long way in recent years, and so have expectations surrounding them. These days, knowing proper application techniques, how to color match and blend perfectly, and, quite frankly, the art behind extensions is the norm. We chat with Wade Zylstra (@wadecody), owner of Lux Salon in Fullerton, CA, and Kasandra Grzanka (@kgrzanka), VoMor Hair Extension educator, on everything extensions. From understanding the different types of extensions, how long and what type of training is most beneficial, pricing advice and how to layer on to existing services, Wade and Kasandra explain how you can add benefits to (and increase revenue from) the clients you already have.

One of the most emotionally charged aspects of hairdressing is pricing. Look at almost any hair transformation video on @hairbrained_official, and there's usually a "How much would you charge for this?" question. Fear of losing clients, vague "charge your worth" advice and lack of pricing transparency all play a role. On top of that, hairdressers often emotionally discount, may not have consistent pricing or flat out don't know how to price their services. In this episode, Miki Wright (@mikiwright), pricing strategist and founder of www.beautysuperstars.com, joins us to dispel the confusion around pricing. She shares the best steps to set up a pricing strategy, explains why old-school ways are no longer relevant, and the importance of why creating experiences for your clients plays a huge role in pricing. 

For years, the idea that “women of a certain age” would willingly embrace their grays was, let's face it, laughable. But when celebrity colorist Jack Martin (@jackmartincolorist) and his stunning gray transformations came onto the scene, perspectives shifted—not only on what it means to age, but also how important craft hairdressers are in helping their clients through graceful transformations. In this episode, we talk with Jack about his journey from everyday working stylist to international superstar, why it's so important to him that people accept who they are, and how he actually achieves these hours-long transformations with the help of @k18hair.

One of the best aspects of being a pro in the hair industry is the friendships you make along the way. In fact, this idea of community and shared experiences is at the heart of what Hairbrained is all about. And one of the first Hb community members, DJ Muldoon (@danieljosephmuldoon)—a craft hairdresser, global educator and founder of @knowledgedestroysfear—has been a friend of Hb co-founder Gerard Scarpaci since the beginnings of their careers. In this unplugged conversation, they reminisce about the early days working together and discuss the current state of education and the future of our craft.

Chrystal L. has devoted her career to helping all hairdressers reach their full potential and realize their dreams. In 2019, she launched @allhairacademy, a program for stylists who want to attract a diverse clientele and be confident working with any hair texture. In this episode, she shares tons of actionable tips to help you grow your business and profitability. Chrystal shares advice ranging from email marketing, when and how to raise prices, hiring staff, and much more. You will also find out how Chrystal fared at Missouri Startup Weekend, a program that allows participants to pitch their ideas for a chance to win monetary investment and mentorship. And if you want to learn more about Chrystal's passions and advocacy, listen to Episode 229. 

What do you do when you hate doing wedding hair? You double down, of course! That is, you do if you're Candace Mansour (@candacemansour), a bridal hair specialist and educator based in the Northeast. Like many, she was intimidated by seemingly complicated updos, and in her own words, "hated bridal hair." But learning and, more importantly, teaching helped Candace build an award-winning, on-location wedding team. Today, Candy Rose Events includes 12 pros who service an average of four weddings every weekend! Learn how Candace started from scratch through marketing and offering clear and simple pricing, and how she effectively communicates with brides to help them feel confident and at ease with her team and services. 

Join Gerard as he sits down with Tom Connell (@tommconnell), Hair Art Director for @davinesofficial, for this special episode filmed at the Davines House in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. We go deep into Tom's creative process and his unique way of manifesting original ideas across the spectrum of beauty. Also, Tom offers a sneak peek into what he has planned for Davines Hair On Tour, a multi-city collection inspired by each locale.

With more than two decades of pro beauty experience, Dominique LyVar (@kingdomofcurls_) has had a transformative career: He's worked as a stylist in corporate salons, taught at the Aveda Institute in NY, and even works as a freelance editorial artist. Today he is a ReZo Master Designer and Master Global Educator whose social media following is steadily growing thanks to his celebration of curls. While he believes that doing great work will get you wherever you want to go in this industry, being a Black artist has come with its unique set of challenges. In this episode, he discusses how he has navigated the pro and editorial worlds of hair and offers advice for those wishing to follow in his footsteps.

Traci Sakosits (@tracisak_hair) has devoted her career to uplifting and educating future hairdressers. After spending the last decade coaching students as the North American Creative Director at Sassoon Academy, she is now the VP of Education and Creative for Aveda Arts + Sciences Institutes. We dive deep into a discussion on the current state of education and what makes a great educator. Traci also shares her ongoing mission to not only enhance cosmetology education through innovative curriculum, but to also elevate the perception of cosmetology instructors by showing the industry, and the world, how important they are to hairdressers' success. 

Many brands have been known to pivot during their lifetime, but none quite like Olivia Garden (@oliviagarden_int). Established in 1967 by Jean and Micheline Rennette in Belgium, the company began life as a high-quality synthetic wig manufacturer. But as tastes changed, Olivia Garden transitioned to distributor, to education company and finally, as we know them today, a global tool manufacturer. Anne Maza, daughter of Jean and Micheline, shares how she and her brother Pierre as co-owners have continually adapted to the changing needs of the industry. She reveals how all tools are designed with explicit input from a team of hairdressers, and how this approach allows Olivia Garden to continually produce quality tools that solve the challenges hairdressers face every day. 

With the brand-new Premiere Anaheim trade show just around the corner, Ed McNeill, SVP of Premiere Show Group, shares his insights into @premierebeautyshows' evolution and the continued importance of trade shows in today's digital age.    In this episode, you'll learn how Premiere grew from humble beginnings into one of the most respected and must-attend events of the professional hair industry. In a world where online purchasing continues to rise, Ed delves deep into the ongoing relevance of trade shows, as well as why and how they continue to play an important role in the industry. With new shows debuting in Austin, Texas, and Columbus, Ohio, we also discuss the future of Premiere Shows and how they will cater to the changing needs of the industry.

One of the industry's best educators—not to mention a polished facilitator and presenter—Sonna Brado (@sonnabrado) reinvented her career during the pandemic by creating educational videos that offer value both to hairstylists and clients alike. As a result, Sonna's social media following grew exponentially, which has allowed her to successfully launch a tool brand and online education service. In this episode, she offers insights into her content creation process, and discusses how innate talent and hard work build a successful hairdressing career.