In this episode, we sit down with Crystal Mercer for an honest conversation about identity, integrity, and what it really means to lead in the salon industry.

Crystal shares her perspective on staying true to who you are as a leader, why trying to perform or shape-shift for others leads to burnout, and how clarity builds trust with both teams and clients. We talk about her journey from teenage motherhood to salon ownership, the role coaching has played in her growth, and why systems matter—not just for profit, but for protecting people and creating longevity.

This conversation explores leadership as a responsibility, not a title, and challenges salon owners to build businesses that reflect their values, support their teams, and can survive beyond them.

If you’re navigating leadership, growth, or the pressure to be everything to everyone, this episode offers grounded perspective and real-world insight.

🔗 Resources & Links

📈 Learn more about Growth Coaching:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/grow...

🎓 Explore The Artist Academy:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/arti...

📊 Discover SCALE (the Refine systems program):
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/scale

📲 Download The Refine Network App (Apple & Android):
Search “The Refine Network” in your app store

📸 Follow us on Instagram:
@therefinenetwork

00:00 — Intro & Icebreaker
02:31 — Leading as Yourself
04:36 — Salon Ownership
06:36 — Systems & Color Management
10:02 — Hiring & Growth
11:33 — Leading Young Stylists
13:45 — Coaching & Intention
15:53 — Working with Cosmo Schools
16:27 — The Broom Story
17:14 — Final Thoughts

In this episode, Evan sits down with Siobhan McCaffrey, a longtime leader at Phorest, to talk about the evolution of salon technology and what’s coming next for the industry.

Siobhan shares her journey from Ireland to Philadelphia, where she helped launch Phorest’s North American expansion. They dive into the differences between the U.S. and European salon markets, what it was like onboarding massive salon groups in the early days, and how customer feedback directly shapes Phorest’s development roadmap.

They explore Phorest’s newest features — including enhanced goal setting, forecasting, lead management, and upcoming improvements to the waitlist — plus a look at the future of AI-powered reporting.

This conversation shines a light on why Phorest continues to stand out: constant innovation, thoughtful evolution, and a deep commitment to serving salons at every stage of growth.

🔗 Resources & Links

📈 Learn more about Growth Coaching:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/growth-coaching

🎓 Explore The Artist Academy:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/artistacademy

📊 Discover SCALE (the Refine systems program):
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/scale

📲 Download The Refine Network App (Apple & Android):
Search “The Refine Network” in your app store

📸 Follow us on Instagram:
@therefinenetwork

In this episode, Christopher sits down with Joanne to talk about what it really takes for a salon to grow through systems—not guesswork. From resetting her front desk, to grounding her service providers, to bringing an associate through The Artist Academy, Joanne shares the real-time shifts she’s making to simplify onboarding and strengthen her team.

They dive into how clarity creates momentum, why training needs to be replicable (not dependent on one person), and how The Artist Academy freed up her educators while getting new artists earning faster. Joanne also talks about hiring consistently, staying ahead of the next associate, and what she learned about timing, communication, and trust throughout the process.

To round out the conversation, they touch on vitality—training for a half Ironman, rebuilding routines, and staying aligned personally so you can lead well professionally.

This is an inside look at how system-driven salons create sustainable growth.

🔗 Resources & Links

📈 Learn more about Growth Coaching:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/growth-coaching 

🎓 Explore The Artist Academy:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/artistacademy

📊 Discover SCALE (the Refine systems program):
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/scale

📲 Download The Refine Network App (Apple & Android):
Search “The Refine Network” in your app store

📸 Follow us on Instagram:
@therefinenetwork

In this episode, Christopher sits down with Tim Howard, Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer of Vish, to dive into the technology that’s transforming the color bar — and the profitability of salons everywhere.

Tim shares how Vish was born from a simple but game-changing insight: salons were using their most expensive inventory with zero tracking. Together, they break down how color waste really happens, why consistent pricing matters more than ever, and how tech gives salons the boundaries, clarity, and confidence they’ve always needed.

They also explore leadership, adaptability, routine, and the power of understanding ourselves — from morning habits to gut health to the Enneagram. It’s a conversation about color, data, and the mindset shifts that help owners lead more intentionally.

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🔗 Resources & Links

📈 Learn more about Growth Coaching:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/growth-coaching 

🎓 Explore The Artist Academy:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/artistacademy

📊 Discover SCALE (the Refine systems program):
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/scale

📲 Download The Refine Network App (Apple & Android):
Search “The Refine Network” in your app store

📸 Follow us on Instagram:
@therefinenetwork

Leadership isn’t just strategy — it’s resilience, intention, and the courage to keep showing up even when it’s hard.

