Twenty two years behind the chair, global brand deals, technical education director roles, sold out classes and a massive online audience. On paper, Rebecca Taylor (@rebeccataylorhair on Instagram) had the dream hairstylist educator career. In this conversation, she shares why she chose to walk away from technical education, retire from doing hair, and build a coaching and retreat-led business while preparing to move to Thailand full time.

We talk about what it actually feels like to call a chapter complete when it is still profitable and working on the outside, and the inner work required to leave the “safe bet” behind. Rebecca opens up about ego deaths, identity shifts, and the moment she realised she was going through the motions in classes she used to teach with fire.

We also dig into fear, nervous system responses, and the way our brains are still wired for village survival while we are trying to show up as visible leaders online. If you’ve ever felt terrified of being fully seen, of starting small again, or of pivoting away from what people know you for, you are going to feel very called out in the best way.

From there, we shift into social media, conscious consumption, and the difference between creator mode and consumer mode. Rebecca shares the practical ways she manages metrics, boundaries, and screen time, plus the four day digital detox that completely reset her relationship with her phone.

Finally, we get into the story of how a retreat in Thailand, a red “M” over a yoga shala, and eleven trips to Southeast Asia led to buying a house on a remote island and designing a life that prioritizes freedom, spaciousness, and experiences over hustle.

In this episode, we talk about

→ How Rebecca went from community college cosmetology school and Regis to global brand educator

→ What it looked like to leave a rigid, brand-led education model and go fully independent

→ The moment she knew technical education felt complete and why she chose to retire from hair

→ Walking away from multiple six figure brand deals when the work started to feel performative

→ Fear, ego deaths and navigating public pivots when you are known for one version of yourself

→ Why our nervous systems react so strongly to being seen online and how to work with that

→ Simple practices for conscious social media consumption and shifting out of doom scroll mode

→ The retreat experience that sparked a spiritual awakening and a completely new life vision

→ Buying a home in Thailand for a fraction of California prices and creating true location freedom

→ Why audacity and “why can’t I” energy matter more than knowing every step of the how

If you are a beauty or creative educator who is craving more freedom, a different way of living, or the courage to fully own your next chapter, this episode will give you both language and permission for what you are feeling.

Connect with Rebecca

→ Instagram: @rebeccataylorhair

→ TikTok: @rebeccataylor

→ Retreats and coaching info: www.rebeccataylorhair.com

If this episode resonated, send it to a fellow educator who is in a season of transition, and come tell me your biggest takeaway over on Instagram at @itsjodiebrown.