Every 2 years, the biggest names in hair head to Las Vegas to take the stage at the Redken Symposium — and for many in the audience, those few days completely shift how they think about their craft. But what if you could get a behind-the-scenes look at what each educator is actually planning to share before they ever step on stage?

In this episode of The Salon Scoop, we sit down with anincredible lineup of world-class hairstylists — all set to take the stage at the highly anticipated Symposium in Las Vegas this June 2026 — to talk about what they're most excited to share with their audience. From new techniques and creative breakthroughs to mindset shifts and industry truths, this conversation is essentially a sneak peek into what attendees can expect to learn live on stage.

We got these main stage presenters to spill the tea!!  So whether you'll be in Vegas this June or not, this episode will keep you ahead of the curve on what's coming next in the salon industry.

🎙 Meet our incredible guests who are all main stage performers at this year’s Symposium — give them a follow!

●      Matt Swinney —⁠ ⁠⁠@matt.swinney⁠

●      Adina Doss —⁠ ⁠⁠@mastery_adinadoss⁠

●      Blake Reed Evans —⁠ ⁠⁠@blakereedevans⁠

●      Tasha Parker —⁠ ⁠⁠@tashaparkerhair⁠

●      Jamal Edmonds —⁠ ⁠⁠@lamajbackwards⁠

●      Leysa Carillo —⁠ ⁠⁠@leysahairandmakeup⁠

●      Marco Arena —⁠ ⁠⁠@marco__arena⁠

●      Lindsey Olson —⁠ ⁠⁠@lindsey.marie.olson⁠

●      Adrienne Dara —⁠ ⁠⁠@adriennedara⁠

For your daily dose of digital marketing for salons, give us a follow on TikTok and Instagram @salon.s.o.s  OR if you want to check out the video recording of this episode, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel! Hit this link to explore: https://www.youtube.com/@salon.s.o.s

This podcast is for salon owners and salon professionals who want to learn proven ways to grow their salon business, learn valuable salon leadership skills, boost their brand, grow theirclientele, get social media and marketing advice for salons, and build a salon culture that attracts and retains thriving stylists.

More from the Salon S.O.S. Business Building Resource Library:

Click here to access our entire salon digital marketing academy: ⁠⁠https://www.salonsos.ca/digital-marketing-academy⁠⁠

Email [email protected] to get in contact with us. We’re always here to help support you with salon business advice!

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love ours too! Profitable Salon Owner Podcast, Grow mySalon Business Podcast with Antony Whitaker, Thriving Stylist Podcast with Britt Seva, Summ It Up Podcast, Social Beauty Makers Podcast, The Hairdresser Strong Show Podcast, The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hair Love Radio Podcast,Salon Owner Collective Podcast.

Most people see the final moment on stage — theperfect lighting, the flawless model, the polished demonstration that makes itall look effortless.

The truth? Performing on a stage like the upcoming RedkenSymposium in Las Vegas isn't just about being a great stylist — it's about being a great communicator, educator, planner, and artist all at once. And the prep process for that kind of stage is something only a handful of professionals in the world truly understand.

In this episode of The Salon Scoop, we sit down with 9 of theworld's top hairstylists — all set to take the stage at the highly anticipated Symposium in Las Vegas this June 2026 — for an honest, behind-the-curtain look at what really goes into preparing for a show of this caliber. They share theunexpected challenges, the creative decisions, the small habits, and the unseen work that shapes every moment audiences will experience live on stage.

Whether you're planning to attend the Symposium, dreaming of being on a stage like it one day, or simply curious about what it takes to perform at the highest level of the industry — this is the kind of insider conversation you won't hear anywhere else.

Because the magic doesn't start on the stage. It starts longbefore the lights go on!

🎙 Meet our incredible guests who are all mainstage performers at this year’s Symposium — give them a follow!

●      Matt Swinney — @matt.swinney

●      Adina Doss — @mastery_adinadoss

●      Blake Reed Evans — @blakereedevans

●      Tasha Parker — @tashaparkerhair

●      Jamal Edmonds — @lamajbackwards

●      Leysa Carillo — @leysahairandmakeup

●      Marco Arena — @marco__arena

●      Lindsey Olson — @lindsey.marie.olson

For your daily dose of digital marketing for salons, give us a follow on TikTok and Instagram @salon.s.o.s  OR if you want to check out the video recording of this episode, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel! Hit this link to explore: https://www.youtube.com/@salon.s.o.s

This podcast is for salon owners and salon professionals who want to learn proven ways to grow their salon business,learn valuable salon leadership skills, boost their brand, grow their clientele, get social media and marketing advice for salons, and build a salon culture that attracts and retains thriving stylists.

More from the Salon S.O.S. Business Building Resource Library:

Click here to access our entire salon digital marketing academy: ⁠https://www.salonsos.ca/digital-marketing-academy⁠

Email [email protected] to get in contact with us. We’re always here to help support you with salon business advice!

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love ours too! Profitable Salon Owner Podcast, Grow mySalon Business Podcast with Antony Whitaker, Thriving Stylist Podcast with Britt Seva, Summ It Up Podcast, Social Beauty Makers Podcast, The Hairdresser Strong Show Podcast, The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hair Love Radio Podcast, Salon Owner Collective Podcast.

Most salon professionals dream of building a long, meaningful career in the beauty industry…but few ever do. The pace is intense, trends shift constantly, and even the most talented professionals can lose their passion somewhere along the way. So what does it actually take to stay inspired, stay relevant, and keep evolving — for decades?

The truth? It's not about a single big moment, the right mentor, or being the most talented person in the room. It's about how you grow, how you teach, how you keep your curiosity alive — and how you continue to push yourself long after the early excitement has worn off.

In this episode of The Salon Scoop, we sit down with global beauty icon Sonya Dove (@thesonyadove) — Wella Professionals Global Creative Ambassador of 40+ years, Creative Director of Intercoiffure North America, 2026 NAHA Educator of the Year nominee, and one of the most respected educators in the industry. Sonya has shaped careers, trends, and an entire generation of stylists, and in this conversation, she shares the lessons, mindset shifts, and behind-the-scenes wisdom that have kept her at the top of her craft for decades.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The mindset shifts that have allowed Sonya to stay inspired and relevant for over 40 years
• What it really means to "find your own voice" — and why so many struggle to do it
• Why comparison and confidence issues hold so many stylists back (and how to move past them)
• The lessons Sonya learned the hard way that every salon professional can benefit from 
• What separates stylists who grow quickly from those who stay stuck
• What's exciting (and concerning) about the future of the salon industry
• The one piece of advice Sonya would give her younger self — and every salon professional building a career today

If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build a long-lasting, meaningful career in this industry, this conversation is the kind of mentorship most salon professionals only dream of having access to.

Because when salon professionals grow, the entire industry rises! 🎙 Follow Sonya: Instagram @thesonyadove | Website sonyadove.com

For your daily dose of digital marketing for salons, give us a follow on TikTok and Instagram @salon.s.o.s  OR if you want to check out the video recording of this episode, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel! Hit this link to explore: https://www.youtube.com/@salon.s.o.s

This podcast is for salon owners and salon professionals who want to learn proven ways to grow their salon business,learn valuable salon leadership skills, boost their brand, grow their clientele, get social media and marketing advice for salons, and build a salon culture that attracts and retains thriving stylists.

More from the Salon S.O.S. Business Building Resource Library:

Click here to access our entire salon digital marketing academy: ⁠https://www.salonsos.ca/digital-marketing-academy⁠

Email [email protected] to get in contact with us. We’re always here to help support you with salon business advice!

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love ours too! Profitable Salon Owner Podcast, Grow mySalon Business Podcast with Antony Whitaker, Thriving Stylist Podcast with Britt Seva, Summ It Up Podcast, Social Beauty Makers Podcast, The Hairdresser Strong Show Podcast, The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hair Love Radio Podcast, Salon Owner Collective Podcast.

Most salon professionals post before-and-after photos hoping they'll bring in new clients…but they don’t.

The problem? Most salon before-and-after photos prove the work is good — but they don't properly showcase the transformation. And in a feed full of stylists posting the same kind of content, "good" isn't enough to stop a scroll, earn a save, or trigger a DM.

In this episode of The Salon Scoop, we're breaking down exactly why most salon before-and-after photos fall flat, and the simple lighting, framing, and caption shifts that turn them into your highest-converting Instagram content.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- The important psychology behind before-and-after photos

- The lighting setup that's responsible for 80% of a photo's impact (and how to recreate it for free)

- The exact framing formula we use with salon clients to make every transformation pop

- The 5 most common mistakes killing your before-and-after posts — and how to fix them this week

- How to write captions that turn passive viewers into DMs and bookings

If you want your salon's transformations to start working as hard as your styling does, this episode will show you how to build a simple system that turns every appointment into scroll-stopping content that converts.

Because great hair deserves great photos — and great photos build great business!

For your daily dose of digital marketing for salons, give us a follow on TikTok and Instagram @salon.s.o.s  OR if you want to check out the video recording of this episode, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel! Hit this link to explore: https://www.youtube.com/@salon.s.o.s

This podcast is for salon owners and salon professionals who want to learn proven ways to grow their salon business,learn valuable salon leadership skills, boost their brand, grow their clientele, get social media and marketing advice for salons, and build a salon culture that attracts and retains thriving stylists.