In this episode, Christopher Hartl and Evan Silver sit down with Erin Jenkins, owner of Canvas Salon & Day Spa, live from L’ANZA’s Healing Center Forum in Cancún. Together, they unpack the reality of salon ownership: walkouts, rebuilding trust, strengthening culture, and leading with heart.

Erin shares the story of a major walkout that transformed the way she hires, communicates, and protects her vision, along with how her family supported her through one of the hardest seasons of her career. She talks about bringing her kids to this retreat, the intentional rituals that center her (like praying over each station every week), and the role of education and tech tools like Vish and Forest in scaling her business.

If you’re navigating growth, leadership, or the ups and downs of salon ownership — this conversation will feel grounding, inspiring, and deeply human.

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🔗 Resources & Links

📈 Learn more about Growth Coaching:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/growth-coaching 

🎓 Explore The Artist Academy:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/artistacademy

📊 Discover SCALE (the Refine systems program):
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/scale

📲 Download The Refine Network App (Apple & Android):
Search “The Refine Network” in your app store

📸 Follow us on Instagram:
@therefinenetwork

Building a thriving salon team takes more than talent — it takes systems, clarity, and shared language.
In this episode, Christopher and Erin dive deep into the evolution of the Refine Artist Academy — a digital education system designed to help salons scale education, strengthen culture, and free up time for owners and leaders.

They break down what it really looks like to move from chaos to consistency, how to calculate ROI on training, and why margin — not model — is what drives sustainable growth.
If you’ve ever wondered how to confidently hire, train, and retain stylists while elevating your culture — this one’s for you.

🔗 Resources & Links

🎓 Learn more about The Artist Academy:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/artistacademy

📈 Explore Growth Coaching:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/growth

📥 Get on the waitlist for SCALE 2026:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/scale

📲 Download The Refine Network App:
Available on the App Store & Google Play — search “The Refine Network”

📸 Follow us on Instagram:
@therefinenetwork

Chapters

00:00 – Culture, Leadership & Growth
04:19 – What the Artist Academy Is
06:11 – Confidence to Hire & Expand
08:09 – Freeing Up Time Through Systems
10:45 – Retaining High Performers
11:27 – Quick App Break: The Refine Network
11:45 – Shared Language, Shared Results
14:00 – ROI and Real Numbers Behind Training
18:02 – Attracting Driven Stylists
20:32 – Growth, Legacy & Leadership
23:12 – Overcoming Hesitation & Investing in Systems
28:12 – From Reactive to Responsive
30:27 – Final Thoughts & Invitation

At L’ANZA’s Healing Center Forum in Cancún, this conversation with Brandie Huether, Executive Vice President of Global Sales at L’ANZA, dives into what it means to lead with both heart and results.

Brandie shares her approach to leadership that balances strategy with humanity—building teams and partnerships through empathy, accountability, and joy. From her daily ice cream ritual to her “heart-centered, results-oriented” philosophy, she shows that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of authenticity.

We explore servant leadership in the smallest moments and why vulnerability and accountability are essential to real growth—both personally and professionally.

Erin takes over the mic and puts Christopher and Evan in the hot seat to talk about what truly sets The Refine Network apart. From the origins of Refine to the heart behind salon growth, leadership, and pricing — this episode pulls back the curtain on how two salon owners turned their shared experience into a movement that’s making growth simple. 🎧 In this episode: Erin flips the script and interviews the founders

🔗 Resources & Links 📈 Learn more about Growth Coaching: https://www.therefinenetwork.com/growth 🎓 Join The Artist Academy: https://www.therefinenetwork.com/arti... 📥 Get on the waitlist for SCALE 2026: https://www.therefinenetwork.com/scale 📲 Download The Refine Network App: Available on the App Store & Google Play — search “The Refine Network” 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @therefinenetwork

In this episode, Evan and Chris dive into why high-performing stylists and service providers leave — and what leaders can do to keep them.

They unpack three core reasons top talent drifts away: leadership, goals, and purpose. From unlearning old habits and coaching differently to creating clear career paths and connecting your team to something bigger, this conversation will challenge how you think about leading in today’s salon industry.

Because when your people win, your company wins.

🔗 Resources & Links
📈 Learn more about Growth Coaching:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/grow...

🎓 Join The Artist Academy:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/arti...

📥 Get on the waitlist for SCALE 2026:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/scale

📸 Follow us on Instagram:
@therefinenetwork

Every leader is faced with opportunities—but not everyone takes them. In this episode, we unpack seven ways leaders can recognize, step into, and maximize the moments that move their life and business forward. From passion and initiative to resourcefulness, courage, and celebrating wins with your team, you’ll hear real stories and practical insights you can apply right away.