The Conscious Salon

Nicola and Tessa
  • 5.0 (1)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. 3D AGO

    Money Habits That Build Real Wealth for Salon Owners

    Money talk can feel prickly, especially when you’re juggling bookings, staff and the pressure to keep everyone happy.  We went from dodging finance chats to feeling steady and clear, and today we share the exact habits that made the shift: weekly number check-ins, paying ourselves first, pricing with strategy, banking all cash and systemising every dollar with automated buckets. If money has ever made you want to run, this conversation brings you back to ground with simple actions that build calm and profit. We start by naming the discomfort and why open money talk can trigger people, then walk through how regulation—not hustle—changed everything. Weekly visibility gave us control over break-even and cash flow. Paying ourselves first created a non-negotiable boundary that forced better decisions.  On pricing, we unpack why copying competitors and last-minute discounts quietly bleed margin, and how to account for wages, consumables, super, tax and overheads so every service funds a healthy profit. We also call out the hidden cost of panic promos that attract bargain hunters while sidelining loyal clients. From there, we get frank about cash. Banking every dollar protects your valuation, supports mortgage approvals and keeps you audit-safe. Finally, we lay out a practical blueprint: pull twelve months of transactions, sort them into clear buckets like rent, wages and leave, overheads, repairs and maintenance, tax and super, plus a profit reserve then automate weekly transfers so big bills don’t spike your nervous system. It’s the calm, boring system that quietly builds a business buyers trust and owners can breathe in. If you’re ready to swap anxiety for agency, press play, take notes and choose one habit to implement this week. Love the show?  Follow, share with a salon friend and leave a quick review so more owners can build confident, profitable money habits. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon

    19 min

  2. FEB 8

    SALON Ins and Outs of 2026

    Ready to stop being the emergency contact for every problem and build a salon that runs smoothly without you hovering? We mapped out a 2026 playbook for salon owners who want calm, high performance, and real freedom: pay for meetings during work hours, lead with courage, and turn your numbers into a shared compass. Instead of venting at home or hoping issues fade, we walk through how to hold direct, respectful conversations that reset standards and lift trust across the floor. We dig into weekly number debriefs that bring clarity to services, retail, and rebookings, plus why sharing your break‑even converts anxiety into agency. You’ll hear why a 60‑minute monthly one‑on‑one is non‑negotiable if you want self‑led, connected teams, and how simple tools like love language and personality quizzes help tailor feedback, reduce friction, and grow genuine support between colleagues. This is people-first leadership backed by structure, not slogans. On the flip side, we call time on habits that keep owners stuck. Running the salon from your head creates key person risk; it’s time to document, digitise, and systemise so holidays and sick days don’t collapse operations. We show how to enforce cancellation policies without feeling cold, when to let go of unaligned team members, and the steps to finally eliminate shoulder taps by building playbooks and clear escalation paths. If you’re craving a confident, drama‑light culture with stronger numbers and fewer fires, this conversation gives you the exact moves to make now. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a fellow owner, and leave a quick review, then tell us which “in” you’re starting first. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon

    24 min

  3. FEB 1

    Listen to this if you don't understand tax and accounting

    Numbers don’t have to be scary. If spreadsheets make you want to hide behind the reception desk, this episode is for salon owners who want to take control of their money without the stress. Accountant and salon numbers coach Kate Slater breaks down complex financial topics into simple, actionable steps so you can stop guessing and start planning. From tax traps to cash flow clarity, we cover the essentials that every salon owner needs to know. We dig into the real-world issues that trip up owners, including BAS, payroll, WorkCover, and equipment purchases. Kate shares practical systems to protect your cash, understand deductions, and plan for both growth and lifestyle, so your business runs on numbers—not panic. In this episode, we cover: Why your “$30k profit” doesn’t equal cash in the bankMulti-account systems for GST, PAYG, super, and income taxWorkCover, apprentice ratios, and wage estimates explainedCommonly missed deductions for home admin, marketing, and subscriptionsBonuses, withholding, depreciation, and repair vs renovation strategiesCash-first checklist for upgrading equipment or taking loansPricing for profitable services without chasing trendsFBT risks, luxury purchases, and company structures that protect assetsPaying yourself consistently for predictable planning and energyTake control of your salon’s finances and replace panic with a plan. Subscribe, share with a salon friend, and leave a comment with your biggest money question for future episodes. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon

    35 min

  4. JAN 25

    The No BS way to motivate your salon team

    Ever wish you could hold your team to higher standards without being the bad cop? This episode shares a leadership playbook that turns confrontation into curiosity and guesswork into actionable data. Build confidence, lift rebooking and retail, and keep your team aligned — all while staying approachable. In this episode, we cover: How to start tough conversations with curiosity: “I’ve noticed a pattern…”The five‑minute Tuesday debrief to track weekly targets, services, rebooking, retail, and winsUsing transparency and recognition to build trust and buy‑inMicro‑coaching: catch small moments, offer guidance, and keep tone light but clearBoundaries that protect authority while staying warm and approachableThree practical moves for new or hesitant leaders: lead with curiosity, track numbers weekly, and follow up with a planTurn small coaching moments into consistent habits that make your salon calmer, predictable, and more productive. If this episode helps you lead with ease, follow, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review with the one metric you’ll “plug in” this week. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon

    18 min

  5. JAN 18

    From solo cosmetic nurse to 12-person team | Building Eltham Cosmetic Clinic with Amy Wright

    What does it really take to grow a cosmetic clinic without losing trust, standards, or heart? In this episode, we sit down with Amy, founder of Eltham Cosmetic Clinic, to unpack how a solo injector scaled to a 12 person team while keeping client care, safety, and culture front and centre. Amy shares the behind the scenes of building a clinic that feels human and professional, even as it grows. From calming anxious clients with precise language to designing a brand experience that builds long term trust, this conversation is a masterclass in thoughtful growth. We cover: Scaling from solo injector to a multi practitioner clinicCreating client journeys that feel safe, calm, and personalBuilding a compliant team including prescribing doctors and clear rolesWhy brand, space, uniforms, and photography matter more than you thinkRebuilding culture after grief, burnout, and near breaking pointsFinancial foundations for injectors including pricing, margins, BAS, and P&LLeading with kindness while still holding performance standardsThis episode is for cosmetic nurses, clinic owners, and service based founders who want sustainable growth without sacrificing values. If it resonates, follow the show, share it with someone in aesthetics, and leave a review to help more founders find this conversation. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon

    38 min

  6. JAN 11

    Selling the Salon and Choosing Health with Maxi Dotorri

    What if the business you built to prove your worth is the very thing draining it? In this honest conversation, hairstylist and coach Maxi Dotorri shares why she sold a thriving family-run salon and chose health, clarity, and self-respect instead. In this episode, we talk about: • The warning signs of burnout Maxi ignored for years • How lockdown exposed migraines, panic, and an identity tied to being “the owner” • The moment a team resignation became the catalyst for change • Selling a salon fast and rebuilding life around energy, not optics • Why resilience is not pushing harder but building systems that protect you • The industry myth that 12-hour days equal success • Simple health and leadership frameworks that actually work in busy seasons • How better boundaries create stronger teams, calmer leaders, and healthier families Maxi now runs two businesses on her own terms and is fully booked into 2026, helping women reclaim their health and leadership. This episode is a powerful reminder that you are allowed to move the goalposts, sell the thing you built, and redefine success in a way that supports your life. Share this with a salon owner or creative who needs it. If it resonates, follow the show and leave a review so more leaders can find their way back to themselves. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon

    49 min

  7. JAN 4

    Blueprint: How to get your word of the year for 2026

    Start strong, breathe deeper, and write the year you actually want to lead. This guided intention setting session with Tess is for salon owners and leaders who want less stress, stronger culture, and sustainable growth in 2026. Through calm structure and practical reflection, you will move from vague goals to clear leadership behaviours that shape how your salon feels, functions, and grows. In this episode, we guide you through: • A short breath practice to settle your nervous system • Defining values that anchor decisions during busy seasons • Designing a thoughtful client and team experience from booking to follow-up • Conscious leadership habits that support clarity, presence, and feedback • Setting three meaningful SMART goals beyond vanity metrics • Simple culture rituals that build trust and teamwork • Boundaries that protect energy, focus, and work life balance • Streamlining operations to reduce friction and overwhelm • Choosing your word of the year and a proud outcome for 2026 Grab your journal, press play, and pause as needed. If this session helped you get clear, share it with a salon friend, subscribe for the next episode, and leave a review with your word for the year. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon

    13 min

  8. 12/28/2025

    Our Reflection Blueprint (steal this for your team!)

    Ready to close 2025 with clarity rather than chaos? In this guided reflection, Tess leads salon owners and leaders through a calm, intentional review of the year that was so you can carry the right lessons forward and release what no longer fits. This episode is designed to help you slow down, breathe, and reflect honestly before stepping into 2026. In this reflection, we cover:  • A short breathing practice to settle your nervous system  • Key prompts to recognise what you are proud of and how you grew  • Lessons from challenges, turnover, and culture shifts  • Reconnecting with joy through meaningful in salon moments  • Clarifying where you need stronger boundaries and simpler systems  • Reflecting on leadership habits that shaped your team and your life  • Noticing how investing in yourself impacted your business Bring a notebook, pause when you need to, and let this be a grounded close to the year you actually lived. If this reflection supported you, share it with a fellow salon owner and follow the show for more calm, practical leadership conversations. To follow our journey: Instagram @aheadhair_ @the_conscious_salon

    17 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Nicola and Tessa
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    183
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Conscious Salon
  • Show Website
    The Conscious Salon

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