Chris Baran's Headcases

Today’s guest on HeadCases is a third-generation hairdresser, a salon owner, and internationally recognized artist with over 40 years behind the chair. In that time, he’s traveled more than 3 million miles, sharing his knowledge and passion.

He is a visionary philanthropist committed to protecting the health of clients and hairdressers both. He made it his mission in creating his own brand, Surface, promoting personal health, respect for the Earth, and helping others to grow.

Let’s get into this week’s HeadCase with the one and only Wayne Grund.

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 Check out more episodes and the videos at https://chrisbaran.com/podcast

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his week I'm chatting with someone I admire very much as a no-nonsense truth teller who leads with love. She is a published author. She is a world-renowned keynote speaker. She owns three schools and three salons where her mission is not to hire employees but to develop future partners. This mindset makes her a key part of the John Maxwell Team, one of the world's top leadership training organizations. She led nationwide values-based leadership initiatives for 25,000 leaders with Maxwell at the invitation of the governments of Guatemala and Costa Rica. And she co-hosts the Next Level Salon Podcast. This week's Headcase is the incredible Tina Black.

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 Check out more episodes and the videos at https://chrisbaran.com/podcast

⭐️ Join our FREE Facebook community for Salon Team Trainers today. https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

✅ Exclusive content on how to implement and scale your salon training the easy way

✅ Save time and learn what works from people just like you 

✅ Get back to your mission of building the salon business and creating more jobs 

Learn more here - https://bit.ly/trainersplaybook

Join our FB group - https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

Follow us on IG - https://instagram.com/coachchrisbaran

⭐️⭐️⭐️
 
 Check out more episodes and the videos at https://chrisbaran.com/podcast

⭐️ Join our FREE Facebook community for Salon Team Trainers today. https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

✅ Exclusive content on how to implement and scale your salon training the easy way

✅ Save time and learn what works from people just like you 

✅ Get back to your mission of building the salon business and creating more jobs 

Learn more here - https://bit.ly/trainersplaybook

Join our FB group - https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

Follow us on IG - https://instagram.com/coachchrisbaran

"What would you do if a person with autism sat in your chair for a haircut? What if the sounds of the salon triggered an episode—causing them to holler, scream, or bounce? Or if they were terrified of clippers? Would you know how to help?

That’s exactly why I’m so excited about today’s guest. Welcome to another episode of Head Cases! Our guest is not only a visionary but also the founder and CEO of Sensory Safe Solutions. With 24 years in the salon industry, she brings not just professional expertise but also a deeply personal perspective as a parent to a son with autism. Her firsthand experiences navigating the challenges of haircuts led her to dedicate the last five years to researching and refining sensory-safe haircuts.

In just 18 months, she has successfully certified over 2,400 providers across 12 states and nine countries—establishing Sensory Safe Solutions as a game-changer for the industry. Thanks to her work, salon professionals now have the tools and knowledge to create a more inclusive and supportive experience for all clients.

Let’s dive into this week’s Head Case with the incredible Kate Owens Heins!

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 Check out more episodes and the videos at https://chrisbaran.com/podcast

⭐️ Join our FREE Facebook community for Salon Team Trainers today. https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

✅ Exclusive content on how to implement and scale your salon training the easy way

✅ Save time and learn what works from people just like you 

✅ Get back to your mission of building the salon business and creating more jobs 

Learn more here - https://bit.ly/trainersplaybook

Join our FB group - https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

Follow us on IG - https://instagram.com/coachchrisbaran

This week I’m speaking with a Harvard and Wharton Business School grad and founder of Busy Salons. He is president of Salon Ninja, and the creator of A-Game Mastery Coaching. He is a Hi-Performance coach and has worked with many high profile salon artists. It’s my honour today to chat with Andrew Finkelstein.

• Andrew shares how he got started in the beauty industry after graduating from Harvard business school 
• How business school was helpful to a point, but he realized that many people have to start with training their minds to think like a business person, and that doesn’t necessarily mean the numbers
• Managing starts with managing yourself, and building the right habits 
• Andrew shares the difference between inspiration and motivation

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 Check out more episodes and the videos at https://chrisbaran.com/podcast

⭐️ Join our FREE Facebook community for Salon Team Trainers today. https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

✅ Exclusive content on how to implement and scale your salon training the easy way

✅ Save time and learn what works from people just like you 

✅ Get back to your mission of building the salon business and creating more jobs 

Learn more here - https://bit.ly/trainersplaybook

Join our FB group - https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

Follow us on IG - https://instagram.com/coachchrisbaran

This week I'm with a great friend who is a 13-time NAHA finalist and winner. His work has appeared in almost every industry magazine in the world. He’s been on Oprah, CNN, and Good Morning America. He has styled for movies, music videos, and fashion runways. Here is Mr Nicholas French!

• One of the best pieces of advice that Nicholas got from his father when he was only 10 years old: “Keep your eyes open 24 hrs a day because you never know what you are going to see”. You have to always be on the lookout for inspiration. 

• Nick explains how he makes the distinction between fantasy and avant garde.

• Nicholas’s favorite quote: "Fashion is fleeting but technique stays the same."

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 Check out more episodes and the videos at https://chrisbaran.com/podcast

⭐️ Join our FREE Facebook community for Salon Team Trainers today. https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

✅ Exclusive content on how to implement and scale your salon training the easy way

✅ Save time and learn what works from people just like you 

✅ Get back to your mission of building the salon business and creating more jobs 

Learn more here - https://bit.ly/trainersplaybook

Join our FB group - https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

Follow us on IG - https://instagram.com/coachchrisbaran

Today I sit down with the Midwest Hairstyling Awards Hairstylist of the Year, NAHA Educator of the Year and Director of the Hair Labs Detroit Barber School, Mr Rodrick Samuels. 

Rodrick shares some great nuggets of wisdom this week including his top 3 list for students - you have to show up, you have to work hard and you have to listen. 

He shares how education has changed so much from when he was in school, how teaching is 1000% different now. 

Hear about the importance of failure and how this has always pushed Rodrick in his lifetime. 

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 Check out more episodes and the videos at https://chrisbaran.com/podcast

⭐️ Join our FREE Facebook community for Salon Team Trainers today. https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

✅ Exclusive content on how to implement and scale your salon training the easy way

✅ Save time and learn what works from people just like you 

✅ Get back to your mission of building the salon business and creating more jobs 

Learn more here - https://bit.ly/trainersplaybook

Join our FB group - https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

Follow us on IG - https://instagram.com/coachchrisbaran

Today’s guest is not just a dear friend but a certified visionary who has left an indelible mark on the beauty industry. He’s an award-winning colorist and stylist, a former Global Artistic Director for Matrix, and a creative force whose work has graced international magazine covers, advertising campaigns, and stages worldwide.

But that’s not all—he’s also an internationally acclaimed photographer, capturing breathtaking moments with his own creations and those of other exceptional artists. His passion for creativity and community led him to establish the CBC, a global collective of beauty talents and brands, sparking collaboration and innovation across the industry. And CBC Productions has produced awe-inspiring content, from stage presentations to photoshoots, and he launched the iconic Collective INKD magazine.

He’s truly one of the most unforgettable icons of our time, and I couldn’t be more excited to have him here. So, let’s dive into this week’s HeadCase with the inimitable Chrystofer Benson.

6:26 Industry Recognition and Success 

23:49 Early Career and Influences 

46:46 Formation of Chrystofer Benson Collective 

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 Check out more episodes and the videos at https://chrisbaran.com/podcast

⭐️ Join our FREE Facebook community for Salon Team Trainers today. https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

✅ Exclusive content on how to implement and scale your salon training the easy way

✅ Save time and learn what works from people just like you 

✅ Get back to your mission of building the salon business and creating more jobs 

Learn more here - https://bit.ly/trainersplaybook

Join our FB group - https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

Follow us on IG - https://instagram.com/coachchrisbaran

This week’s guest is Nieves Almaraz, winner of NAHA Men’s Hairstylist of the Year 2021. With a barbering license and a cosmetology license, Nieves owns a barbershop and a barber school and thrives on inspiration.

• Opened his first barbershop at 23 years old and was immediately swamped with bookings
• Started attending hair shows and was overwhelmed with inspiration
• Became a volunteer at hair shows so he could walk the show floor and meet his inspirations.
• People would stop him on the floor to take photos of his fades, asking him how he did them. So he made an instructional video on his technique.
• Barbers are very knowledgeable and take it to the next business level
• What’s the one thing he would tell his younger self?

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 Check out more episodes and the videos at https://chrisbaran.com/podcast

⭐️ Join our FREE Facebook community for Salon Team Trainers today. https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

✅ Exclusive content on how to implement and scale your salon training the easy way

✅ Save time and learn what works from people just like you 

✅ Get back to your mission of building the salon business and creating more jobs 

Learn more here - https://bit.ly/trainersplaybook

Join our FB group - https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

Follow us on IG - https://instagram.com/coachchrisbaran

Today's guest is especially exciting for me - not just because he’s an incredibly talented hairdresser, but because his passions extend far beyond hair to art, music, and fashion. Based in the UK, his creativity and vision have landed his work in TV and top industry magazines.

Recently, Creative Head Magazine honored him with the Business Thinker Award for building an outstanding multi-faceted brand. They even called him a ‘genius and an inspiration,’ and once you hear about his journey, you’ll see why. From salons and studios to academies and even a farm that sources ingredients for his product line, he has created a truly multi-platform empire.

He is the founder and creative director of the Electric brand, which includes Electric Salons, the Electric Studio, Electric Education Academy, and the Electric product range. Let’s dive into this week’s Headcases with the visionary Mark Woolley.

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 Check out more episodes and the videos at https://chrisbaran.com/podcast

⭐️ Join our FREE Facebook community for Salon Team Trainers today. https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

✅ Exclusive content on how to implement and scale your salon training the easy way

✅ Save time and learn what works from people just like you 

✅ Get back to your mission of building the salon business and creating more jobs 

Learn more here - https://bit.ly/trainersplaybook

Join our FB group - https://facebook.com/groups/salonteamtraining

Follow us on IG - https://instagram.com/coachchrisbaran