The Digital Chair Podcast by salonMonster

salonMonster

The Digital Chair Real talk for beauty pros who want a smarter, calmer, more profitable chair. The Digital Chair is a podcast from salonMonster, built for stylists, barbers, estheticians, and other beauty pros who are brilliant at the craft and tired of carrying the business side alone. Every episode is a real conversation with people who know what it is to lose sleep over the book, chase down a no-show, or dig up a colour formula from six weeks ago. We talk money, burnout, client relationships, chair rental versus commission, and the parts of the job nobody covers in school: how to run a business that still leaves room for the work you actually love. No corporate speak. No pretending Admin Chaos isn't real. Just working beauty pros talking honestly about the chair, the book, and the business behind both. Subscribe wherever you listen.

  1. 4d ago

    Tokyo Hair School to Vancouver Barbering with Mitsuhiro Ando

    Hair culture changes from city to city, and Mitsuhiro Ando has seen that firsthand. Mitsuhiro joins salonMonster to talk about his path from growing up in Tokyo and attending hair school in Japan, to discovering barbering in Melbourne, to building his work in Vancouver. This short conversation touches on barbering, skin fades, Japanese hair culture, Vancouver’s diverse hair textures, and how inspiration can come from far beyond the salon. You’ll hear about: ✅How Mitsuhiro got into hairdressing in Tokyo ✅Why he shifted from traditional hairstyling into barbering ✅What drew him to skin fade haircutting The difference between Japanese hair culture and Vancouver hair culture ✅Why Vancouver’s diversity changes the way barbers think about fit, texture, and style ✅How travel, museums, architecture, and different cities inspire his work ✅What he would tell his younger self about building a barbering career For hairstylists, barbers, salon owners, and independent beauty pros, this is a reminder that style is shaped by more than technique. It is shaped by place, culture, curiosity, and the people sitting in your chair. Connect with Mitsuhiro Ando: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mits_ando/ Connect with salonMonster: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/ More salonMonster podcast episodes: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0oGUoOz3xLklSzb3IT5YYw/content/podcasts Start your 14-day trial: https://salonmonster.com/ Chapters 00:00 Opening 00:25 Meet Mitsuhiro Ando 00:56 Finding a barbershop in Vancouver 01:21 From Tokyo hair school to barbering in Melbourne 01:55 Getting curious about skin fades 02:34 Japanese hair culture vs. Vancouver hair culture 03:11 Working with diverse hair textures in Vancouver 03:37 Advice for his younger barber self 04:02 Finding inspiration through travel, museums, and architecture 05:15 Japanese hair training and North American barbering 06:28 Hair school and apprenticeship in Japan 07:22 Where to follow Mitsuhiro

  2. 4d ago

    Mastery Takes the Long Road: Joseph DiMaggio on Hair Education, Failure & Craft

    What does real mastery look like in the hair industry? In this conversation, Liam talks with Joseph DiMaggio about the long, messy, deeply human path from cutting hair on tour to working backstage at Fashion Week, building education systems, mentoring stylists, and creating tools with intention. Joseph shares how his early background in engineering shaped the way he thinks about haircutting, finishing, education, and efficiency. Instead of chasing shortcuts, his approach centers on repetition, failure, mentorship, and understanding the “why” behind every choice. This episode goes into the parts of the beauty industry that don’t always get glamorized: the pressure of backstage work, the emotional weight of teaching, the difference between customer service and true hospitality, and why technical skill alone is not always enough to build a successful salon career. You’ll hear about: ✅Joseph’s unexpected start cutting hair while touring in a band ✅What Fashion Week teaches stylists that salon work often doesn’t ✅Why failure is one of the most important parts of building confidence ✅The meaning behind Shokunin Click and mastering your craft to serve others ✅How hospitality can set a stylist or salon apart ✅Why consultation, environment, and nonverbal cues matter with difficult clients ✅Joseph’s approach to tools, ergonomics, education, and the Pomo PM1 dryer For hairstylists, salon owners, educators, barbers, and beauty pros who care about craft, this one is a reminder: the best work is not built on shortcuts. It is built on intention, repetition, mentorship, and doing the work until the why becomes part of your hands. Connect with Joseph DiMaggio: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fashionmeetspassion/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fashionmeetspassion Education Platform: https://www.shokuninclikacademy.com/education Follow salonMonster: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/ More podcast episodes: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0oGUoOz3xLklSzb3IT5YYw/content/podcasts Start your 14-day trial: https://salonmonster.com/ Chapters 00:00 Meet Joseph DiMaggio 02:09 Cutting hair on tour before cosmetology school 04:34 The haircut that changed Joseph’s path 06:02 From New York salons to Fashion Week 07:58 Why editorial success did not feel like enough 14:41 Moving deeper into hair education and mentorship 18:42 Building systems with an engineering brain 20:15 What backstage teaches salon stylists 23:42 Creating a trained, non-cutthroat Fashion Week team 29:43 How stylists train for Joseph’s backstage team 33:20 What “Shokunin Click” means 43:38 Taking the long road instead of shortcuts 47:06 Why educating is its own craft 51:17 Failure, confidence, and learning through mistakes 55:18 Joseph’s advice for new hairstylists 58:36 Why clients really come to the salon 1:05:09 Consultations, difficult clients, and earning trust 1:11:08 Why finding the right mentor matters 1:14:06 Joseph’s tool background and the Pomo PM1 dryer 1:27:56 Where to find Joseph

