Lessons From Your Hairstylist

Hair loss, unexpected shedding, texture changes, or an unusually dry or oily scalp are not always problems that can be solved with a new product. Sometimes, your hair is reflecting something happening deeper within the body.

In this episode of Lessons from Your Hairstylist, Sarah sits down with Tracy Rado, a licensed cosmetologist with more than 30 years of experience and a degree in public health. Together, they explore the connection between hair and overall health, and why better questions can lead to better support for salon clients.

Whether you are a salon client searching for answers or a stylist who wants to provide more thoughtful consultations, this conversation will help you understand when a product may be enough, when deeper questions are needed, and when it may be time to involve another professional.

• Website: balancedbeautyedit.com
• Instagram: @balancedbeautyedit
• Visit Tracy’s website to access her free guide and learn more about The Health-Informed Stylist workshop.

If this conversation helped you think differently about the connection between hair and overall health, share it with a hairstylist, salon client, or friend who may benefit from it. Don’t forget to leave a rating and review for Lessons from Your Hairstylist.

Have a topic you would love covered on the podcast? Be sure to reach out and share your ideas for future episodes.

IG/TikTok: @lessonsfromyourhairstylist • Email: [email protected]

What makes one person seem vibrant and youthful while someone else of the same age appears older? It isn’t always smooth skin, wrinkle free features, or winning the genetic lottery.

Sarah has noticed that youthfulness is often communicated through much subtler cues, such as how we move, carry ourselves, express emotion, style our hair, and engage with the world around us.

Aging beautifully may not be about erasing every sign of age. Maybe it is about protecting the things youth represents: freedom, energy, curiosity, excitement, and the feeling that life is still unfolding in front of you.

Instead of asking, “What makes me look old?” try asking, “What about me communicates youth, and how can I strengthen it?”

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more women discover the conversations, encouragement, and inspiration they are looking for.

Have a topic you would love covered on the podcast? Be sure to reach out and share your ideas for future episodes.

IG/TikTok: @lessonsfromyourhairstylist • Email: [email protected]

What does your hair say about you before you ever say a word?

After 30 years behind the chair, Sarah has noticed certain personality traits and first impressions that often seem to accompany different hair colors. In this fun, lighthearted episode, she shares her personal take on brunettes, redheads, gray haired beauties, blondes, black haired women, and those who embrace every color of the kaleidoscope.

Listen along to discover what your hair color may reveal about the way you show up in the world, and whether Sarah’s description sounds anything like you.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more women discover the conversations, encouragement, and inspiration they are looking for.

Have a topic you would love covered on the podcast? Be sure to reach out and share your ideas for future episodes.

IG/TikTok: @lessonsfromyourhairstylist • Email: [email protected]

What if the best hair color is the kind people don’t immediately notice?

In this episode of Lessons From Your Hairstylist, Sarah explores skin toned hair color, an emerging trend centered on creating soft, harmonious color that complements your complexion, eyes, brows, and natural features. Rather than relying on bold highlights or dramatic contrast, this approach uses a carefully blended palette to create hair that looks polished, elevated, and completely personal.

Skin toned hair color does not mean matching your hair to your skin. It means choosing warm, cool, or neutral shades that work beautifully with your natural undertones. The result still has dimension, but the highs and lows melt together seamlessly for a softer, more monochromatic effect.

Think less “notice my highlights” and more “you look amazing, but I can’t quite put my finger on why.”

Sarah walks you through how to find your most flattering palette, what to say to your stylist, and which questions to ask to help you decide if this trend is right for you.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more women discover the conversations, encouragement, and inspiration they are looking for.

Have a topic you would love covered on the podcast? Be sure to reach out and share your ideas for future episodes.

IG/TikTok: @lessonsfromyourhairstylist • Email: [email protected]

If you have noticed your hair becoming thinner, your part getting wider, or your ponytail feeling smaller, you are not alone. Hair thinning is one of the most common concerns women experience during perimenopause and menopause, but it is also one of the most misunderstood.

