The Blowout - By Salon Owners for Salon Owners

Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward

Salon owners — we need to talk. The industry is under pressure, the rules keep changing, and too much is being said in whispers. That’s where we come in. Haylee Benton & Hellen Ward — salon owners with decades of real industry experience. No filters. No limits. Raw, honest conversations about what’s actually happening. From independent owners to industry leaders, we’re unpacking what’s on everyone’s mind — the rise of self-employment, shifting rules, and the changes quietly reshaping our industry.

  1. 2 days ago

    #0023 - THE BUDGET: How Much More Can Salons Take?!

    #0023 - THE BUDGET: How Much More Can Salons Take?! 💇🏼‍♀️ Wella Professional: https://www.wella.com/professional/en-GB In this episode of the Blowout Podcast, hosts Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward discuss the recent budget and its implications for salon owners and the beauty industry. They express frustration over the lack of meaningful changes, particularly regarding VAT and minimum wage increases, and highlight the challenges faced by salon owners in navigating employment laws and maintaining profitability. The conversation also touches on the importance of mentorship and the future of the beauty industry amidst ongoing economic pressures. The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money, to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair.Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0QApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies! Chapters 00:00 Post-Budget Reflections 03:10 The Impact of VAT and Business Rates 06:01 Challenges Facing Salon Owners 09:04 The Minimum Wage Dilemma 12:08 Navigating Employment Laws 15:05 The Future of the Beauty Industry 18:00 The Role of Self-Employment 21:01 Mentorship and Growth in the Industry 24:07 Final Thoughts on the Budget and Industry Challenges

  2. 25 Oct

    #0022 - Why Is Profit A Dirty Word?

    The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money, to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0Q Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946 Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies! 0:00 - "Profit" as a dirty word 1:25 - Podcast introduction 1:42 - Why salon owners shouldn't feel guilty about profit 8:07 - Profit targets: 5% versus 10% 9:38 - Understanding payroll costs and profit and loss 12:50 - Key numbers salon owners should know 15:03 - Tracking a few key metrics consistently 17:15 - How to start a basic profit and loss 19:23 - Increasing turnover and controlling costs 24:51 - Profit versus cash flow 29:46 - A towel switch that could save money 31:03 - Reviewing payment processing costs 33:31 - Teaching teams to understand the profit and loss 36:34 - The "profit circle" team exercise 40:35 - Why time and productivity are what salons sell 41:44 - Closing thought: profit isn't a dirty word

  3. 11 Oct

    #0021 - The Brutal Truth About Managing Salon Staff

    The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money, to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair.Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0QApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies!Episode timestamps00:00 Episode preview01:17 Welcome to the episode01:51 Why staff appraisals matter04:02 Creating the right environment for reviews06:08 Monthly check-ins vs annual appraisals07:50 Should appraisals be mandatory?09:43 Sickness reviews and return-to-work interviews12:43 Structuring appraisals around performance and KPIs13:41 The red flags of a difficult team member15:44 Spotting a long-term decline in performance17:18 Dealing with toxic situations quickly20:36 Supporting employees while remaining performance-driven23:21 The hardest conversations bosses must have25:22 Delivering uncomfortable feedback with kindness28:01 What happens when an entire team lacks self-awareness?30:42 Managing conflict within your team32:29 Your salon is a sports team, not a family34:06 When should a boss intervene?36:58 Becoming a secret shopper in your own salon38:15 Is managing a large salon actually easier?40:51 Why team social events matter44:43 Profit is not a dirty word45:31 Nothing is bigger than the badge47:00 Should product wastage affect commission?48:11 Knowing when a toxic employee needs to go50:19 Does every team need a bad apple?

  4. 27 Sept

    #0020 - Why Are So Many People Suddenly Losing Their Hair?

