Freedom sounds amazing, until it bumps into your need to control every detail. In this episode, we sit down with Tae, our salon manager, to unpack how control quietly creeps into salon leadership, and what truly shifts when you replace micromanagement with trust.

This isn’t theory, it’s lived experience. We get real about giving someone a title without real power, double-checking that crushed initiative, and the moment we realised our “supportive” words were actually restricting action. Tae shares how that dynamic led to burnout, why stepping away became necessary, and how it ultimately helped all of us rebuild leadership from the ground up.

We talk systems and mindset: the foundations that now keep our business steady without a founder’s hand on every lever. You’ll hear how we made “bring a solution with your problem” a daily practice, defined what true ownership looks like for team leaders, and shifted client loyalty from one stylist to an entire brand experience. The result: smoother operations, stronger culture, and profits that reflect teamwork, not heroics.

If you’re a salon owner craving more time and trust, a team leader stuck between responsibility and permission, or someone ready to step up, this episode is your permission slip. 
Ask better questions. Share power. Drop the control habits that keep your team small.

👉 Hit subscribe, share this with another salon owner who’s learning to loosen the reins, and tell us in the comments: what’s one control habit you’re ready to release?

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon

What if the key to building a strong, connected salon team before the silly season isn’t another checklist but honesty, pressure, and celebration?

In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of our Life Ahead Team Development Day: a mix of raw journaling, a horror-themed escape room, and a practical debrief on communication, roles, and trust. It was messy, emotional, and incredibly powerful. The biggest surprise? How clearly our team patterns showed up, and how small shifts in language and leadership can completely change the way your salon operates.

We talk about why journaling first thing clears emotion before the day even starts, and how a Saw-style escape room revealed who naturally leads, who supports, and who needs a moment to find their feet. It turns out, the way we play games is the way we work. From there, we dive into real tools like short scripts for asking for help, mapping communication styles, and reframing leadership as a circle where everyone can both give and receive support.

You’ll also hear real reflections from our stylists and leaders about sisterhood wounds, boundaries, and how to celebrate each other without losing focus. This is a must-watch for any salon or spa owner who wants to build a more united, resilient, and self-aware team especially before the holiday rush.

🎧 If this conversation resonated, make sure to like, subscribe, and share it with another salon owner who’s ready to elevate their culture. And don’t forget to leave a quick comment below. We’d love to hear how you support your team through big growth moments.

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon

The moment you meet Jess Lewis, you feel it: a rare mix of warmth, authenticity, and unstoppable drive that has made her a legend among millennial hairdressers across Australia. From humble beginnings in a home salon with her sister as an apprentice, Jess built one of the country’s most recognised blonde specialist salons, attracting clients who would travel hours for her craft.

Her influence extends far beyond the salon chair. Jess pioneered live workshops that transformed the way stylists learned together and later embraced online platforms to make education accessible nationwide. She has inspired and mentored a generation of hairdressers who continue to cite her as one of their biggest influences.

Behind the success lies a personal story marked by resilience. Jess speaks with raw honesty about returning to work only ten weeks after her first child, navigating miscarriage and divorce, and redefining her identity as both a mother and an entrepreneur. Now a mother of three, she has reimagined family and business life with her husband Luke, launched JL Hair Tools, and created programs that nurture the next generation of stylists.

This conversation is filled with insight, vulnerability, and inspiration. Jess reminds us that it is possible to build something extraordinary while staying true to yourself. 

🌟 Whether you’re a salon owner, hairdresser, or entrepreneur, you’ll walk away with practical wisdom and motivation to grow your business. Tune in now for a powerful story of resilience, reinvention, and redefining success on your own terms.

Follow Jess:
Instagram — @jesslewis
 | @hairbyjesslewis

🎙️ More from The Conscious Salon:
Website: https://theconscioussalon.com.au

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon

Ever felt like your brand looks like a swan gliding gracefully across the water, while underneath your legs are thrashing just to stay afloat?

In this episode, we dive straight into the “smoke and mirrors” that so many salon and clinic owners face: the glossy grids, pedestal leaders, and feel-good routines that often hide shaky numbers, wobbly culture, and leadership habits we’d rather not admit. No shame. No spin. Just truth, clarity, and the real power that comes from facing what matters.

