About The Blowout - By Salon Owners for Salon Owners
Salon owners — we need to talk.
The industry is under pressure, the rules keep changing, and too much is being said in whispers.
That’s where we come in.
Haylee Benton & Hellen Ward — salon owners with decades of real industry experience.
No filters. No limits. Raw, honest conversations about what’s actually happening.
From independent owners to industry leaders, we’re unpacking what’s on everyone’s mind —
the rise of self-employment, shifting rules, and the changes quietly reshaping our industry.
#0021 - The Brutal Truth About Managing Salon Staff
The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money, to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair.Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0QApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies!Episode timestamps00:00 Episode preview01:17 Welcome to the episode01:51 Why staff appraisals matter04:02 Creating the right environment for reviews06:08 Monthly check-ins vs annual appraisals07:50 Should appraisals be mandatory?09:43 Sickness reviews and return-to-work interviews12:43 Structuring appraisals around performance and KPIs13:41 The red flags of a difficult team member15:44 Spotting a long-term decline in performance17:18 Dealing with toxic situations quickly20:36 Supporting employees while remaining performance-driven23:21 The hardest conversations bosses must have25:22 Delivering uncomfortable feedback with kindness28:01 What happens when an entire team lacks self-awareness?30:42 Managing conflict within your team32:29 Your salon is a sports team, not a family34:06 When should a boss intervene?36:58 Becoming a secret shopper in your own salon38:15 Is managing a large salon actually easier?40:51 Why team social events matter44:43 Profit is not a dirty word45:31 Nothing is bigger than the badge47:00 Should product wastage affect commission?48:11 Knowing when a toxic employee needs to go50:19 Does every team need a bad apple?
27 Sept 2026
#0020 - Why Are So Many People Suddenly Losing Their Hair?
💇🏼♀️ Wella Professional: https://www.wella.com/professional/en-GB (https://www.wella.com/professional/en-GB)
💊 Glowwa: https://www.glowwa.com/ (https://www.glowwa.com/)
This episode follows Suzanne Cooper, founder of Glowwa, as she shares how her own hair loss journey led her to create a nutrition-led brand for the professional salon channel. It matters because the conversation goes beyond product development and digs into why education, trust, and salon-first distribution can shape long-term brand loyalty. We discuss how Glowwa started with no marketing budget, how Suzanne built credibility through salon education, and why she has resisted the push to move mass or undercut salons online. She also explains what’s driving more hair loss today, from stress and ultra-processed diets to GLP-1 weight loss injections.
The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair.Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0QApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies!
Timestamps
00:00 - Overnight hair loss and the decision to bet on herself
02:09 - What triggered Suzanne’s hair loss journey
03:45 - When the shedding became impossible to ignore
04:28 - Why ingredient quality and label reading mattered
06:17 - Targeting inflammation, hormones, and stress
07:43 - Turning an idea into a manufactured product
08:30 - Giving the first stock away to salons for free
09:05 - Leaving a full-time job to build Glowwa
10:54 - Why salon education matters so much
13:26 - Choosing salons over mass retail
15:01 - The two questions behind every business decision
16:50 - How Glowwa drives consumers back to salons
18:51 - Making salon purchase more attractive than buying online
20:37 - Why the brand is called Glowwa
22:23 - Why hair loss is rising now
23:19 - Supporting clients using GLP-1 weight loss injections
24:12 - Why Glowwa expanded into collagen
25:12 - Collagen as a low-pressure retail conversation starter
26:00 - Why the brand will not launch shampoos or oils
26:54 - International growth and expanding carefully
29:03 - Choosing the right distributors
31:43 - Moving into skin clinics and aesthetics
32:44 - Why education is the missing gap for many stylists
33:18 - Free training and charity seat-holder fees
35:12 - Staying independent while scaling
39:51 - Working with her partner and keeping work boundaries
42:26 - The warehouse damage setback that nearly broke the business
44:40 - How Glowwa trusts its UK manufacturers and ingredient sourcing
46:58 - Why betting on herself mattered
49:06 - How Suzanne switches off and maintains her routine
50:09 - Whether supplements should be used continuously
13 Sept 2026
#0019 - Wendy Tarplee-Morris - The Haircut That Changed Thousands of Children’s Lives
👑 Little Princess Trust:
https://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/ (https://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/)
https://www.instagram.com/officiallittleprincesstrust (https://www.instagram.com/officiallittleprincesstrust)
https://www.facebook.com/officiallittleprincesstrust (https://www.facebook.com/officiallittleprincesstrust)
https://x.com/LPTrustUK (https://x.com/LPTrustUK)
💇🏼♀️ Wella Professional: https://www.wella.com/professional/en-GB
In this episode, Wendy Tarplee-Morris shares the inspiring story behind the Little Princess Trust, how hair donations support children with cancer, and how salons can get involved to make a difference. Discover the impact of community efforts and the future of childhood cancer research.
The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair.Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0Q (https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0Q)Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946 (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946)Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Little Princess Trust and Wendy's story
02:24 How the charity started after Wendy's daughter's passing
07:26 The journey from initial donations to a nationwide charity
12:43 The process of donating hair and making wigs
17:10 Minimum hair length requirements and donation guidelines
22:42 The global reach of hair donations from 129 countries
30:48 Supporting children with wigs and the importance of training
32:25 Current challenges and future needs of the charity
33:40 Expanding support to childhood cancer research
36:28 The impact of high-profile donations and awareness campaigns
39:09 The role of AI and technology in cancer research
42:30 How listeners and salons can get involved
45:34 The tangible impact of fundraising and community support
46:49 Wendy's message of hope and legacy
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
16 ratings
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