  3. 4d ago

    What Stylists Learn After Hair School: Rin Csinos on Growth, Fit & Education

    Finding the right salon is not just about getting a chair. It is about finding a space where you can grow, be respected, and actually feel like you fit. Rin Csinos joins salonMonster to talk about their path into hair, from cutting hair as a kid to going through hair school, apprenticing, working independently, and eventually finding a salon environment that felt right. This conversation is especially useful for hairstylists, apprentices, independent beauty pros, and salon owners who care about culture, education, and making the day-to-day business side feel less overwhelming. You’ll hear about: ✅How Rin got started in hair ✅Why salon fit matters so much for stylists ✅What they learned from apprenticeship and early salon environments ✅Why new stylists should invest in their own education ✅How online hairstylists and creators can be powerful learning resources ✅The value of watching other stylists work ✅Why salonMonster feels approachable and easy to use ✅How streamlined booking software can help independent hairstylists run their business with less friction Rin also shares honest advice for stylists starting out: listen more, learn as much as you can, and don’t rely only on a salon to build your education for you. Connect with Rin Csinos: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rinowyid_hair/?hl=en Connect with salonMonster: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/ More salonMonster podcast episodes: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0oGUoOz3xLklSzb3IT5YYw/content/podcasts Start your 14-day trial: https://salonmonster.com/ Chapters 00:00 Meet Rin Csinos 00:34 How Rin got into hair 00:59 Hair school, apprenticeship, and early salon experiences 01:41 Finding a salon space that fits 02:28 Advice Rin would give their younger stylist self 03:25 Why stylists should invest in their own education 04:01 Where Rin finds hair inspiration online 04:34 Hairstylists and creators Rin recommends 05:12 How salonMonster helps day to day 05:48 Why salonMonster works for independent hairstylists 06:30 Couch upholstery, salon chaos, and keeping it human 07:04 Closing thoughts

