Your Day Off @Hairdustry; A Podcast about the Hair Industry!

Episode Title: Sheri Doss… From Redken to Costa Rica to Bumble and BumbleHosts: Corey Gray and Katie May Guest: Sheri Doss, Education and Artistry at Bumble and BumbleEpisode SummarySheri Doss spent 30+ years at Redken before walking away to be near her mom in Costa Rica. She opened an 80-seat taco restaurant and thought she was done. Then Bumble and Bumble came calling.As of February 2025, Bumble is on Salon Centric shelves for the first time ever... and Sheri is leading the education behind it. Corey and Katie May dig into what that means for every hairstylist in America.What We CoverWhy a third of hairdressers leave the industry every yearHow 50 hours of cutting curriculum isn't enough to survive behind the chairWhat Bumble's Salon Centric partnership means for suite stylists and independentsBuilding a team around mission... not contracts or post quotasThe House of Bumble New York Experience launching June 2025How to get into brand education as a working stylistAbout Sheri DossSheri grew up the daughter of a struggling salon owner in Southern California. She earned her manicuring license first, then her cosmetology license, built a color clientele fast, and was recruited by Redken as an artist. She spent 30+ years educating, managing teams, and helping hairdressers build sustainable careers. She now leads Education and Artistry at Bumble and Bumble.Find Bumble and Bumble Pro Instagram: @bumblepro YouTube: Bumble and Bumble ProSearchable Terms bumble and bumble education 2025, sheri doss bumble, hair industry podcast, why hairdressers quit, how to work for a hair brand, salon centric bumble, razor cutting education, your day off podcast, hairdustry, Katie May hairdustry, Corey Gray hairdustry

Episode SummaryCorey Hairdustry is joined by co-host Katie May for a conversation with Ajahn Tri Dao, a Buddhist monk and spiritual counselor. Inspired by the Walk for Peace, they explore the shift from “world peace” as an idea to internal peace as a daily responsibility—and why that change matters in a loud, fast, overstimulated world.What You’ll Learn• Why Buddhism can be understood as both a religion (protected by law) and a philosophy/practice (tested in real life)• The Walk for Peace’s core message: inner peace creates the conditions for world peace• A clear definition of “suffering” (dukkha): the uneasiness that comes from resisting reality, clinging, and trying to control what you can’t• How coping behaviors often show up when people can’t sit with pain (and why slowing down changes everything)• Why America’s pace (work, stress, constant stimulation) fuels emotional reactivity and disconnection• The Middle Way: not grinding yourself into burnout, and not numbing yourself into stagnation• How to start building awareness without making it complicated: journal first• A practical journaling framework: track sleep, mood, triggers, and reactions to expose patterns you’ve normalized• Beginner-friendly meditation advice: start guided with music, then build toward silence and breath-focused practice• Breath techniques shared: counting breaths, noticing temperature, and training the mind to do one thing at a time• What progress looks like: it’s not “no thoughts,” it’s responding differently when life pokes you• The takeaway: “Stop. Reflect. Write. Breathe.” and finish what you started.Key Quote-Level Takeaway“Peace is free from disturbing emotions—and you can train for it.”If you want, tell me: do you want the IG caption to feel more spiritual/soft, or more hard-hitting/straight talk?

Show Notes – Season 9, Episode 2What does it really take to work Paris Fashion Week as a behind-the-chair hairstylist?In this episode, Corey sits down with Dallas-based master colorist Michelle Bowden to unpack how one simple ask turned into a backstage pass to Paris.Michelle has spent 23 years in the same salon, building a loyal clientele and refining her craft as a specialist colorist. Fashion Week wasn’t part of some grand master plan. It came from staying curious, investing in education, and having the courage to raise her hand when opportunity showed up.Here’s what you’ll hear in this conversation:• How Michelle built a long-term career in one salon without job hopping• Why specializing (cut vs. color) helped her master her craft• How taking a wig and styling masterclass opened the Fashion Week door• The exact moment she asked to be considered for the team• Why she almost said no when the Paris invite came• What backstage at Fashion Week is really like (tight spaces, fast timelines, controlled chaos)• Why speed and solid technique matter more than glam• How creative projects improve your confidence behind the chair• The truth about “pay to play” Fashion Week scamsMichelle shares honestly about insecurity, imposter syndrome, and the mindset shift required to step into rooms where no one knows your name. She also talks about how staying grounded behind the chair keeps her creatively fulfilled—even while expanding into global opportunities.This episode is a reminder that:Opportunity doesn’t always knock loudly.Sometimes it shows up quietly and waits for you to speak first.If you’ve been waiting to feel “ready,” this is your nudge.You don’t need to leave your chair to elevate your career.But you do need to put yourself out there.Listen in and let us know:If you got the invite to Fashion Week… would you go?

