Stylist Talk: Recent Episodes
Lauren McNamee
This is for the ambitious, driven, creative, stylist. Who is passionate about our industry. Get to know the people behind the salons and brands we think you should know about. Find support among their stories, hear what it took to get them where they are and their career experiences so far.
Today I'm here with Claudia.
Claudia has been with me for about five years now. She joined us after spending a bit of time in the industry since then she has been incredibly successful here at Blush Girl.
As an apprentice, she was a star. Always working hard and developing quickly. She managed to run a fully booked schedule and consistently did all the right things.
What I want to do today in this interview is showcase Claudia's journey for anyone currently in an apprenticeship or considering one. Following some of the things she did can help you progress and enjoy your apprenticeship more.
After becoming qualified Claudia moved to our Stepney location where she worked her way up to becoming a salon manager.
Claudia has every reason to be proud of her achievements and I'm incredibly proud of her too.
Please enjoy listening to Claudia.
@hairbyclaudi
@blushgirlsalon
Today I’m here with gorgeous Emma.
Emma is a senior stylist and has also just been promoted to our management team at our Holden Hill Salon.
Emma is actually our first ever apprentice that we have had from start to finish and we’re all very proud of her. Emma has been very patient and kind throughout the entire process and has understood all the steps, just taking them as they come.
Today we spoke about the process of completing a hairdressing apprenticeship and becoming a senior stylist. Take note of Emma’s incredible mindset. It takes an unwavering commitment to complete an apprenticeship and Emma knew this from the start.
Today I’m meeting with my friend Victoria, owner of Salon Grace here in Adelaide.
Victoria moved her salon during covid to a gorgeous, quiet and peaceful space in Stonyfell.
We spoke about her desire to be a hairdresser from a young age and getting started on her Cert II early.
We also spoke about the path to opening her first salon and her work later to engage a mentor and get some hard truths about business; as well as better herself in order to attract the right people to her space.
Victoria is excited to work toward her goal of bringing passionate education to the hair academies and she would love to see our industry come together and raise the bar, a common theme in my most recent episodes.
Thank you Victoria!
Today I’m hear with Daniel, founder and creative director of Usfin Atelier, Sydney. Ready to wear genderless hair is a core value.
We spoke about his accidental entry into the industry and moving to Australia.
We also talk about his passion for thinking about hair as a broader beauty concept and why we need to keep doing what we’re doing to inspire and keep the next generation in this industry.
Thank you Daniel.
Today I’m with Lisa Robertson. She is the AHIA SA/TAS 2022 Hairdresser of the year.
Lisa and I discuss haircutting, tools and what goes into her amazing photoshoots.
Lisa is excited for the next phase of her career. Inspired to deliver quality, relatable haircutting education and inspire stylists to express their creativity through hair competitions.
Lisa really wants to see our industry come together and support each other.
I’m here with Bec Snow, owner of Alchemy in Melbourne. Bec is an Original Mineral and Dungud ambassador and educator, she’s the AHAF Newcomer for 2022 and also a winner of a position in the Fame Team in 2021.
Bec and I talk about working for free, hair comps and balancing floor work as salon owners.
Bec is cool calm and collected and very very humble. I really enjoyed this conversation and I hope you do to.
I have a very special episode that we are bringing to you.
We recorded this one at 11pm because I was speaking to a very special friend from Cha-am in Thailand. It was really incredible to get a chance to speak to someone from another country and I loved hearing about working on Asian hair and his fast social media growth.
This is definitely one of my favourite podcasts so far!
Thank you so much Toey.
You can find Toey here;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toeydohair/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@toeydohairr
Find more from me here;
https://www.instagram.com/laurenmcnamee/
https://www.instagram.com/blushgirlsalon/
https://www.youtube.com/@blushgirl
Today I’m here with Michael Kelly, Australian education specialist, hair guru and Original Mineral Ambassador. He's also the founder and director of Sydney based salon, Salon Her.