We start by separating story from stats. Loving your clients isn’t the same as leading them, so we unpack what a truly aligned clientele looks like from pre-booking rates and home-care commitment to average ticket and openness to your process. Then, we pull back the curtain on “culture theatre”, how public gratitude can coexist with private tension, and explore how to shift from avoidant or reactive leadership to calm, conscious candour. Expect honest talk about awards, imposter syndrome, and the reality that even top-tier salons sometimes fight fires while collecting trophies.

Money also gets the daylight it deserves. We share the lessons that came from under-pricing, chasing headcount over profitability, and the months we paused our own wages. You’ll learn how tracking break-even by week, capacity by stylist, and maintaining a clear cash runway can help you make confident decisions — and why being transparent about numbers with your team often builds trust, not fear.

If you’re ready to drop the pedestal, align your prices with your time, and build a culture that holds boundaries without losing heart, this episode will feel like a breath of clean air. Press play, get honest, and start choosing outcomes over optics.

🎧 If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a salon friend who needs a reality check, and leave a quick review. What “smoke and mirrors” habit are you ready to let go of?

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon

In this vulnerable episode, Tess shares her story of a past relationship that left deep emotional scars, and the strength it took to walk away. She reflects on how grief made her more vulnerable, how the red flags were easy to dismiss, and the pivotal moment that gave her the courage to finally choose herself.

Seven years on, Tess speaks with honesty about the lingering impact of shame and self-doubt, while also showing how her healing has given her a renewed sense of purpose. She opens up about the lessons she learned and the inner work that continues long after leaving.

This conversation is both raw and hopeful. It reminds us that while trauma may leave its mark, it can also be a catalyst for growth, self-trust, and empowerment. Tess’s message is clear: if something feels wrong, it probably is, and you always have the power to change your path.

For anyone who has experienced a difficult relationship, or for those who want to better understand and support someone they love, this episode offers validation, compassion, and the reminder that healing is always possible.

Tune in now, and share this episode with someone who might need to hear these words today. 

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon

That gut-wrenching moment when a team member resigns. We have all been there. The sinking feeling, the self-doubt, the questions about what this means for your business. You are not alone, and you do not have to navigate it from a place of panic.

In this episode, we offer your emergency pep talk for when a resignation lands on your desk. We share our own vulnerable mistakes (yes, even the tearful clinging!) and the lessons that helped us shift from taking resignations personally to seeing them as part of the natural cycle of business.

Here is the mindset shift that changes everything: every team member has an expiry date. And that is okay. You do not own your staff any more than you own your clients. When you create a safe environment where career conversations can happen openly, departures feel less like rejection and more like evolution.

Whether you are in the thick of a resignation right now or preparing yourself for when it happens, this conversation will help you:

• Respond with grace instead of reactivity
• Hold space for your feelings without making it about you
• See staff transitions as an opportunity for growth, for them and for you

Remember: this change is happening for you, not to you. You have navigated challenges before, and you will navigate this too.

Press play now, and save this episode for the day you need a grounded, heart-led reminder.

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon

In this riveting conversation, Amelia Jane—known as Australia's Queen of Blondes—reveals the extraordinary journey behind her meteoric rise in the hair industry. What begins as a shocking revelation (she actually abandoned hairdressing for six years and once hated colouring hair) unfolds into a masterclass on resilience, reinvention, and authentic entrepreneurship.

Four years ago, Amelia launched Milly the Space, naming it after her grandmother's nickname for her. With raw honesty, she recounts the heartbreaking warehouse salon chapter, withdrawing $40,000 from superannuation with her partner, creating a beautiful three-level space, only to have it shut down by council due to zoning issues. Rather than accepting defeat, while planning her wedding, she immediately secured a new location in Palm Beach, determined not to let her growing team down.

The conversation takes a powerful turn when Amelia discusses balancing motherhood with her expanding empire. "I was so fearful of people thinking I was a mum who put her business first," she confesses, addressing the internal struggle many entrepreneurial mothers face. Her vulnerability shines through as she describes finding strength in her son Hilton, who makes her "feel like a superhero."

Today, Amelia's influence extends far beyond her salon. Her international blonde masterclasses have revolutionized colour techniques, while her fashion label Molly Vie has redefined how hairdressers present themselves professionally. One client shares how wearing Amelia's designs literally transformed her leadership presence: "You literally become the CEO... we see you in your power."

For anyone facing setbacks or juggling multiple passions, Amelia's story offers profound encouragement. As she prepares for her European tour and new Molly Vie collections, her message resonates clearly: you can overcome any obstacle, pursue multiple dreams simultaneously, and define success entirely on your own terms.

