CAN WE GO LIVE: Late Night Talk Show for Salons

In this episode, Brayden Lee sits down with the hair industry’s king of cool and proof that a personal brand can build an empire, Dom Pelli. They unpack how Dom went from behind the chair to behind the algorithm, mastering consistency, community, and creative confidence.

This chat dives into what it really takes to grow a name in beauty today. Plus, a cheeky round of “Less than ideal Consultations” keeps things fun. After all, it wouldn't be Can We Go Live without a little chaos.


Takeaways
- It's a journey that takes time and effort.
- Consistency in content creation is key.
- Understanding your audience is crucial for engagement.
- Professional branding can open many doors.
- Marketing is more accessible than ever before.
- Social media is a powerful tool for personal branding.
- Authenticity resonates with audiences.
- Trial and error is part of learning what works.
- Building a personal brand provides security in your career.
- Embrace technology and tools to enhance your business.

Can We Go Live is powered by Your Salon Support.

New episodes drop weekly on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Want a loyalty program like the ones we talk about?

👉 Get your free demo at yssloyalty.com — and see what everyone’s raving about.

Host Brayden Lee sits down with Grace Kelly, the award-winning colourist and founder of Shag Hair Newcastle, to unpack one of the most inspiring salon stories in Australia.

At just 22, Grace stumbled into salon ownership — and what started as a small rented space soon grew into a powerhouse brand known for its feminine explosion of pinks, greens, and fearless energy. Together with her business partner, Grace expanded Shag Hair into a second location, launched Shag Education, and built one of the country’s most recognisable salon aesthetics.

When the dreaded C-word (COVID) hit, Grace turned challenge into innovation — transforming Shag Hair into a co-working haven for stylists who wanted freedom without the overheads.

Now, after starting a family, Grace opens up about her biggest pivot yet — learning to say no, embracing slower seasons, and discovering that stepping back doesn’t mean stepping away. In a heartfelt conversation, she reveals what it took to sell her salon, hand over the reins to her team, and redefine success on her own terms.

Grace also teases what’s next — from hosting the styling stage at Made for Regionals to building her personal brand and exploring new creative opportunities in Sydney.

💡 In this episode, you’ll hear:
 • How Shag Hair grew from a 20-something’s dream to a cult brand.
 • Why co-working salons are shaping the future of the industry.
 • The power of saying no — and how motherhood shifted Grace’s mindset.
 • What it really takes to sell your salon and step into your next chapter.

🎁 PLUS: Stick around till the end for your chance to win a 3-month subscription to Your Salon Loyalty, the digital loyalty card made for modern salons.


✨ Subscribe for more raw, real conversations with the biggest names in hair and beauty — and hit the 🔔 to catch every new episode of Can We Go Live?

Can We Go Live is powered by Your Salon Support.

New episodes drop weekly on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Want a loyalty program like the ones we talk about?

👉 Get your free demo at yssloyalty.com — and see what everyone’s raving about.

Step inside the world of luxury PR and personal branding with Billy Daniels, founder of Billy Etc, and a standout figure in Sydney’s elite fashion and beauty scene. In this episode, Billy reveals the real strategies behind building a luxury brand—from the details that make a business truly feel high-end, to the common mistakes that leave brands falling flat.

We dive into Billy’s journey from Perth to Sydney, his unexpected leap into reality TV, and the power of personal branding in today’s competitive market. You’ll hear wild behind-the-scenes stories, learn why “luxury” is more than just a buzzword, and get actionable advice for elevating your own brand—whether you’re a salon owner, entrepreneur, or just obsessed with the finer things.

Plus, discover the secrets of high-profile events like the Cartier High Jewelry Gala, and find out what it really takes to stand out in the world of PR. If you want to know what separates the brands that thrive from those that just survive, this episode is your must-listen guide.

takeaways

• Every touch point has to feel luxurious.
• Investing in PR can lead to increased income.
• Luxury branding requires authenticity and consistency.
• Reality TV can be a powerful tool for personal branding.

Chapters

00:00
Creating a Luxurious Client Experience

06:48
The Journey from Perth to Sydney: Building a Personal Brand

12:45
The Importance of PR and Marketing in Business

19:23
Luxury Positioning: Walking the Walk

25:34
Leveraging Reality TV for Brand Growth

Can We Go Live is powered by Your Salon Support.