  4. 4d ago

    Developing Your Eye as a Hairstylist | Bronwen Robinson

    Great haircuts are not built on technique alone. Bronwen Robinson joins Liam to talk about the deeper craft of hairdressing: developing your eye, learning how to read the client in front of you, and understanding why the feeling behind a haircut matters just as much as the shape. Bronwen shares her path from being drawn to fashion, to early education with Tony & Guy, to starting over as an apprentice at Bumble and Bumble in New York. She reflects on the impact of razor cutting, the Bumble education legacy, and what it means to move beyond copying collections into making choices that actually fit the person in the chair. This conversation is especially valuable for hairstylists, barbers, salon owners, and beauty educators who care about craft, consultation, and building a long-term career behind the chair. You’ll hear about: ✅Why some stylists learn visually while others learn technically ✅How to develop your eye as a hairdresser ✅The role of emotion, references, and intuition in haircutting ✅Why clients give information, but stylists still need to interpret it ✅How honesty in consultation can build more trust ✅What razor cutting education can teach beyond the tool itself ✅Why teaching from fear does not help stylists grow ✅Bronwen’s time at Bumble and Bumble and the legacy of that education ✅Building a career that still feels creative after decades in the industry For any beauty pro who has ever thought, “I know the technique, but something still feels missing,” this one will hit. Connect with Bronwen Robinson: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bronwenrobins/ Website: https://www.robinsnestbybronwen.com/ Education: https://www.robinsnestbybronwen.com/pro-education Follow salonMonster: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/ YouTube Podcast Channel: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0oGUoOz3xLklSzb3IT5YYw/content/podcasts Try salonMonster free for 14 days: https://salonmonster.com/ Chapters 00:00 - How Bronwen found her way into hair 03:31 - Early education, Tony & Guy, and learning to teach 05:38 - Moving to New York to connect hair with fashion 08:19 - Starting over at Bumble and the roots of razor cutting 13:40 - Visual vs. technical learning in hairdressing 16:16 - Developing the eye, feeling, and using references 20:05 - Reading between the lines in consultation 22:22 - Why clients guide the cut but do not dictate it 24:06 - Honest experimentation and building trust 27:09 - Curiosity, students, and the puzzle of education 30:23 - Bumble mentors, fashion, and industry legacy 36:14 - Life after Bumble and earning choice 41:16 - Freelance education, look-and-learns, and workshops 47:38 - Teaching from safety instead of fear 56:21 - Custom classes and how Bronwen teaches now 58:45 - How to book Bronwen for education

  5. 4d ago

    How to Build a Salon Team That Actually Stays | Samuel Bligh

    What makes a salon team stay? Samuel Bligh, owner of Proper Hair Salon in Vancouver, joins salonMonster to talk about the long, real path from stylist to salon owner, and what he has learned about building a salon where people feel supported, clients feel connected, and growth does not come at the cost of culture. Samuel shares how he got started in the Vancouver hair industry, the moment he decided to open his own salon, and what it actually took to take over an existing space, renovate fast, keep the team steady, and slowly build something that felt like his own. This conversation goes beyond the usual salon ownership story. Samuel talks openly about the hard parts of managing people, the difference a strong salon manager can make, and why giving your team a clean, professional space is not always enough. For him, the real work is connection: making stylists feel appreciated, giving them support, and creating a place where their career can grow. You’ll hear about: ✅Samuel’s start in the Vancouver hair industry ✅Taking over and renovating his first salon space ✅The shift from stylist to salon owner ✅Why managing people became one of the biggest learning curves ✅How bringing in a salon manager changed the business ✅Building a hybrid salon with commission, chair rental, and contract work ✅Growing from 7 chairs to 15 chairs without losing the team culture ✅Why education still matters after 10, 15, or 20 years behind the chair ✅Staying creative with an established clientele ✅The role of community in building Proper Hair Salon ✅Why salon software choice became part of the bigger brand conversation For hairstylists, salon owners, barbers, nail artists, lash techs, independent beauty pros, and educators, this episode is a grounded look at what it takes to build a salon that is not just busy, but healthy, consistent, and built around people. Connect with Samuel Bligh: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samuel_properhairsalon/?hl=en Follow salonMonster: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/ More salonMonster podcast episodes: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0oGUoOz3xLklSzb3IT5YYw/content/podcasts Start a 14-day trial: https://salonmonster.com/ Chapters 00:00 Meet Samuel Bligh of Proper Hair Salon 00:12 Starting in the Vancouver hair industry 01:32 Early salon experience, AXIS, and Davines 02:41 Going independent after 10 years behind the chair 03:41 The story of buying his first salon 06:00 Taking over the Dunsmuir salon space 06:04 Renovating the salon in nine days 08:41 The hardest part of becoming a salon owner 09:44 Finding Lisa and bringing in a salon manager 11:19 Why front-of-house support changed the business 13:38 The lesson Samuel would tell his younger owner self 16:12 Why ongoing education still matters 18:30 Moving Proper Hair Salon into a larger space 21:38 Building a hybrid salon model 22:59 Growing from 7 chairs to 15 chairs 24:36 Helping stylists take initiative with education 27:29 Staying creative with long-term clients 28:59 Mentors and staying excited after 22 years 31:03 Why community matters at Proper Hair Salon 32:07 Why Proper Hair Salon chose salonMonster 34:07 Closing thoughts

