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Teaching Around the Edges is a By Request conversation about timing, depth, and responsibility in hair color education.

As educators and learners, we live in a moment of more & more systems, more language, more frameworks. But more information doesn’t always create better colorists.

In this 16-minute episode, Dennis explores why confidence can grow faster than understanding, how education can drift away from the core without us realizing it, and what truly builds lasting confidence behind the chair.

If you’ve ever felt inspired by education but still uncertain in execution, this episode will bring clarity, not noise.

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"The Great Pigment Myth" Standard

You know what’s funny about teaching?

Sometimes the lesson you think you’re teaching isn’t the lesson that shows up.

This morning, as I was recording a broadcast on a completely different topic, I had one of those moments that makes you stop mid-sentence and say,

“Wait a second… why have we never explained it like this?”

And that’s what I want to share with you today during this broadcast. 

Because here’s the thing.  

I consider myself pretty confident when it comes to hair color science. 

I’ve spent decades teaching it, breaking it down, correcting myths, and trying to translate chemistry into something stylists can actually use behind the chair.

And yet… while recording a segment about whether darker shades contain more pigment than lighter shades, I had a genuine epiphany regarding why hair colorist hold on to this belief that the blue molecule is larger.

Now I know why. 

It’s two people , a chemist and a hair colorist discussing the same thing while having completely different paradigms.

Not because the science was new  ,  but because the disconnect suddenly became crystal clear.

And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

Here’s the key sentence:

“Stylists think blue is a bigger molecule because they’re seeing the effect of a finished chromophore system, not the individual precursors. Permanent hair color doesn’t deposit one dye. 

It builds a conjugated polymer inside the hair that absorbs more light.”

So press paly and many things will become more clear.

Enjoy the listen

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“Undertones do not exist”!

“There’s no secret color hiding under the hair waiting to be ‘exposed.’ You’re not Indiana Jones uncovering ancient undertones .

You’re a colorist shifting pigment balance. 

Warmth appears because eumelanin breaks down first, not because the hair had a surprise inside.”

Today, we’re putting this myth to rest.

We’re going to break down where the idea came from, why it’s wrong, what actually happens scientifically, and why contributing warmth is the better phrase more accurate, more professional, and far less ridiculous.

And by the end, you’ll not only understand the truth…You’ll be ready to explain it so clearly and confidently that no bark-peeling analogy will ever survive in your presence again.

So press play and 18 min later you will walk away with a complete understanding and, I hope, a desire to help raise the level of knowledge and understanding in our profession.

Enjoy the listen! 

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Guru In Your Ear: A Year of Growth, Gratitude, and Groundbreaking Wins

Every once in a while, a moment arrives that makes you stop, breathe in, and truly appreciate how far a dream can travel when enough people believe in it.

 For us at Guru Nation, this is that moment.

What began as a “little podcast”.

Just a simple idea to put honest, science-based hair color education directly into the ears of passionate salon professionals has officially grown into a global, award-winning, chart-climbing force. 

And the best part? It’s because of you.

This week we received our 2025 Spotify data and awards, and to say we're overwhelmed would be an understatement. 

We are excited, we are proud, and above all else, we are humbled by the impact you have helped “Guru In Your Ear” create.

A Year of Record-Breaking Growth !

SPECIAL LINK: https://www.gurunation.net/#/catalogItemDetail?productId=8e5bf2c8-cf05-4f58-bd0d-2dc3285903ff

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Welcome to The Great Swelling Debate: where myth meets science, ego meets evidence, and the beauty industry’s most persistent argument finally gets the clarity it deserves.

Now, let me start with this:

I absolutely love this industry. I’ve spent forty years elbows-deep in hair color science,teaching it, defending it, and trying to rescue it from the marketing myths that swept in and took the place of actual chemistry. 

So whenever I see stylists passionately, sometimes ferociously arguing online about whether water “opens the cuticle just like ammonia” …

I swear, it feels like watching your kids fight over which cartoon character could win in a street fight.

Spoiler alert: neither of them are real.

And in this conversation… neither of those assumptions are, either.

But the comments, the debates, the absolute confidence with which misinformation is preached? 

Whew. 

It’s a masterclass in why we need to talk about what swelling is, what causes it, and why so many of us, smart, talented professionals,ended up with the wrong definitions in the first place.

So today, in this episode, we’re not choosing sides…We’re choosing science.

And listen, I’m not here to scold. I’m not here to shame. And I’m definitely not here to “pick a winner.”

I’m here to give you the real mechanisms behind heat swelling, alkaline swelling, and yes,why water doesn’t do what people say it does.

I’m just the messenger. I didn’t invent the rules of chemistry.

But I can promise you this:

If you’ve ever applied heat and wondered why the hair behaved a certain way…
If you’ve ever formulated with alkaline products and hoped you truly understood what they were doing…
If you’ve ever questioned whether water could be the silent saboteur or secret hero…

…then you cannot afford to skip this episode.

This isn’t just another debate.

This is the foundation of everything you do behind the chair.

And once you understand it?

You’ll never approach a chemical service the same way again.

Let’s dive into The Great Swelling Debate.

Because the truth is fascinating.

And the science? It’s about to set you free.

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Hello, friends and welcome back to Guru in Your Ear. 

Today’s episode is a special one, because you asked for it.

Every so often, questions come in through our DMs and emails. 

Questions that tell us, “Hey, the industry is confused about something again.” 

And we take those requests seriously. 

Think of these episodes as your SOS flare… and we’re the slightly sarcastic Coast Guard showing up with snacks, science, and maybe a life jacket.

This one started with a conversation between me and my teaching partner, the brilliant, perpetually inquisitive Max Maisano. 

He’d been getting a flood of questions about certain products—products that make “miracle” claims big enough to make you wonder if they come with their own theme music. 

And as we compared notes, we realized something: the industry isn’t just confused… it’s limping. 

And it’s leaning hard on some crutches that aren’t actually helping it walk any better.

So today, we're going to talk about those crutches, What they are, why professionals reach for them, why some of them hold us back, and how to recognize the difference between something that supports your craft… and something that just keeps you from mastering it.

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Welcome to this episode, friends, colorists, chemists-by-necessity, and all the beauty pros who have ever sat silently in a class thinking… “Wait. That doesn’t sound right.”

Today we’re diving into one of the most emotionally charged, myth-propelled, and wildly misunderstood topics in our industry.

Bleach.
Damage.
Cysteic Acid.
Bond Builders.
And whether or not you can “reactivate” a bowl of dead bleach by throwing more developer at it.

Yeah… we’re going there.

It’s about shining a bright, well-behaved, pH-balanced spotlight on the actual science, separating it from the folklore, and empowering you with explanations you can use behind the chair without needing a chemistry degree… or therapy.

So, press play and 21min later you will have a treasure trove of information that will bring clarity to this subject.

Enjoy the listen ! 

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Hey friends!

Welcome to this episode of Guru In Your Ear, where we take the chaos of the professional beauty world and run it through the filter of real science, real experience, and…well…real common sense.

Today’s episode is inspired by a question that pops up more often than that same mole in Whack-A-Mole!

You know the one that keeps smirking at you? 

Yeah, that one.

The question?

“Is diluting a demi color with CLEAR the same as mixing it with a lighter shade?”

And oh my friends…the opinions…the debates…the emotional attachment people have to their version of truth…Sometimes I wonder if we’re teaching hair color or moderating a Facebook argument at three in the morning.

But here’s the thing:

This confusion isn’t because people are wrong.

It’s because we’re using the same word to describe two totally different scientific processes.

So today, I’m pulling back the curtain! 

Not to embarrass anyone, not to win a debate ,but to help educators, mentors, creators, and future-focused professionals speak the same language and teach with clarity.

Literally…and figuratively.

So press play and invest 20 min of your time . I may give you clairity and change the way you think about hair color and hair color formulation, forever.

Be sure you are connected to us with the information provided here :

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There are moments in every educator’s career when something nudges you.

Quietly at first, then persistently enough that you simply can’t ignore it anymore. For me, this episode was born from one of those moments.

Over the past several years, I’ve watched the world of hair color education shift dramatically. 

Social media has amplified voices! 

Some brilliant, some well-meaning, and some… well, let’s just say they’re confidently repeating urban legends with a ring light and a dream. 

Daily, I see bite-sized “facts” drifting across screens, gaining momentum not because they’re true, but because they’re trendy. 

And with every scroll, I feel the same tug inside:

There is a difference between influence and integrity.

And that difference matters.

I realized that if I stayed silent, I’d be allowing misinformation to slide into the minds of learners. 

Learners who desperately want accuracy, clarity, and truth. Not drama. Not hype. 

Not recycled chemistry mythology.

So, I sat down, turned on the mic, and committed myself to recording a message directly to the educators, the trainers, the influencers, and the content creators who genuinely care about the careers they impact.

Because here’s the part that inspires me:

There are so many incredible educators out there!

People who truly want to be a transformative force for salon professionals walking the pathway of professional hair color.

People who want to teach with intention.

People who want to elevate this craft with honesty and heart.

People who understand that education is not performance , it’s responsibility.

This episode is for you.

As you listen, you’ll hear a story woven with truth, a reminder of why we teach, and a challenge that might feel a little uncomfortable, because growth usually does. 

You’ll hear the call to choose integrity over ignorance, accuracy over assumption, and clarity over convenience. 

Because the learners who trust us deserve nothing less.

My hope is that this message ignites something in you:

A renewed commitment to the science.
A deeper respect for the craft.

And a passion to teach with the kind of authenticity that leaves a lasting imprint, not just on hair colorists, but on the industry itself.

If you’re someone who wants to make a difference…

If you’re someone who values truth over trends…

If you’re someone who wants to become the educator your younger self needed
then this episode was recorded with you in mind.

Press play.

 Lean in.

 Let’s elevate this profession together.

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This week on Guru In Your Ear, we are honored to welcome a true industry icon, Kenny Alan Berk. With more than four decades of experience shaping the art and craft of hairdressing around the world, 

Kenny’s journey spans the legendary halls of Vidal Sassoon to his influential role as a global educator with Redken 5th Avenue. 

He has trained stylists across continents, mentored educators who now teach others, and continues to inspire professionals with his deep belief that haircutting is both a technical language and a creative voice.

Kenny brings a rare blend of humility, mastery, and passion for elevating our profession. His teaching is grounded in clarity, intention, and the belief that true artistry comes from understanding why we do what we do, not just how.

In this conversation, we explore the evolution of the salon craft, the importance of staying curious, and what it means to shape the next generation of stylists with purpose, patience, and heart. 

If you’ve ever needed a reminder of why this work matters, or what keeps a career meaningful after 40 years behind the chair, this episode will light you up.

Get ready to learn. Get ready to be inspired.
And get ready to fall in love with your craft all over again.

Tune in! this is one you’ll remember.

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