Today Michael shares some incredible insight into the highs and lows of opening a brand new salon.
I'm lucky enough to steal some of Michaels time and listen to his words of wisdom.
You can find Michael here;
https://www.instagram.com/michaelkellycolourist/
https://www.instagram.com/salonher_/
Find more from me here;
https://www.instagram.com/stylistalk/
https://www.instagram.com/laurenmcnamee/
https://www.instagram.com/blushgirlsalon/
https://www.youtube.com/@blushgirl
Today I'm speaking with Ash & Kyra, co founders and owners of Melbourne salon, TKAY Studio. We talked about some outdated industry ideas, how we can inspire stylists to stay in the industry by thinking differently about the salon environment we create.
Ash and Kyra have a more gentle approach to salon life. They want their staff to have good, healthy work-life balance. They teach this through their education offerings.
I hope you enjoy hearing from Ash & Kyra.
You can find them here;
https://www.instagram.com/tkaystudio/
https://www.instagram.com/kyra_tkaystudio/
https://www.instagram.com/ash_tkaystudio/
Find more from me here;
https://www.instagram.com/stylistalk/
https://www.instagram.com/laurenmcnamee/
https://www.instagram.com/blushgirlsalon/
https://www.youtube.com/@blushgirl
Today I’m so excited to have the opportunity to interview Amelia from @ameliajanehair I’m sure you all know her.
**She recently came to Adelaide and shared her class here at Blush Girl. We are so grateful for her sharing all her skills. She's super generous, kind and really down to earth. I'm sure you will all love this chat getting an insight into her story, career and her success. Enjoy!
Find Amelia
@ameliajanehair
@millythespace
@millythespae.education
Hosted by @laurenmcnamee
From @blushgirlsalon**
I'm here with Ashleigh Bailey, you can find her on Instagram @socialcoashash
Ash has previously worked at Haircare Australia as the social media marketing manager. Working with brands including EVO, Olaplex, Cloudnine, etc.
Ash has recently launched her own consulting company, Ashleigh Bailey Consulting, and she is here to educate, inspire and coach our industry and salon owners on how to use social media.
It is a great topic that we are all trying to wrap our heads around.
I hope you enjoy her story and all her great social tips.
You can find her services and connect with Ash at:
https://www.ashleighbailey.consulting/more-services
https://www.instagram.com/socialcoachash/
Thanks for listening to stylist talk
You can follow me @laurenmcnamee and our salon @blushgirlsalon
My last podcast for 2021
I have been asked by a few people to upload an episode sharing my own story in hair and business, so here it is! I found this one quite hard to listen back to and finally upload but I hope that you enjoy it.
Wishing everyone a happy new year and hoping we all stay safe xx
Be sure to rate and review.
Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/loveblushgirl/
And my salon - https://www.instagram.com/blushgirlsalon/
Wow! I'm so pumped about this episode. Grace and Alana don't hold anything back. They share all the details of their background and business ideas. What's so clear to me is that they are focused on creating amazing stylists, which is their legacy and is very inspiring.
They are here for all the industry shifts but they know at the end of the day they are just a salon and they are very down to earth. Every salon owner and stylist will be able to relate to this episode. Without a doubt you'll pick up so many ideas. This episode will have your thinking challenged.
Grace and Alana share how it all started, their education, hustle, pivot to shag chair and so much passion and love for the hairdressing industry, particularly the business side. What a team they make!
Thank you so much ladies for joining me on @stylisttalkpodcast
Find Grace, Alana and Shag hair on Instagram:
@gracey_shaghair
@alana_shaghair
@shaghair
and on their website:
https://shaghair.com.au/
Nicole started Melbourne Hair Blogger 6 years ago. Nicole was one of the smart ones who caught on early and realised that there was a great opportunity for her to grow a community of stylists and keep connected while she stepped off the salon floor to be with her family.
She has grown her page now to 100,000 followers and shares her learnings to teach salon owners all over the world how to use facebook and instagram for marketing. She was always interested in tech even at school and loves how those two passions have combined for her now. She has a job that truly brings her so much happiness. Nicole is a mum of two babies and places a big importance on family, which is one of her core values.
She knows socials inside and out she shares so generously. This episode is loaded with heaps of educational tips and of course Nicole's story. I wanted to do this for a long time and I’m so glad that we could make it happen. I loved having a conversation about a passion that we share, which is utilising social media to grow your business.
Please check out all of Nicole's services and follow her pages:
• @social.salon.school
• @melbournehairblogger
• https://www.melbournehairblogger.com.au
Please enjoy hearing form Renya Xydis, owner of Valonz Salon. She has had the most incredible career. Living through the 80’s, 90’s and the noughties. Seeing all the changes and shifts in our industry and embracing them all. Working with gorgeous models and celebrities, the editorial work, famous magazines and all while running successful salons and raising a family and most importantly sharing her BIG LOVE for this industry.
How can I thank you enough for giving me this time and this opportunity. You truely did touch my heart. Your passion and love is so clear, so pure and so beautiful. You reignited what I thought I had lost and challenged me to remember why I started. I haven't felt this inspired to be on the floor to do beautiful hair in a very long time.
I hope when you listen you remember too. Renya is here to teach us all to bring back the love of your craft, remember why you started and to reinvent yourself.
A true creative artist. Thank you so much Renya from the bottom of my heart for joining me for @stylisttalk
You can find Renya on instagram @renyaxydis and her salon @valonzhaircutters
Lauren Cooper, co owner with her partner Matthew, opened Etcher salon 1 year ago. It's very clear that this was all meant to be. Even though it was the start of a global pandemic the stars aligned and things fell into place.
In just one year her team has grown to 12. They have been able to hold industry events and do forward thinking things such as holding mental health workshops. Lauren and Matthew can see that this industry needed something different. They didn't want to open another salon just to make noise. They knew that is had to be special, they knew it had to be Etcher.
Lauren holds herself so beautifully. She is smart, opened minded and oh so humble about what she has achieved. I love her mindset around learning even as a leader and their goal to celebrate individuality have gender neutral pricing and run a sustainable salon is inspiring.
Congratulations on what you have created! I'm looking forward to seeing this grow and collaborating with you.
Please enjoy #stylisttalk
Find Lauren and Etcher on Instagram:
@laurencoophair
@etchersalon
@stylisttalkpodcast hosted by me @_laurenmcnamee from @blushgirlsalon
My guest is Maria Unali, I've been following Maria for a little while and I can see she gives a lot to her salons and her team. She share so much valuable information in our conversation so I hope you listen carefully.
Maria and her salon are located in Sydney where they are currently in lockdown, going on 7 weeks. I'm sending all my love and strength to her and her team at this difficult time and I just hope so much that they can resume trading soon.
We started off our conversation by discussing how she is feeling. I'm really inspired by what her and her management team are doing at such a difficult time for a salon owner.
I'd like to mention this was our first interstate guest which we recorded via Zoom. It took me a little while to settle into this new way. There's a few audio issues and a part of our conversation was lost but I'm sure we will meet and chat again.
Please make sure you listen to the end and catch her answer to my final question as it's a true indication that she is here to lift this industry up higher. She blows me away with her mindset.
Thank you so very much Maria for openly sharing about how you lead.
You can find Maria on instagram : @maria_ unali as well as her salons : @salonkiin and @salonKia
Website : https://www.salonkiin.com/
In episode 12 I’m talking all things @foilmefoils with co-founder and creative director Emily Ciardiello.
Emily and her husband Ili set out eight years ago to come up with a unique pre cut foil for the hairdressing community.
In this time they have been incredibly successful. They’ve launched several other lines, including tiny brushes. More recently they launched Foil Me Skin.
They’ve built a really strong movement of foil me lovers. They’re distributing worldwide and they’re another brand we love and use at @blushgirlsalon .
Thanks so much for sharing @foilmefoils.emilyciardiello
I am so excited to be back with our first episode for 2021 and excited to introduce our guest, Jose Bryce Smith founder of Original Mineral haircare.
Original Mineral is a clean, kind haircare company that is cruelty free, ammonia free and resorcinol free.
Jose first started the range in 2000 after she moved from England. She was in a salon environment and noticed how toxic the chemicals were and started to feel concerned about the affect on our health.
She says her mission is clean colour - thats the ‘CØR' of the brand.
Original Mineral is the brand we use and love at Blush Girl and I'm so grateful she came to visit us and share her story.
@originalqueeni
@originalmineral
In episode 10 I speak with Belinda Mills (Bel) of Pipsqueek in Saigon. I've known Bel for a really long time and I really looked up to her, even before I started my career in hairdressing.
I loved so much hearing her story. She's been in business for 15 years and hairdressing for 20. When Bel first opened Pipsqueek in Saigon it was a salon/vintage store which she ran with her sister Ale isha and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.
We share some of the same goals of wanting to bring our industry together, wanting to make it better and as Bel says "hang with cool people" and share our creativity.
It was really nice to reconnect essentially through the brand which we both use, O&M, who Bel also does some education for.
Thanks so much for sharing.
We wanted you to know about Bel.
Thank you for listening, this is Love Blush Girl.
Abi is a hairdresser of 18 years. She moved to Australia from England 6 years ago. She now works for Hair and Beauty Collective representing Original Mineral and other brands as a sales rep and educator.
Abi shared her passion and knowledge on professional products vs supermarket products and really challenges us to think about where the ingredients are being sourced, who’s making it and what the company that you’re investing in really stands for.
Abi had a diagnosis of dyslexia in year one and she shared with us how she persevered through that and found her passion for hairdressing and gone on to have a successful career.
We see our industry changing for the better and share a common goal of wanting to create a community in our industry, to support and empower stylists and for us to come together to improve the standard and value our skills.
It’s really nice to chat with her and get some insight from someone with so much experience, and someone who we really love and enjoy being around.
Thanks so much for sharing.
We wanted you to know about Abi.
Thank you for listening, this is Love Blush Girl.
Yovanka started her own hand tied extension business only 2 years ago. Prior to this she’s had a long career as a stylist.
It was after having taken time off to raise her family and re entering the salon floor she noticed there was something missing from the service. Women were wanting long luxurious hair. A lot of the time this wasn’t an option without the assistance of extensions. This is when she began her mission to something that would give women what they wanted all while maintaining the integrity and health of the hair.
Yovanka wants to show women that if you have an idea and a dream that you should go for it. Even when the people around you may not understand. She wants to set a positive example for our industry of how we can work together and lift each other up. She wants to teach stylists to value themselves, their work and their time and to charge what you’re worth so you can do your best work.
She leads this conversation from the start, telling her story of how she got here. I think I would describe Yovanka as fierce, passionate and wise. She had some encouraging words for us mums to know that our work is valuable too and not to doubt ourselves when we take time to build our empires.
Thanks so much for sharing.
We wanted you to know about Yovanka.
Thank you for listening, this is Love Blush Girl.
Ashley of The Brewed Artistry, her name inspired by her wide range of creative endeavours, is an Adelaide based independent artist.
She had this great idea to open a homewares store, The Collective Nook. Stocking and supporting south Australian homewares, fashion and much more. The Collective Nook was put on hold during the outbreak of Covid19, moving solely online, but we can’t wait to see it kick off again.
For now she’s putting all her focus on her commissioned art, with some big mural projects coming up. Ashley shares some amazing resources, which are super helpful for creative startups. We have one of Ashley’s beautiful pieces hanging in our salon, a favourite of mine.
We also touch on social media, personal brand, how to value yourself as a creative person, the importance of being authentic and standing out in a flooded market.
Ashley juggles all of these amazing things all while being a mum of two.