New episodes drop weekly on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Want a loyalty program like the ones we talk about?

👉 Get your free demo at yssloyalty.com — and see what everyone’s raving about.

Summary

In this conversation, Mary Alame shares her journey of building Royals Hair from a single salon to multiple locations and an academy. She discusses the importance of team building, education, and creating a unique client experience. Mary emphasizes the need for consistency across locations and how personal achievements can inspire and motivate her team. The conversation also touches on balancing business with personal life and future plans for expansion.

TAKEAWAYS

• Having one salon is hard, but it's a learning experience.
• Finding the right people and growing your team is crucial.
• Investing in apprentices and training them is essential for growth.
• Education Academy was created to meet internal training needs.
• Consistency in operations is maintained through a detailed manual.
• Creating a unique client experience is key to retention.
• Team involvement in creative projects enhances motivation.
• Opportunities for team members arise from personal achievements.
• Future plans include expanding the academy and rental spaces.
• Building a community within the salon fosters growth and creativity.

Can We Go Live is powered by Your Salon Support.

New episodes drop weekly on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Want a loyalty program like the ones we talk about?

👉 Get your free demo at yssloyalty.com — and see what everyone’s raving about.

In this episode of Can We Go Live Season Two, host Brayden Lee engages with the distinguished Alex Fuchs, Director of Fuch's Hair. 

They discuss the importance of creating a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community in salons, avoiding judgment, and implementing gender-neutral policies. The conversation also delves into Alex's journey of achieving the role of Color Master for Asia Pacific in October 2024, his background in a Swiss hairdressing family business, and how he has combined tradition with modern values to build a successful salon in Sydney. 

Additionally, Alex shares his insights on taking opportunities, saying yes, and manifesting career goals. The episode also highlights the importance of creating an inviting atmosphere in salons and fostering a high-performing team culture.

Chapters

00:00 Creating a Safe Space for the BTQI+ Community

00:52 Welcome to Can We Go Live Season Two

01:13 Introducing Alex Fox

01:47 Discussing Marketing Assets

02:42 Alex's Journey to Color Master

07:10 The Importance of Saying Yes

10:50 YSS Loyalty Program

12:32 Alex's Family Hairdressing Legacy

14:15 Family Legacy and Logo Design

15:45 Apprenticeship and Early Career

16:49 Moving to Australia and Career Growth

19:02 Establishing a Salon in Sydney

20:24 Modern Values and Inclusivity

24:58 Sustainability and Client Experience

25:25 Competition and Conclusion

Can We Go Live is powered by Your Salon Support.

New episodes drop weekly on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Want a loyalty program like the ones we talk about?

👉 Get your free demo at yssloyalty.com — and see what everyone’s raving about.

Brayden kicks off Season Two of Can We Go Live, the hair and beauty industry’s late night confessional, where industry pros spill their secrets, share marketing wins, and talk about what’s really happening behind the chair.

This episode features Sherri from Timely, and it’s a masterclass for salon owners on protecting revenue, avoiding burnout, and embracing the future of bookings.

The No-Show & Cancellation Crisis

Sherri dives into one of the industry’s biggest headaches, the surge in cancellations since COVID. She breaks it down:

• The fix: deposits and online bookings.
• She shares a raw story about losing three new clients on a Friday and how that moment pushed her to implement cancellation fees, a move that felt scary but ultimately protected her business and created healthy boundaries.

Solo Operators & the Power of Online Booking

Sherri calls online booking the hardest but most powerful step for solo operators to take. Why? Fear of losing control.

But the stats speak for themselves:

• 37% of bookings happen outside business hours.
• 65% of online bookings come from new clients.
• Sherri urges salon owners to “switch it on” and reap the benefits.

Designing the Client Journey

Solo operators aren’t just hairdressers, they’re business owners. Sherri talks about using tools like approval features and digital consultation forms to set expectations and avoid surprises (like the client who turned up wanting blue hair!). These forms can even gauge interest in upsells or other services.

Burnout vs. Overwhelm

The conversation turns personal as Sherri and Brayden discuss the realities of burnout.

• Overwhelmed? Outsource tasks.
• Burnt out? Take a holiday.
• Sherri reminds owners it’s okay not to know everything, getting help is part of running a business sustainably.

Wellness Driven Clients

Finally, they explore post-COVID consumer shifts: clients want more than just hair. From natural looks to wellness inspired add ons (think saunas and self-care services), salons have an opportunity to tap into this growing movement.

Timestamps:

• Introduction (00:00 – 01:20)
• No-Show & Cancellation Crisis (02:11 – 05:52)
• Deposits & Healthy Boundaries (05:53 – 09:10)
• Solo Salon Operators & Online Bookings (09:59 – 13:33)
• Consultation Forms & Client Journey (14:47 – 17:20)
• Tools, Tech & Checklists (17:20 – 18:38)
• Burnout vs. Overwhelm (18:38 – 21:08)
• Marketing & Automations (21:48 – 25:17)
• Post-COVID Consumer Trends (26:22 – 30:41)

Can We Go Live is powered by Your Salon Support.

New episodes drop weekly on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Want a loyalty program like the ones we talk about?

👉 Get your free demo at yssloyalty.com — and see what everyone’s raving about.

Season Two kicks off with a bang! 🎉

Host Brayden Lee reunites with his "sister from another mister" Jewel Vincent (Modern Day Social) for their one year anniversary and let's just say, many martinis have been consumed since their first meeting.

Fresh off scaling her team and niching down hard into hair and beauty, Jewel spills the tea on why she ditched the vanity metrics obsession, how she's building a business that actually matters, and the loyalty program strategies that are keeping salons booked solid.

Between celebrity silhouette games, behind the scenes chaos, and some seriously candid business advice, this episode proves that the best partnerships happen when you stop trying so hard and just let the magic unfold.

Warning: Contains unfiltered friendship energy and way too many inside jokes. You've been warned 😅

CHAPTERS

1. Welcome (00:00:00)
   • Brayden kicks off Season Two with his marketing bestie Jewel Vincent - and reveals this was actually their first meeting ever (spoiler: they're basically inseparable now).
2. From Solo Hustle to Team Empire (00:01:24)
   • Jewel spills on scaling Modern Day Social from one-woman-show to a team operation, plus why niching into hair & beauty was the smartest business move she ever made.
3. The Growing Pains Every Salon Owner Knows (00:05:02)
   • Real talk about transitioning from doing everything yourself to actually leading a team - and why systems aren't just buzzwords, they're survival tools.
4. What's Actually Working in Hair Industry Content Right Now (00:06:00)
   • The trends that matter, what clients really want to see, and why chasing vanity metrics is the fastest way to burn out your marketing budget.
5. Content That Actually Books Appointments (00:09:04)
   • Breaking down content funnels that work for salons - how to create posts that nurture clients instead of just collecting likes.
6. The 3-Layer Content Strategy That Fills Your Books (00:10:22)
   • Jewel reveals her top, middle, and bottom funnel breakdown with real examples that salon owners can steal immediately.
7. Behind the Magic: How Viral Content Gets Made (00:12:00)
   • Ever wondered how those perfectly polished posts happen? Jewel walks through her editing process and shares client wins.
8. Why Educational Content Beats Sales Posts Every Time (00:13:19)
   • The content mix that builds trust, positions you as the expert, and keeps clients coming back (hint: it's not what you think).
9. Ad Break: The Loyalty Program That's Changing Everything (00:14:45)
   • Brayden shares a client success story that'll make you rethink how you retain customers - plus how to get your own custom program.
10. Lightbox Appreciation & Good Vibes (00:16:54)
    • A moment to appreciate good lighting and even better friendship energy.
11. Celebrity Hair Guessing Game (00:17:36)
    • The segment that proves Brayden and Jewel should never be left unsupervised - celebrity silhouettes meet hair industry chaos.
12. Your Chance to Win $30K in Business Prizes (00:23:22)
    • The competition announcement that could literally transform your salon - here's how to enter and what you could win.

Tools and Segments

• ManyChat: 09:04
• Mailchimp: 14:44
• They Said It, We Reddit: 02:07
• Loyalty Program for Salons: 14:55
• YSS Loyalty: 00:15:58

Can We Go Live is powered by Your Salon Support.

New episodes drop weekly on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Want a loyalty program like the ones we talk about?

👉 Get your free demo at yssloyalty.com — and see what everyone’s raving about.