    💇🏼‍♀️ Wella Professional: https://www.wella.com/professional/en-GB 💊 Glowwa: https://www.glowwa.com/ This episode follows Suzanne Cooper, founder of Glowwa, as she shares how her own hair loss journey led her to create a nutrition-led brand for the professional salon channel. It matters because the conversation goes beyond product development and digs into why education, trust, and salon-first distribution can shape long-term brand loyalty. We discuss how Glowwa started with no marketing budget, how Suzanne built credibility through salon education, and why she has resisted the push to move mass or undercut salons online. She also explains what’s driving more hair loss today, from stress and ultra-processed diets to GLP-1 weight loss injections. The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair.Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0Q⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946⁠Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies! Timestamps 00:00 - Overnight hair loss and the decision to bet on herself 02:09 - What triggered Suzanne’s hair loss journey 03:45 - When the shedding became impossible to ignore 04:28 - Why ingredient quality and label reading mattered 06:17 - Targeting inflammation, hormones, and stress 07:43 - Turning an idea into a manufactured product 08:30 - Giving the first stock away to salons for free 09:05 - Leaving a full-time job to build Glowwa 10:54 - Why salon education matters so much 13:26 - Choosing salons over mass retail 15:01 - The two questions behind every business decision 16:50 - How Glowwa drives consumers back to salons 18:51 - Making salon purchase more attractive than buying online 20:37 - Why the brand is called Glowwa 22:23 - Why hair loss is rising now 23:19 - Supporting clients using GLP-1 weight loss injections 24:12 - Why Glowwa expanded into collagen 25:12 - Collagen as a low-pressure retail conversation starter 26:00 - Why the brand will not launch shampoos or oils 26:54 - International growth and expanding carefully 29:03 - Choosing the right distributors 31:43 - Moving into skin clinics and aesthetics 32:44 - Why education is the missing gap for many stylists 33:18 - Free training and charity seat-holder fees 35:12 - Staying independent while scaling 39:51 - Working with her partner and keeping work boundaries 42:26 - The warehouse damage setback that nearly broke the business 44:40 - How Glowwa trusts its UK manufacturers and ingredient sourcing 46:58 - Why betting on herself mattered 49:06 - How Suzanne switches off and maintains her routine 50:09 - Whether supplements should be used continuously

  5. 13 Sept

    #0019 - Wendy Tarplee-Morris - The Haircut That Changed Thousands of Children’s Lives

    👑 Little Princess Trust: https://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/officiallittleprincesstrust https://www.facebook.com/officiallittleprincesstrust https://x.com/LPTrustUK 💇🏼‍♀️ Wella Professional: https://www.wella.com/professional/en-GB In this episode, Wendy Tarplee-Morris shares the inspiring story behind the Little Princess Trust, how hair donations support children with cancer, and how salons can get involved to make a difference. Discover the impact of community efforts and the future of childhood cancer research. The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair.Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0QApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Little Princess Trust and Wendy's story 02:24 How the charity started after Wendy's daughter's passing 07:26 The journey from initial donations to a nationwide charity 12:43 The process of donating hair and making wigs 17:10 Minimum hair length requirements and donation guidelines 22:42 The global reach of hair donations from 129 countries 30:48 Supporting children with wigs and the importance of training 32:25 Current challenges and future needs of the charity 33:40 Expanding support to childhood cancer research 36:28 The impact of high-profile donations and awareness campaigns 39:09 The role of AI and technology in cancer research 42:30 How listeners and salons can get involved 45:34 The tangible impact of fundraising and community support 46:49 Wendy's message of hope and legacy

  6. 30 Aug

    #0018 - Is Gen Z Killing the Salon Work Ethic?

    Wella Professional: https://www.wella.com/professional/en-GB This episode tackles the generation gap inside salons, especially the clash between Gen X leadership and Gen Z employees. Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward unpack accountability, work ethic, mental fitness, and the challenge of keeping teams aligned while still supporting younger staff.In this episode, Haley and Helen discuss why salons need both experience and new talent, but often struggle to bridge very different expectations around criticism, flexibility, and progression. 🌐 able-futures.co.uk 📞 Freephone: 0800 321 2137 The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money, to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0Q Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946 Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies! Timestamps 00:00 - “That’s not it, you don’t like what I said” - blame, criticism, and accountability 01:14 - Introducing the generation gap inside the salon 03:34 - Why Haley sees Gen Z as a blame culture 05:03 - Defining Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z 07:00 - The part-time job that turned into a freelance decision 09:18 - From old-school training to modern HR 09:49 - Why Haley prefers “mental fitness” to “mental health” 11:12 - Why the salon created an internal mental fitness coach 13:29 - Work-related support, menopause, divorce, and family stress 15:44 - Why Gen Z wants flexibility and fast progression 16:47 - “You have to own your journey” 17:25 - The WhatsApp example and boundaries outside work 18:21 - How to bridge the gap between age groups 19:17 - The loneliness of leadership and constant problem-solving 20:21 - Gen X, hard work, and the case for responsibility 21:52 - Ted Lasso and the problem with participation trophies 22:26 - Why motivating Gen Z is now a business issue 23:27 - Apprentices, retention, and the future of the salon industry 24:53 - Millennials as a bridge between generations 27:25 - Wanting pastoral care without accepting correction 28:13 - Setting clearer expectations at the start of the year 29:20 - Final reflections on aligning mixed-age teams

  7. 16 Aug

    #0017 - What Is Your Salon Really Worth? The Truth About Selling

    The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money, to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0Q Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946 Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies! Times Timestamps:  00:00 - Why many salons are not saleable and the myth that they are 00:22 - Valuing a salon: assets vs goodwill 00:47 - Why selling intangible assets like staff is impossible 01:05 - The importance of early exit planning 01:31 - Common issues with lease transfers and legal hurdles 02:16 - Red flags when buying or selling a salon 03:15 - How business energy and investment affect sale value 04:01 - The importance of transparency with staff about sale and exit plans 05:12 - Handling staff redundancies and guarantees in sale agreements 06:07 - The process of business transfer and redundancy costs 07:00 - Celebrating success stories and navigating challenging sales 08:36 - The complexity of replicating salons and the importance of people 09:24 - Transitioning staff and creating new opportunities post-sale 10:14 - Family businesses and succession challenges 11:22 - The long-term impact of mergers and staff integration 12:00 - Keeping energy high during tough times and managing staff perceptions 13:16 - The emotional and practical considerations when nearing retirement 14:36 - The potential of Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) for exit planning 17:16 - How EOTs work and benefits for business owners and staff 19:08 - Setting up an EOT and legal/financial considerations 20:19 - The positive impact of EOTs on staff loyalty and retention 21:44 - Exploring alternative options beyond sale and the importance of timing 22:42 - The significance of proper business structuring and documentation 23:54 - The growing interest in exit planning and how to prepare early 25:10 - Realistic valuation and the limits of profitability in sale prices 26:29 - The importance of understanding the value in people, not just numbers 27:13 - Ways to reduce the burden of ownership, including family succession and partnerships 28:43 - The vital role of ongoing investment and morale in business profitability 30:49 - The challenges of valuation and sale in service industries 31:23 - The necessity of transparent communication with staff during transactions 32:35 - Lease importance and legal considerations when selling a salon 33:24 - How lease and business structure influence saleability 35:32 - Creative solutions, including passing on to staff or family 36:17 - Planning for exit early and keeping options open 37:18 - What to do if your salon is unprofitable or underperforming 38:20 - Franchising and growth models that support future exit options 39:13 - The risk of holding on when the business no longer has passion or energy 40:15 - Focusing on team development and long-term vision 41:44 - The importance of comprehensive preparation—legal, financial, structural—before sale 42:22 - Emphasizing early exit planning and keeping your options open

  8. 2 Aug

    #0016 - The Future of Beauty: What Salons Need to Know About AI, Brands & Survival

    In this episode, we chat with Samantha Sweet, founder of Sweet Squared, about supporting salons, the future of the beauty industry, and maintaining authenticity in branding. If you're a professional or aspire to understand the core values driving a successful distributor, this is a must-listen. The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0Q Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946 Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies! Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Samantha's Industry Journey 02:36 Supporting the Professional Sector and Brand Loyalty 04:49 The Origins of CND and Nail Industry Evolution 09:09 Challenges During the 2007 Industry Crisis 14:44 Building Relationships and Brand Love 20:12 The Importance of Brand Storytelling 22:34 The Role of Education and Skill in Nails 28:18 Impact of COVID-19 on Supply Chains 36:27 Temptation to Sell Out and Brand Integrity 43:00 Going Direct and Understanding Market Differences 50:04 The Future of AI and Hands-On Skills 01:00:28 Supporting the Industry and Personal Passion 01:02:37 The Resilience of the Beauty Industry

    #0016 - The Future of Beauty: What Salons Need to Know About AI, Brands & Survival
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5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Salon owners — we need to talk. The industry is under pressure, the rules keep changing, and too much is being said in whispers. That’s where we come in. Haylee Benton & Hellen Ward — salon owners with decades of real industry experience. No filters. No limits. Raw, honest conversations about what’s actually happening. From independent owners to industry leaders, we’re unpacking what’s on everyone’s mind — the rise of self-employment, shifting rules, and the changes quietly reshaping our industry.

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