  6. 4d ago

    How to Build a Salon People Actually Feel Comfortable In

    What does it actually take to build a salon where people feel comfortable walking through the door? Michelle joins salonMonster to talk about her path from hair school in Victoria to opening Vamp, stepping into salon ownership, and slowly building a space rooted in trust, communication, education, and community. This conversation is for hairstylists, salon owners, independent beauty pros, and educators who care about more than just the technical side of the work. Michelle shares what helped her grow behind the chair, why confidence often means doing the thing that feels awkward, and how creating a welcoming salon culture can shape the entire client and team experience. You’ll hear about: ✅Michelle’s early path into hairdressing ✅What she learned from mentorship and ongoing education ✅Opening a salon with a friend, then becoming the sole owner ✅Creating an inclusive salon space where people feel comfortable ✅Building clientele through walk-ins, referrals, and simply showing up ✅Why clear communication matters when leading a team ✅The difference between chair rental, employees, and hybrid salon models ✅How education changes once you become a salon owner ✅Why slow steps can build a stronger foundation for ownership ✅The importance of leaning on community instead of doing everything alone ✅Michelle also talks about salonMonster, simple tools that make the day run smoother, and why small efficiencies can make a real difference behind the chair. Connect with Michelle: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairbymichelleprive/?hl=en Follow salonMonster: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/ YouTube Podcast Channel: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0oGUoOz3xLklSzb3IT5YYw/content/podcasts Try salonMonster free for 14 days: https://salonmonster.com/ Chapters 00:00 - Meet Michelle 01:06 - Hair school, mentorship, and early education 02:12 - Opening Vamp and becoming a salon owner 03:02 - Creating a space for “weird, awkward” people 03:21 - Building an inclusive salon culture 04:27 - Confidence advice for younger stylists 05:20 - COVID, adaptability, and compassion 06:03 - Products, tools, and simple efficiencies 07:23 - Michelle’s favorite salonMonster feature 07:43 - Growing a clientele through referrals and walk-ins 08:48 - What Michelle would tell herself on day one 09:29 - Chair rental, employees, and a hybrid salon model 10:37 - Why salonMonster feels easy to use 10:51 - Finding inspiration in vintage magazines 12:04 - Building team culture with clear communication 12:30 - Education, ownership, and staying curious 14:22 - Avoiding burnout by changing roles 15:16 - Slow steps and the foundation of ownership 15:43 - Why salon ownership takes a village 16:11 - Final thoughts

  7. 4d ago

    Old-School Barbering Still Works | Ivan Zoot on Clients, Retention & Community

    Can old-school barbering still build a strong book in 2026? Ivan Zoot thinks so. Known to many as Clipper Guy, he joins Liam to talk barbering, client retention, and why the fundamentals of good service have not changed much at all. After 40 years in the business, Ivan is heading back into the barbershop part-time with a simple hypothesis: despite social media, online booking, AI, and everything else that has changed, cutting hair for money still runs on the same human basics. It gets into the real stuff: building clientele, why word of mouth still matters, what keeps a client long-term, and why being 100% booked is not always the goal. Ivan's clearest advice for new barbers and stylists is to show up, be present, and do the work. That means connecting with people in person, not just through a phone screen. You'll hear about: Ivan's return to the barbershop after the pandemic Why old-school barbering fundamentals still matter The "three haircut" approach to client retention Why 80% booked may actually be fully booked Barber shop community and connecting with other pros What new barbers and stylists need to know about building a career Why social media helps, but should not replace real relationships Being an interesting human outside of work Lessons from education, stage work, and staying in the game For barbers, stylists, salon owners, and educators building something steady and sustainable behind the chair. Connect with Ivan Zoot: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivanzoot/ Website: https://www.ivanzoot.com Education Platform: https://www.ivanzoot.com/usd100k-haircutter Follow salonMonster: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/ More podcast episodes: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0oGUoOz3xLklSzb3IT5YYw/content/podcasts Start a 14-day trial: https://salonmonster.com/ Chapters 00:00 Meet Ivan Zoot 00:14 Ivan's intro: Clipper Guy and 40 years in the business 01:44 Returning behind the chair after the pandemic 03:04 Ivan's old-school barbering hypothesis 05:45 Why people have not changed as fast as technology 08:55 "It's not like it used to be" 12:10 The three-haircut rule for client retention 17:34 Why 80% booked is fully booked 20:13 Barber shop community and the barber breakfast idea 24:01 Why the shop across the street is not your enemy 25:37 Barber unions, licensing, and industry standards 30:17 Being licensed does not always mean

  8. 4d ago

    What Hair School Doesn’t Teach Enough: Reps, Discipline, and Real Confidence

    What builds confidence behind the chair? For Ricardo Vacas, the answer is simple: repetition, discipline, humility, and real practice on real people. Ricardo talks with Liam from salonMonster about how he went from cutting his own hair as a teenager in Spain to becoming a Vancouver barber, shop owner, and educator. He is honest about the parts people skip over: early-career ego, the moments that humble you, and the gap between knowing the theory and having enough reps to trust your hands. For beginner barbers, stylists, salon owners, and educators, it is a reminder that skill is built through practice and feedback, not shortcuts. In this episode, Liam and Ricardo talk about: Why hair schools need more hands-on practice Doing more real haircuts early on How repetition builds confidence behind the chair Why scissor-over-comb is still a foundation skill The difference between knowing something and teaching it How education brought Ricardo's passion back Why advanced education is an investment, not an expense Staying humble after decades in the industry Building a barbering career, a shop, and an education path in Vancouver Connect with Ricardo Vacas: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerpbarber/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerpbarber Education Platform: https://www.instagram.com/kerpeducation/ Connect with salonMonster: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/ More podcast episodes: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0oGUoOz3xLklSzb3IT5YYw/content/podcasts Start a 14-day trial: https://salonmonster.com/ Chapters 00:00 Intro to Ricardo Vacas, aka Kerp Barber 00:54 From Spain to Vancouver and finding barber education again 03:59 Fine Edge, Rodney, and building a barber education network 05:19 How Ricardo started cutting hair as a teenager 07:15 Going to hair school and starting as an apprentice 09:20 What Ricardo would tell new barbers and stylists today 10:31 Why hair school needs more real hands-on practice 11:50 Cutting 1,500 people before working professionally 13:46 Why one haircut a day is not enough 14:47 Why experience is still the best teacher 17:40 What hair schools should change: practice, discipline, foundations 19:36 Why scissor-over-comb is still a foundation skill 20:56 Fixing bad scissor habits and building muscle memory 29:02 Early-career confidence, ego, and getting humbled 31:00 The haircut correction Ricardo never forgot 34:38 Beginner's mind and staying humble in your craft 36:47 How teaching barbering happened by accident 39:24 Learning haircut terminology in English 41:04 Why Ricardo keeps investing in advanced education 42:35 How online education changed access for barbers and stylists 43:36 Taking one-to-one education with DJ Muldoon 44:37 How one class changed Ricardo's approach to hair 45:55 The big takeaway: reps, education, and humility 46:47 What's next for Ricardo, Kerp Barber, and education 49:31 Stepping back from the chair to focus more on teaching 50:06 Where to find Ricardo online

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The Digital Chair Real talk for beauty pros who want a smarter, calmer, more profitable chair. The Digital Chair is a podcast from salonMonster, built for stylists, barbers, estheticians, and other beauty pros who are brilliant at the craft and tired of carrying the business side alone. Every episode is a real conversation with people who know what it is to lose sleep over the book, chase down a no-show, or dig up a colour formula from six weeks ago. We talk money, burnout, client relationships, chair rental versus commission, and the parts of the job nobody covers in school: how to run a business that still leaves room for the work you actually love. No corporate speak. No pretending Admin Chaos isn't real. Just working beauty pros talking honestly about the chair, the book, and the business behind both. Subscribe wherever you listen.

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