Ready to transform your approach to business, creativity, or personal growth? Dive into Amelia's journey and discover what becomes possible when you refuse to let circumstances define your potential.
—
Follow Amelia on Instagram @ameliajanehair to learn about upcoming masterclasses in Europe, Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne, and to explore her fashion line Molly Vie.

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon

In this final episode of our Motherhood Series on The Conscious Salon Podcast, we close out with a deeply personal conversation as I (Nicola) interview my sister and co-host, Tessa. This time, Tess takes the hot seat as she shares her journey into motherhood, her experience of maternity leave, and the lessons she has learned about balance, presence, and control while running two thriving businesses.

Tess is a business owner, mentor, stepmother, dog-mum, partner, and now mother to her little boy River. She has lived through multiple pathways into motherhood—first as a stepmum to Talia, then helping care for my son Solly when I was in recovery, and now raising her own baby. Each of these roles shaped the mother she is today and gave her unique preparation for the season she’s in now.

We dive into what it meant for Tess to take a truly present maternity leave—something we intentionally worked hard to create, especially after my own experience of blending birth and business during the height of COVID. Tess shares openly about how different it felt to step fully away from the salon, to let the team thrive without her, and to honour her new role as a mum without guilt.

But alongside the joy of presence, she also reveals the challenges: the sudden loss of identity, the isolation of being at home with a newborn, and the shift from being constantly validated by clients and team members to caring for a little human who cannot yet communicate back. This honesty is powerful, because it highlights a struggle many business-owning mums experience but rarely speak about.

We hope this final instalment of the Motherhood Series leaves you feeling empowered, less alone, and reminded that motherhood doesn’t have to mean the end of your ambitions - it can actually expand what’s possible.

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon

In this episode of The Conscious Salon Podcast, we continue our Motherhood Series with a very special conversation that turns the microphone onto one of our own. I sit down with my sister and co-host, Nicola Pollock, to unpack her deeply personal journey into motherhood while simultaneously running a salon during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nicola shares what it was like to give birth in 2020, a time of strict lockdowns, curfews, and immense uncertainty. From the surreal experience of walking up three flights of stairs in labour because lifts were closed, to having her partner escorted home by police after visiting her and their newborn, this story paints a vivid picture of what it meant to bring life into the world in extraordinary times.

But beyond the birth itself, we dive into the complexities of identity, responsibility, and leadership. Nicola speaks candidly about the tension between caring for her newborn son and carrying the weight of her business. She opens up about logging into her laptop just hours after giving birth, driven by a sense of responsibility to her team and clients. This raw honesty highlights how people-pleasing tendencies and leadership pressure can collide in ways that are both unsustainable and transformative.

Key Takeaways

One of the most powerful parts of Nicola’s story is her reflection on boundaries. She acknowledges the version of herself who prioritised everyone else’s needs above her own and her baby’s. Today, she approaches leadership and motherhood differently, with compassion for her past choices but clarity about what she would do differently now. This offers a powerful reminder that we can process difficult experiences, learn from them, and support others with the wisdom gained.

We also discuss the importance of community in raising children and running a business. Nicola shares how she and her partner consciously chose to embrace support networks, recognising that in Western culture we often try to parent in isolation when in reality raising children has always been a collective effort. This philosophy now guides the way she mentors other salon owners, encouraging them to release the pressure of “doing it all” and to invite in help - whether that’s family, friends, or chosen community.

This conversation is not just about motherhood - it’s about leadership, resilience, and the power of choosing differently. Nicola’s experience shows how we can grieve past decisions while still appreciating the lessons they bring. It’s a story of strength, adaptability, and redefining what it means to thrive as both a business owner and a parent.

We hope this episode reminds you that you’re not alone in navigating the juggle of motherhood and entrepreneurship, and that it’s possible to create a life where business and family not only coexist but thrive together.

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon

In this episode of the Conscious Salon Podcast, we welcome Tegan Mac, a leader in the beauty industry, to discuss her journey through balancing a thriving business and motherhood. 

Tegan shares her personal experiences of pregnancy loss, the transition into motherhood, and how it has shaped her leadership style. 

The episode also explores the importance of authenticity in the beauty profession and provides a heartfelt glimpse into the emotional and practical challenges of merging business responsibilities with family life.

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon