A business journal for independent beauty pros, by salonMonster
What happens when you mix raw talent, a fearless drive, and a vision for a better salon culture? You get Nikii Beis, owner and stylist at Elevated Studio in Squamish, BC—and my latest guest in our one-on-one salon sit-down. Nikii’s journey into the industry started in the most relatable way—highlighting a friend’s hair in a … Read more
Some interviews feel like work. This one felt like sitting down with someone who has lived the same chaos, asked the same hard questions, and then decided to build better answers. When I sat down with Hunter Donia, I knew we were going to get into the real stuff: career starts, bad industry advice, business … Read more
There are interviews where you hit record, ask a few questions, and everything stays nicely on the surface. And then there are the ones where you blink… and suddenly you’re talking about bleach chemistry, mental health, and the very real art of putting your “human suit” back on before you greet a client. That’s what … Read more
When I sat down with Rhino Gaudet, I knew we were in for a good conversation—but I didn’t realize just how much ground we’d cover, from rock-star dreams and livestock show floors to closing a salon and falling back in love with the basics of our craft. Rhino’s story starts in Calgary and lands on … Read more
Stephen and I jumped on a call with the legendary Douglas McCoy — hairdresser, filmmaker, photographer, educator, razor nerd, House of Pop owner — and from the first few minutes it was clear we weren’t just talking technique, we were talking career DNA. Douglas has one of those stories that reminds you why you fell … Read more
When I sat down with Dallas-based barber and creator of The Weighted Cape, Henry Tribes, I thought we were going to talk about a cool new product. Instead, I got a front-row seat to a whole new way of thinking about barbering, inclusion, and what it really means to reinvent yourself in this industry. This … Read more
Liam here 👋 I got to sit down (virtually) with one of our longtime salonMonster stylists, Kara Field from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and it honestly felt less like an “interview” and more like catching up with a friend who quietly built the exact kind of independent hair business so many stylists dream about. Kara runs … Read more
You know those conversations where you hop on a call thinking it’ll be a quick chat…and an hour later you’re still talking because the stories are too good? That was my chat with Seattle-based stylist and educator, Erica Garza.
The second we sat down with Kristin Rankin, I knew this wasn’t going to be “just another industry chat.” It felt more like catching up with someone who has been quietly (and sometimes loudly) reshaping what salon culture can be, and doing it with zero patience for gatekeeping and gendered nonsense. This one’s for every … Read more
In our world – where beauty meets emotional support – hairdressers play a unique role. They don’t just create stunning looks; they also lend a sympathetic ear to clients’ joys and struggles.