Hairbrained Conversations

Hairbrained Conversations

A weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into the minds of some of the most talented artists, educators, influencers, and leaders in the professional salon industry. Hosted by Gerard Scarpaci, Crafthairdresser and Co founder of Hairbrained

Episodes

June 8, 2025 50 mins

Gerard Scarpaci talks with Aveda icons Antoinette Beenders and Kevin Molin about the upcoming Aveda Congress, happening August 16–18 in Minneapolis. They share the event’s deep roots, this year’s standout lineup, and why Congress is more than a hair show—it’s a full-on creative and cultural experience.

 
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In this episode of Hb Conversations, we sit down with Shane Wolf, Global President of Aveda and Hair Care at Estée Lauder Companies. From his roots as a hairdresser to leading one of the industry’s most mission-driven brands, Shane shares insights on sustainability, creativity, and Aveda’s deep commitment to salon professionals. A candid and inspiring conversation about craft, leadership, and honoring the legacy of the industry’s p...

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Description:
In this episode of HB Conversations, we sit down with the always entertaining and insightful Jacob Khan, who has just taken on the role of Hairbrained’s first-ever Creative Director! Jacob shares his journey from hairdresser to social media sensation, educator, and brand ambassador—now stepping into a leadership role that...
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December 4, 2024 44 mins

In this episode of Hb Conversations, Gerard Scarpaci sits down with Ashley Mooney to discuss Areté, a groundbreaking beauty brand focused on sustainability and innovation for hair professionals. Ashley shares her journey from intern to CEO and the inspiration behind creating Areté, a brand that champions clean, high-performance products while staying true to the needs of stylists and their clients. They dive into industry trends li...

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At age 29, Carlos Rojas (@colorbycarlos) shifted gears into hairdressing. His years in the food service industry served him well—as did his touch of theatrical flair. Now Carlos is one of the industry’s most relatable voices. Carlos discusses how inspiration in the moment helps him craft his Instagram and TikTok posts, which blend education with comedy and resonate deeply with hairdressers and clients alike. He al...
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Connections build opportunities, and no other industry proves that point more than the hairdressing industry. In this episode, we’re joined by @stef_fox and @jenbaudier, co-founders of Talent Match (@mymatchable), a groundbreaking platform that works like a dating app to match salon owners and hairdressers. Learn how they’re using data to solve the industry’s biggest hiring challenges, the lessons they’ve learned along the way...
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In this episode, we chat with Ian Mayer-Marszalek @ianhairspray, Senior National Trainer for Schwarzkopf Professional, about his journey from hairdresser to educator. Ian shares insights on career paths beyond the salon chair and how he's reshaping education by adapting to hairdressers' needs. We also explore the science behind Schwarzkopf’s Fibre Clinix range, designed for personalized hair care, and dive into their latest in...
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A quick glance at Ben White’s Instagram bio (@benmichahwhite) reveals his unique perspective. From his tongue-out profile pic to identifying his business as a Grocery Store, you can immediately sense Ben’s irreverent approach to life. In this episode, we explore how his creative mind works, how his background as a musician and singer (he's in three bands!) has shaped his outlook on hairdressing, and what surprises he has in st...
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In this episode, Brittany Bird @blondebybritt, owner of @blondifystudio, discusses the growing trend of clients taking to social media to criticize their hairdressers—whether justified or not. Brittany recently faced a viral TikTok post from a client upset about pricing, but thanks to her well-established systems, she was able to post a detailed rebuttal that protected her reputation. Together, Gerard and Brittany explore the ...

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With decades of experience in the hair industry, Stephen Moody, Artistic Director of Paul Mitchell, is a celebrated educator and innovator. Stephen’s recent wins at the North American Hairstyling Awards have garnered attention, particularly for his bold hair and model choices. In this interview, he discusses his frustration with "Lego" hair, and how this spurred him to enter and showcase textured hair and more mature models wi...

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After 10 + years of salon ownership with all it's ups and downs Amanda and Jamie decided to build a "home " salon on their property in Florida. We discuss the process from all angles and what the outcome is like after  nearly 4 years of work and planning. Ro Style House isn't like any "home" salon you may have seen before and Amanda & Jamie are loving their new venture.

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Sometimes hardships break a person; other times, they make a person. Such is the case with Fady "Fred" Helou (@fredhelou), whose difficult origin story propelled him to create the billion-dollar company Vagaro (@vagaropro). After leaving war-torn Lebanon at 18 and having his life savings pickpocketed en route to the U.S., Fred quickly got a job and began attending night school. In ...
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This Mother's Day, we're giving it up to @ashleenormanhair, who juggles motherhood along with her roles at Schwarzkopf and K18. Of course Ashlee's family (her husband in particular) is central to her success, but she also attributes the diversity of her background as a key factor. She shares how obtaining a degree, interning at a fashion magazine and pursuing advanced education, including at Vidal Sassoon and Bumble and bumble, hel...

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In this episode, we celebrate Aveda’s newest line, Be Curly Advanced. We’re joined by scientist Christine Hall (@christinebhall) and textured hair expert Renée Gadar (@reneesrh), who, along with their teams, co-created the groundbreaking line to meet the needs of curly and coily hair types. We discuss the new range's technology and ingredients as well as how Aveda is supporting hair pros through education and training so they ...

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In this episode, Gerard Scarpaci chats with Ray Civello (@raycivello), renowned salon owner and founder of the environmentally friendly brand, Back of Bottle (@backofbottle). Ray talks about his background, what led him to product manufacturing and what sets BOB apart. From sustainability to products, they talk about the impact that product choice has not only on the client, but also the stylist, the environment and the health...
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Meet Allison Daza (@allisondazahair), a salon owner and @davinesnorthamerica educator who is committed to sustainable beauty and regenerative agriculture. Allison shares how she puts her beliefs into practice at her studio and how she embarked on a journey of documenting sustainable beauty in partnership with Davines in a short-film series called “Stories From the Field.”

 

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Hairbrained is thrilled to welcome beauty industry veteran Gordon Nelson (@gordonwnelson) to the team as our new VP of Brand Partnerships. In this episode, we introduce Gordon to the Hb community by talking about his long history with the industry, which began with his father, who himself was a very well-known hairdresser. Gordon shares his personal history in the beauty world, which includes helping brands like Arrojo and Intellig...

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 Evan Joseph (@evanjosephcurls) relishes being an independent educator. But it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, considering he has been fiercely independent his whole life. In this episode, he explains how growing up gay in a small Midwestern town influenced him and his desire to help people whom mainstream hairdressing had tended to overlook: those who wanted to embrace their naturally curly hair. He refl...

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When Jorge Blanco met @davinesofficial's Davide Bollati some 20 years ago, little did he know how much it would change the trajectory of his life. At the time, Jorge was flexing his editorial and entrepreneurial muscles as co-founder of a lifestyle magazine. But a meeting of the minds found Jorge quickly accepting a six-month contract to work at Davines. In this episode, Jorge shares the story of his evolving role at Davines and ho...

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Nick Stenson (@nickstenson) has had his hand in nearly every facet of the beauty business. His achievements include being a makeup artist and nail tech, not to mention an award winning hairdresser, brand ambassador, salon owner and founder of his own brand, @nickstensonbeauty. This cumulative experience gives him a unique and valuable perspective when it comes to his current role as the Senior Vice President of...

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