In this episode, Sarah shares her personal journey with hair loss, the research that completely changed her understanding of why it happens, and the evidence based treatments that helped her regrow her own hair after years of thinning.

She explains the difference between temporary hair shedding and progressive female pattern hair loss, why so many popular products don't address the real problem, and what women should discuss with their doctor before spending money on expensive treatments.

Whether you are just beginning to notice changes or have been struggling with thinning hair for years, this episode offers practical information to help you better understand what is happening beneath the surface.

• HERS: https://www.forhers.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more women discover the conversations, encouragement, and inspiration they are looking for.

Thank you for being here for this new chapter. Sarah is excited to continue growing, learning, and connecting with you in the episodes ahead. ❤️

Have a topic you would love covered on the podcast? Be sure to reach out and share your ideas for future episodes.

IG/TikTok: @lessonsfromyourhairstylist • Email: [email protected]

Have you ever purchased a perfume you loved in the store, only to get home and realize it wasn't the one?

In this episode, Sarah sits down with makeup artist, beauty educator, and fragrance enthusiast Mandy Davis to dive deep into the fascinating world of perfume. Mandy shares how she went from owning just a few fragrances to building a collection of more than 140 bottles, and explains why finding your signature scent is about so much more than simply smelling a perfume at the department store.

You will learn why fragrances change throughout the day, how skin chemistry affects the way a perfume wears, why sampling is essential before investing in a full bottle, and how scent has the incredible ability to transport us back to cherished memories.

Whether you are brand new to fragrance or already obsessed, this conversation will leave you inspired to discover scents that truly tell your story.

https://matiere-premiere.com/products/french-flower

https://www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com/fragrances/armani-prive/

https://fragrancedubois.com/products/new-york-5th-avenue

https://www.luckyscent.com/product/33929/dincanto-by-profumum

https://www.maisoncrivelli.com/products/patchouli-magnetik

Born To Stand Out – Sugar Addict

https://www.luckyscent.com/brand/917/born-to-stand-out

One of Mandy's favorite fragrances for layering with floral scents.

LuckyScent

https://www.luckyscent.com

Twisted Lily

https://twistedlily.com

Sorce

https://shopsorce.com

Ormonde Jayne

https://ormondejayne.com

Refinery Fragrance

Podcast Recommendation

On the Scent Podcast

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@MandyDavisMUA

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/mandydavismua/

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@mandydavisbeauty

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who's searching for their perfect signature scent. Your support helps us continue bringing you conversations that inspire confidence, creativity, and beauty from the inside out.

Have a topic you would love covered on the podcast? Be sure to reach out and share your ideas for future episodes.

IG/TikTok: @lessonsfromyourhairstylist • Email: [email protected]

After a season of reflection and a much needed hiatus, Sarah is back behind the microphone. In this heartfelt episode, she shares why she stepped away, what she has learned during the break, and the new direction for Lessons From Your Hairstylist moving forward.

From career pivots and personal reinvention to embracing midlife with confidence and curiosity, Sarah opens up about the lessons she is learning in this chapter of life, and why she believes the best may still be ahead.

✨ You are not stuck where you are today.

✨ The second half of life isn't about slowing down, it's about becoming more intentional.

✨ Your next chapter doesn't have to look like anyone else's.

✨ Most people are carrying struggles, questions, and insecurities that are far more common than they realize.

✨ Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simply show up and begin again.

Moving forward, Sarah will be sharing more personal stories, lessons from behind the chair, insights on beauty and confidence, conversations about midlife, and practical strategies for creating a life that feels aligned and fulfilling.

You will also continue to hear from inspiring guests whose stories, expertise, and experiences can help you navigate your own journey.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more women discover the conversations, encouragement, and inspiration they are looking for.

Thank you for being here for this new chapter. Sarah is excited to continue growing, learning, and connecting with you in the episodes ahead. ❤️

Have a topic you would love covered on the podcast? Be sure to reach out and share your ideas for future episodes.

IG/TikTok: @lessonsfromyourhairstylist • Email: [email protected]

In today’s episode, Sarah dives into the very real world of hair texture struggles, frizz, humidity headaches, and the treatment so many clients ask her about, the Brazilian Blowout. After finally getting one herself she is sharing exactly what it is, who it is for, what’s inside it, and how to know whether it is the right move for your hair.

If you have ever wondered why your hair gets puffy by noon, why it won’t swing or lay nicely, or why blow drying takes forever, this breakdown will help you understand whether a smoothing service could actually change your daily routine.

Sarah shares exciting updates about the upcoming digital systems and frameworks designed for freelance artists and beauty professionals. These tools are being built to help you save time, elevate your client experience, and run your business more smoothly, without reinventing the wheel.

Please leave a rating and review, it helps more listeners find the show and supports the podcast in a huge way. 💕

If you have noticed more hair in your brush or shower drain lately and you have wavy, curly, or coily hair, don’t panic. You are not going bald. Your hair is simply responding to seasonal changes in daylight, hormones, and humidity. But because textured hair behaves differently from straight hair, shedding can look more dramatic.

In this episode, Sarah breaks down exactly why seasonal shedding hits curls harder and how you can support your hair from the inside out, so your texture stays strong, defined, and thriving all season long.

🧴 Key Products Mentioned: 

Pro Products Available at https://studiogaven.com/

• Kérastase Curl Manifesto Bain Hydratation Douceur
• 
  
• Kérastase Masque Réhydratant
• 
  
• Kérastase Potentialiste Scalp Serum
• 
  
• Redken Amino-Mint Scalp Shampoo
• 
  
• Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Mask
• 
  
• Pureology Hydrate Shampoo & Conditioner
• 
  
• Pureology Strength Cure Mask
• 
  
• Shu Uemura Urban Moisture Mask

Additional products Mentioned:

• Mielle Rosemary Oil
• 
  
• Argan / jojoba / grapeseed oils
• 
  
• Heeta Scalp Brush
• 
  
• Satin bonnet / silk pillowcase
• 
  
• Microfiber towel (Aquis)
• 
  
• Steam cap
• 
  
• Diffuser attachment
• 
  
• Wide-tooth detangling comb
• 
  
• Nutrafol Women’s Core

✨ Final Thoughts

Seasonal shedding is natural, but with the right internal support, scalp care, and hydration routine, it doesn’t have to derail your curls. Support your hormones, keep your scalp oxygenated, and hydrate consistently and your hair will respond beautifully.

Questions or topic ideas? Reach out- Sarah would love to answer, and your question might even become a future episode.

IG/TikTok: @lessonsfromyourhairstylist • Email: [email protected]

It’s fall, which means many of us see more hair in the brush and shower. In this episode, Sarah explains the real biology behind seasonal shedding (melatonin/cortisol shifts → more follicles in “rest” phase), how stress compounds it, and what to do before the shed hits so it stays mild and temporary. By the end of this episode you will have an inside out plan: supplements and habits to stabilize your system, a scalp care routine that keeps follicles clear and calm, and topical options to nudge growth.

Pro lines (shop here) or their respective websites:

• Pureology • Kérastase • Redken → studiogaven.com

Amazon items:

• Act + Acre Scalp Detox / Peptide Treatment 
• Nutrafol Women / Women’s Balance
• Women’s Rogaine 5% foam
• Mielle Rosemary Mint Oil
• Briogeo rosemary pre-wash oil
• The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum
• Scalp massage brush
• Vitamin D3 / Stress B-Complex / plant-based iron + C

Questions or topic ideas? Reach out- Sarah would love to answer, and your question might even become a future episode.

IG/TikTok: @lessonsfromyourhairstylist • Email: [email protected]