More from the Salon S.O.S. Business Building Resource Library:

Click here to access our entire salon digital marketing academy: ⁠https://www.salonsos.ca/digital-marketing-academy⁠

Email [email protected] to get in contact with us. We’re always here to help support you with salon business advice!

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love ours too! Profitable Salon Owner Podcast, Grow mySalon Business Podcast with Antony Whitaker, Thriving Stylist Podcast with Britt Seva, Summ It Up Podcast, Social Beauty Makers Podcast, The Hairdresser Strong Show Podcast, The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hair Love Radio Podcast, Salon Owner Collective Podcast.

There are more podcasts available today than ever before…but are they actually delivering what salon professionals want?  Most podcast hosts assume they know what their listeners are looking for, but very few stop to ask the people pressing play.

The problem? When podcasts are built on assumptions instead of listener feedback, episodes start to feel repetitive, surface-level, or disconnected from the real challenges salon owners face every day.

In this episode of The Salon Scoop, we're flipping the script. Instead of interviewing an expert on a single topic, we're sitting down with three salon professionals for an honest, focus-group style conversation about the podcasts they listen to — what hooks them, what makes them hit skip, and what they wish more hosts understood about busy salon owners. If you listen to a lot of podcasts and want to know if your opinions match those of our panel, you'll enjoy listening to this.  We delve into a behind-the-scenes look at how listeners actually choose, consume, and connect with the shows they love.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What motivates salon professionals to press play on an industry podcast episode

• The topics and conversations salon owners find the most valuable (and which ones they tune out)

• Why episode length, format, and host style matter more than most podcasters realize

• What makes salon professionals stop listening

• The honest advice three salon owners would give to every salon industry podcast host

Thank you to our guests for sharing their feedback so openly.  If you want to fill out our podcast quiz to share your likes and dislikes, hit this link!  ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_-SWZHMzl8KCywISmwrxcQoDX2h4s9vmI2hy7ctyJuiDQzw/viewform⁠  There's even a reward at the end for participating!

Here's how you can connect with our guests from today's show:

Jaime Duchscherer @canvasiscolor  @polishedwny  @jbd_artofbeauty

Georgia Reynolds @working.on.empathy  @georgia_of_toronto

Sonia Yarkhani   @Sonia_hairstory 

For your daily dose of digital marketing for salons, give us a follow on TikTok and Instagram @salon.s.o.s  OR if you want to check out the video recording of this episode, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel! Hit this link to explore: https://www.youtube.com/@salon.s.o.s

This podcast is for salon owners and salon professionals who want to learn proven ways to grow their salon business,learn valuable salon leadership skills, boost their brand, grow their clientele, get social media and marketing advice for salons, and build a salon culture that attracts and retains thriving stylists.

More from the Salon S.O.S. Business Building Resource Library:

Click here to access our entire salon digital marketing academy: ⁠⁠https://www.salonsos.ca/digital-marketing-academy⁠⁠

Email [email protected] to get in contact with us. We’re always here to help support you with salon business advice!

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love ours too! Profitable Salon Owner Podcast, Grow mySalon Business Podcast with Antony Whitaker, Thriving Stylist Podcast with Britt Seva, Summ It Up Podcast, Social Beauty Makers Podcast, The Hairdresser Strong Show Podcast, The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hair Love Radio Podcast,Salon Owner Collective Podcast.

Most salon owners spend time marketing for their business...until reality sets in. Clients need attention, the team needs support, and operations take over. Marketing for salons quietly gets pushed aside — until bookings drop and the panic posting begins.

The problem? Inconsistent marketing doesn’t just slow your growth. It actually trains your audience to forget about you.

In this episode of The Salon Scoop, we break down why sporadic posting, reactive promotions, and stop-and-start strategies can damage your social media for salons, weaken your Google rankings, and hurt long-term client retention. If you want to support consistent bookings, this conversation will change the way you think about marketing for salons.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why inconsistent social media marketing for salons can cause clients to forget your brand
• Why reactive promotions rarely solve booking gaps
• What strong marketing strategies for salons actually look like
• How consistent messaging builds trust and brand recognition
• The simple shifts salon owners can make to create sustainable digital marketing for salons

If you’ve ever wondered why your marketing feels like it only works in bursts, this episode will help you understand why consistency is the real growth strategy.

Because great marketing doesn’t just attract clients, it keeps your salon top of mind!

For your daily dose of digital marketing for salons, give us a follow on TikTok and Instagram @salon.s.o.s  OR if you want to check out the video recording of this episode, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel! Hit this link to explore: https://www.youtube.com/@salon.s.o.s

This podcast is for salon owners and salon professionals who want to learn proven ways to grow their salon business,learn valuable salon leadership skills, boost their brand, grow their clientele, get social media and marketing advice for salons, and build a salon culture that attracts and retains thriving stylists.

More from the Salon S.O.S. Business Building Resource Library:

Click here to access our entire salon digital marketing academy: ⁠https://www.salonsos.ca/digital-marketing-academy⁠

Email [email protected] to get in contact with us. We’re always here to help support you with salon business advice!

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love ours too! Profitable Salon Owner Podcast, Grow mySalon Business Podcast with Antony Whitaker, Thriving Stylist Podcast with Britt Seva, Summ It Up Podcast, Social Beauty Makers Podcast, The Hairdresser Strong Show Podcast, The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hair Love Radio Podcast,Salon Owner Collective Podcast.

Are you posting consistently, following trends, and trying to grow your Instagram but still not seeing it translate into real clients? You’re not alone!

In this episode of The Salon Scoop, Scott sits down with J Ladner, a Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist and educator who has built an audience of over 270,000 followers, and more importantly, knows how to turn that attention into real business behind the chair.

This conversation goes beyond just growing a following. It’s about how to make social media for salons actually work.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What actually works when it comes to growing on Instagram today
• The difference between content that gets likes vs. content that gets clients
• How to balance content for clients vs. other stylists
• How to tell if you’re attracting the wrong audience
• Simple ways to turn followers into bookings
• The biggest mistakes stylists make with social media marketing for salons
• A realistic content strategy for busy stylists
• How to turn online attention into real opportunities and revenue

Social media doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, but it does need to be intentional.

Because it’s not about having more followers… it’s about turning the right attention into real growth.

Huge thanks to J Ladner for sharing such incredible insight, make sure to follow along on Instagram @itsmrjladner

For your daily dose of digital marketingfor salons, give us a follow on TikTok and Instagram @salon.s.o.s  OR if you want to check out the video recording of this episode, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel! Hit this link to explore: https://www.youtube.com/@salon.s.o.s

This podcast is for salon owners and salon professionals who want to learn proven ways to grow their salon business,learn valuable salon leadership skills, boost their brand, grow their clientele, get social media and marketing advice for salons, and build a salon culture that attracts and retains thriving stylists.

More from the Salon S.O.S. Business Building Resource Library:

Click here to access our entire salondigital marketing academy: ⁠https://www.salonsos.ca/digital-marketing-academy⁠

Email [email protected] to get in contactwith us. We’re always here to help support you with salon business advice!

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love ours too! Profitable Salon Owner Podcast, Grow mySalon Business Podcast with Antony Whitaker, Thriving Stylist Podcast with Britt Seva, Summ It Up Podcast, Social Beauty Makers Podcast, The Hairdresser Strong Show Podcast, The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hair Love Radio Podcast,Salon Owner Collective Podcast.

What do some of the most successful professionals in the salon industry have in common when it comes to how they got started?

Surprisingly… almost nothing.

In this special 200th episode of The Salon Scoop, we’re revisiting clips from past conversations with five incredible industry leaders: Wendy Belanger, Candy Shaw, Farhanna Premji, Sean Godard, and Sam Villa. Each shares how their journey into the beauty industry began — and their paths couldn’t be more different.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
• How some of the industry’s most respected professionals got their start
• The unexpected paths that led to incredible careers
• Why there’s no single formula for success
• A reminder for anyone questioning their next step

After 200 episodes, one thing is clear: success in this industry rarely follows a straight line.

Sometimes the most important thing you can do… is simply take the next step!

Make sure to follow these amazing guests and industry icons on Instagram

@wendyabelanger @thebalaylama @xo.farhana.balayage @seangodard @samvillahair

For your daily dose of digital marketing for salons, give us a follow on TikTok and Instagram @salon.s.o.s  OR if you want to check out the video recording of this episode, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel! Hit this link to explore: https://www.youtube.com/@salon.s.o.s

This podcast is for salon owners and salon professionals who want to learn proven ways to grow their salon business,learn valuable salon leadership skills, boost their brand, grow their clientele, get social media and marketing advice for salons, and build a salon culture that attracts and retains thriving stylists.

More from the Salon S.O.S. Business Building Resource Library:

Click here to access our entire salon digital marketing academy: ⁠https://www.salonsos.ca/digital-marketing-academy⁠

Email [email protected] to get in contact with us. We’re always here to help support you with salon business advice!

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love ours too! Profitable Salon Owner Podcast, Grow mySalon Business Podcast with Antony Whitaker, Thriving Stylist Podcast with Britt Seva, Summ It Up Podcast, Social Beauty Makers Podcast, The Hairdresser Strong Show Podcast, The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hair Love Radio Podcast, Salon Owner Collective Podcast.

What are the trends quietly shaping the salon industry right now… that most salon owners aren’t paying attention to yet?

If you’ve ever wondered what’s really happening behind the scenes in the beauty industry — not just from one brand or one perspective, but across thousands of salons — this episode will give you a fresh perspective.

In this episode of The Salon Scoop, Scott sits down with Anne Moratto from Modern Salon, one of the most respected media platforms in the professional beauty industry. Through the stories they cover, the professionals they feature, and the trends they track, Anne and her team have a unique view into what’s evolving in salons every day.

In this episode, we explore:

• The trends gaining momentum across the salon industry right now
• The biggest challenges salon owners and stylists are facing today
• The opportunities emerging for professionals who stay informed
• What successful salons are doing differently in today’s environment
• Why perspective and industry awareness matter more than ever

If you want a clearer understanding of where the industry is headed, and how to position yourself for what’s next, this conversation offers insights you won’t want to miss!

Huge thanks goes out to the amazing Anna Moratto for sharing such important insight. Follow @modernsalon on Instagram for more education, industry insights, and inspiration for salon professionals!

For your daily dose of digital marketing for salons, give us a follow on TikTok and Instagram @salon.s.o.s  OR if you want to check out the video recording of this episode, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel! Hit this link to explore: https://www.youtube.com/@salon.s.o.s

This podcast is for salon owners and salon professionals who want to learn proven ways to grow their salon business, learn valuable salon leadership skills, boost their brand, grow theirclientele, get social media and marketing advice for salons, and build a salon culture that attracts and retains thriving stylists.

More from the Salon S.O.S. Business Building Resource Library:

Click here to access our entire salon digital marketing academy: ⁠https://www.salonsos.ca/digital-marketing-academy⁠

Email [email protected] to get in contact with us. We’re always here to help support you with salon business advice!

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love ours too! Profitable Salon Owner Podcast, Grow mySalon Business Podcast with Antony Whitaker, Thriving Stylist Podcast with Britt Seva, Summ It Up Podcast, Social Beauty Makers Podcast, The Hairdresser Strong Show Podcast, The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hair Love Radio Podcast, Salon Owner Collective Podcast.

When salon owners think about marketing for salons, they usually focus on external strategies — social media marketing for salons, SEO for hair salons, updated websites for salons, or improving Google rankings through digital marketing for salons. But one of the most powerful salon marketing strategies actually starts inside your business.

Your team's performance is part of your brand and directly shapes the guest experience, which influences client retention, online reviews, referrals, retail sales, and rebooking rates.

In this episode of The Salon Scoop, we explore a powerful leadership system that can strengthen both team culture and long-term business growth: structured one-on-one meetings with your team.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why internal leadership systems are a key part ofmarketing strategies for salons
• How team performance directly impacts client retention and online reviews
• How structured one-on-one meetings improve communicationand accountability
• What salon owners should discuss during these personal development meetings
• How to eliminate fear and create a strong team culture

If you want to grow your business, you need to start by growing your team.  This episode will show you how to effectively implement one-on-one meetings - a leadership system that is one of the most powerful — and overlooked — growth strategies in the salon industry.

Because great marketing may bring clients in the door, but a great team is what keeps them coming back.

For your daily dose of digital marketingfor salons, give us a follow on TikTok and Instagram @salon.s.o.s  OR if you want to check out the video recording of this episode, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel! Hit this link to explore: https://www.youtube.com/@salon.s.o.s

This podcast is for salon owners and salon professionals who want to learn proven ways to grow their salon business,learn valuable salon leadership skills, boost their brand, grow their clientele, get social media and marketing advice for salons, and build a salon culture that attracts and retains thriving stylists.

More from the Salon S.O.S. Business Building Resource Library:

Click here to access our entire salon digital marketing academy: ⁠https://www.salonsos.ca/digital-marketing-academy⁠

Email [email protected] to get in contact with us. We’re always here to help support you with salon business advice!

If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll love ours too! Profitable Salon Owner Podcast, Grow mySalon Business Podcast with Antony Whitaker, Thriving Stylist Podcast with Britt Seva, Summ It Up Podcast, Social Beauty Makers Podcast, The Hairdresser Strong Show Podcast, The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hair Love Radio Podcast, Salon Owner Collective Podcast.