Find Ashley on instagram: @thebrewedartistry
Thanks so much for sharing.
We wanted you to know about Abi.
Thank you for listening, this is Love Blush Girl.
I’m so glad I can finally introduce you to Rosanna from Little Loves Beauty!
She shares her story of how she opened her nail art studio six years ago. Right from day one it was her vision to provide only the beauty services that she loved.
I love her inspiration for staying true to yourself, knowing your strengths and not forcing things.
She has a good perspective on her social media platform and shares her insight… it’s just an online world, don’t take it too seriously. Have fun and just be yourself don’t try and be like any body else.
Rosanna your so modest about your six years of success in business, it’s hard. Well Done, thank you so much for sharing.
We wanted you to know about Rosanna.
Thank you for listening, this is Love Blush Girl.
Elena studied PR and communications and went to gain experience at Sportsgirl and Sweat before starting her own social media business, Social Punch. She's passionate about connecting with her clients and really understanding how she can help them grow online. It's really nice to hear all of her knowledge since this is an area we are all trying to navigate.
Talking with Elena confirmed for me why I created this podcast, meeting up with brave women who have gone out on their own and started their own thing is something that brings me a lot of joy and personally a lot of value
I hope you enjoy her story and her great tips.
Thanks so much for sharing
We wanted you to know about Elena.
Thank you for listening, this is Love Blush Girl.
Lauren Hunter, our salon manager and my very first apprentice. Lauren has a really interesting story about how she travelled around aus when she was younger.
She is passionate about making sure you live life to its fullest and don't miss any opportunities. She really wants people to make sure they are doing something they love everyday.
Hairdressing is something that makes her so happy. She gets so much joy from seeing how she can transform clients day with a beautiful hair makeover.
She's the sweetest thing and I know you will love hearing her story and our chat about Blush Girl.
Thanks so much for sharing.
We wanted you to know about Lauren.
Thank you for listening, this is Love Blush Girl.
Nadine started her career in hairdressing at a very young age meaning at only 22 she is the owner of her own salon. Nadine shares her story with such honesty. Sharing challenges she has faced and continues to face.
Nadine is so incredibly strong, bold and well spoken. She's hungry for success in this industry but wants to see others succeeding too.
I wanted to connect with Nadine because her story reminded me of my first few years and I thought we could bring some value and insight to those of you dreaming about owning your own salon.
I hope you enjoy hearing our opinions on starting a salon, finances, social media and the hair community.
Thanks so much for sharing.
We wanted you to know about Nadine.
Thank you for listening, this is Love Blush Girl.
Laura feels her background in performing arts is what’s given her the thick skin and her just do it mind set.
She is passionate about the next generation understanding all the job opportunities that are now available to us and feels that it should be known to all.
Laura is on her path to building something that allows her to put her family first and has been proactive about setting boundaries in her business life early on.
It’s so interesting to hear a little about her path to becoming a marriage celebrant and how she plans to continue strengthening her community as well as the service she offers her clients.
Thanks so much for sharing.
We wanted you to know about Laura.
Thank you for listening, this is Love Blush Girl.
This was the first time I met Kimberly, so bubbly and full of life. Kimberly shares how she made her hair topper business a reality.
Kimberly says she has always wanted to be in business, it’s in her blood and it was her own experience with genetic hair loss that sparked her idea.
She worked hard to build a community well before launching her own product and it was that very community that helped her through her trial and error phase when first starting Lusta Hair.
Kimberly swears by @instgram as a platform for community and business and isn’t sure where she would be without this opportunity to reach people.
Her passion is undeniable and my favourite take away from this episode is her want to help people feel the way they did before hair loss.
Thanks so much for sharing.
We wanted you to know about Kimberley.
Thank you for listening, this is Love Blush Girl.
This is for the ambitious, driven, creative, stylist. Who is passionate about our industry.
Get to know the people behind the salons and brands we think you should know about. Find support among their stories, hear what it took to get them where they are and their career experiences so far.