Season 9, Episode 1: State of the Industry w/ Gordon MillerIn this annual “State of the Industry” conversation, Corey and Katie sit down with Gordon Miller to unpack what actually happened in 2025 and what salon pros should pay attention to moving into 2026.We’re kicking off Season 9 with perspective, data, and real talk — not clickbait.Gordon, now the new General Manager of Intercoiffure, brings decades of industry insight to break down what’s actually happening behind the headlines.According to aggregated industry data (KIM Report pulling from thousands of POS and booking systems):Overall revenue was roughly flatGuest counts are downFrequency of visit is decliningRetail dipped, especially in smaller businesses and suitesLarger team-based salons (20+ providers) are seeing growth againPrice increases helped stabilize revenue — but without them, many businesses were slightly down.Emotionally? The industry feels uncertain and reactive — mirroring the larger world.From “don’t prebook” to “retail is dead,” viral advice is spreading fast — even when it applies to only a small percentage of stylists.The reality:Most stylists are not booked out months in advance.Smart prebooking and retention systems still work.Social media today is marketing-driven, not community-driven — and that shifts what voices get amplified.Retail didn’t collapse — but it’s soft.Historically, retail accounts for about 5% of salon revenue (7% at its peak). The larger issue? The industry never consistently built strong retail systems.The act of recommending matters — even if the client doesn’t purchase from you.It builds trust, retention, and authority.For suite owners especially, inventory strategy and cash flow management are critical.Suites surged during COVID but growth is leveling off. Larger suite companies are now acquiring smaller regional operators.Chair rental remains larger overall.Meanwhile, 20+ person salons are seeing team growth again — suggesting a quiet shift back toward structured environments.Many newer stylists have never experienced strong in-salon education or structured mentorship due to post-COVID cuts and digital pivots.Independent educators can be transformational — but they reach only a small portion of the industry.Education — especially business education — remains the biggest opportunity.From AI concierge systems booking appointments after hours to tools helping managers communicate and analyze numbers more effectively, AI is already improving operations.It’s not replacing stylists — it’s supporting better business.The opportunity to do great hair depends on sitting on top of a strong business.Creativity matters.But sustainability requires systems, education, and intentional leadership.The industry isn’t broken — it’s evolving.The question is: Are you building a business that evolves with it?2025: Flat — But Not FineThe Clickbait EffectRetail: The Real StorySuites, Rental & Team-Based SalonsEducation & The Missing ExperienceAI in Real SalonsThe Core Takeaway

Stop Putting Sh*t In Your Hair — with Boone & Ben of Highland StyleIn this episode of Your Day Off Podcast, Corey sits down with Boone and Ben, founders of Highland Style, the clean-beauty disruptors behind the now-iconic phrase: Stop Putting Sh*t In Your Hair.What started as two friends fed up with toxic, lab-engineered formulas turned into a mission to create prestige products rooted in health, sustainability, and uncompromising performance. From ruined cookware to award-winning products now found nationwide, this story is equal parts grit, curiosity, and conviction.How frustration with toxic products sparked the Highland missionThe early apartment-stovetop era and the first Glacial Clay Pomade batchesWhy clean, earth-based ingredients outperform “chemical soup”The DM to Mad Rabbit’s Oliver Zak that shifted everythingWhy aluminum packaging is a non-negotiableThe truth about preservatives & Yuka scoresWhy natural doesn’t mean “weak,” especially behind the chairAvoiding SKU overload in a cluttered product landscapeHighland’s mission: style without compromiseWhat’s coming in 2026 (conditioner, leave-in, high-hold, and more)“We resolved to create prestige products that deliver on the promise of stylewithout compromising on health or sustainability.”Glacial Clay PomadeGlacial CreamHighland WashApply for a wholesale account at Highland.style → Wholesale tab.What We Cover:Highland’s Mission:Products Mentioned:For Pros: