Episode Title: Sheri Doss… From Redken to Costa Rica to Bumble and Bumble

Hosts: Corey Gray and Katie May Guest: Sheri Doss, Education and Artistry at Bumble and Bumble

Episode Summary

Sheri 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 Cover

• Why a third of hairdressers leave the industry every year
• How 50 hours of cutting curriculum isn't enough to survive behind the chair
• What Bumble's Salon Centric partnership means for suite stylists and independents
• Building a team around mission... not contracts or post quotas
• The House of Bumble New York Experience launching June 2025
• How to get into brand education as a working stylist

About Sheri Doss

Sheri 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 Pro

Searchable 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 Summary
Corey 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 2

What 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 scams

Michelle 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 Miller

In 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 flat

• Guest counts are down

• Frequency of visit is declining

• Retail dipped, especially in smaller businesses and suites

• Larger team-based salons (20+ providers) are seeing growth again

Price 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?

Stop Putting Sh*t In Your Hair — with Boone & Ben of Highland Style

In 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 mission

• The early apartment-stovetop era and the first Glacial Clay Pomade batches

• Why clean, earth-based ingredients outperform “chemical soup”

• The DM to Mad Rabbit’s Oliver Zak that shifted everything

• Why aluminum packaging is a non-negotiable

• The truth about preservatives & Yuka scores

• Why natural doesn’t mean “weak,” especially behind the chair

• Avoiding SKU overload in a cluttered product landscape

• Highland’s mission: style without compromise

• What’s coming in 2026 (conditioner, leave-in, high-hold, and more)

“We resolved to create prestige products that deliver on the promise of style
without compromising on health or sustainability.”

• Glacial Clay Pomade

• Glacial Cream

• Highland Wash

Apply for a wholesale account at Highland.style → Wholesale tab.

What We Cover:Highland’s Mission:Products Mentioned:For Pros:

AI for Hairstylists: How Chrystal Graves’ LiQUiD Boosts Salon Profits
Season 8, Episode 46 — Your Day Off Podcast

Chrystal L. Graves — Founder & CEO of LiQUiD, the first AI-powered business assistant built for hairstylists and salon owners.

A former stylist, salon owner, and educator, Chrystal created LiQUiD to help beauty professionals make more money without working more. She’s a Techstars alum, Modern Salon Top 100 honoree, and Missouri Startup Weekend winner, with over 16 years in the beauty industry. Chrystal has coached hundreds of salon owners, led innovation for major beauty brands, and now leads the charge in bringing AI to the beauty business.

Can AI actually make your salon more profitable? 💡
In this episode, co-host Katie May joins Corey to sit down with Chrystal Graves, the visionary behind LiQUiD — the first AI-powered business assistant for hairstylists. Chrystal shares how a single idea in a coffee shop turned into an award-winning tech startup that’s changing how stylists price, plan, and grow.

From real-time pricing intelligence to automated consultations and smart decision-making, LiQUiD is redefining how salon professionals think about business — so you can create more and stress less.

• How Chrystal turned a 56-hour startup pitch into a funded AI company

• Why hairstylists need data-driven pricing, not emotional pricing

• How AI helps you track profitability and retention

• Automating consultations and product recommendations

• The future of tech-driven growth in the beauty industry

💻 Try LiQUiD for free: https://getliquid.ai
📱 Follow Chrystal: https://www.instagram.com/chrystalgraves_/
🌐 Learn more: https://www.getliquid.ai

🎧 Your Day Off Podcast — available on all platforms
🎙️ Co-Host: Katie May

Guest:Episode SummaryKey Topics & TakeawaysLinks & Resources

Guest: Jennifer Boutwell — salon owner, industry leader, consultant, and author of I See You: A Guide to Finding Your Inner Strength, Confidence, and Voice after Trauma and Abuse (Gretna, LA). She spent 30 years behind the chair before stepping into full-time entrepreneurship and consulting. She’s also a proud mom to Conner & Bryson (and furbaby Cooper).
From a mall salon start to owning Salon Sanity, from a Redken makeover to paying off IRS debt in a year, Jennifer opens up about rebuilding with structure, healing after loss, and writing a book to help others move from trauma to true self-worth. We dig into NLP, morning rituals, meditation, gardening, and the power of “white space” in your calendar.

• Origin story: Gretna roots → Foxy Lady with Grandma → Regis → owning her own salon

• Rebrand & rebirth: why she dropped the founder’s name and created Salon Sanity — a calm space in an insane world

• Summit shift: systems, accountability, and paying off debt fast

• Healing & the book: losing her sister Gabrielle, confronting childhood trauma, and transforming pain into purpose

• NLP & self-awareness: spotting blind spots, rewriting patterns

• Presence & surrender: rituals, nature, and saying no to misalignment

• Leadership & legacy: empowering others to rediscover voice & confidence

• Barnes & Noble

• Balboa Press

• More info: jenniferjboutwell.com

📲 Connect with Jennifer
Instagram → @jennifer_j_boutwell

Key Topics & Takeaways**Links & Resources Amazon

Guest: Ben F’n Mollin — celebrity hairdresser turned endurance athlete, suicide prevention specialist, and author of Deconstructed: Kill the Thing That’s Killing You.

Corey sits down with longtime friend and industry legend Ben F’n Mollin for a raw, unfiltered conversation about burning down everything that was killing him — and rebuilding a life grounded in truth, grit, and miles.

From Bravo’s Shear Genius to rockstar educator status, Ben lived the dream: fame, travel, and recognition. But behind it was debt, addiction, and a breaking point that almost ended his life on April 1, 2018. Instead, he chose to deconstruct everything — walking away from the salon, the brands, and the spotlight to rediscover himself through endurance sports and deep inner work.

Now a punk-rock, Cali-sober, non-practicing Jew who turned survival into service, Ben shares how he became an Ironman, an ultramarathoner, and a suicide prevention speaker — pacing others on their path back to purpose.

• From Shear Genius to the Edge: What overnight fame feels like and why success can be just as dangerous as failure.

• Breaking Point: The moment Ben told his wife he planned to end his life — and how speaking up saved him.

• The Deconstruction Process: How he “killed” his career instead of himself and rebuilt from silence, sobriety, and stillness.

• Movement as Medicine: How walking became running, which became Ironman Mont-Tremblant and eventually 100+ mile ultramarathons.

• Mindset of a Warrior: Lessons from endurance racing that mirror survival, discipline, and recovery.

• From Burnout to Purpose: Why Ben now helps others confront their demons through The Ben Mollin Project and public speaking.

• Redemption at 50: Returning to the Sedona Canyon 125 in 2025, the race that once broke him — and finishing it in spiritual triumph.

• “Don’t kill yourself — kill the thing that’s killing you.”

• “When it gets hard, that’s when you have to create.”

• “Success can be just as dangerous as failure.”

• “Discomfort isn’t pain — it’s growth.”

• 🌐 Website: benfnmollin.com

• 📘 Pre-Order the Book: benmollin.systeme.io/pre-order

• 🎤 Founder of The Ben Mollin Project — transformational events on mindset, recovery, and finding your power

If you or someone you love is struggling, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).

Episode OverviewWhat You’ll LearnQuotable MomentsConnect with Ben

Shock & Awe
Guest: Garrison Neill – Neill Group (@garrisonneill)
Mentioned: @seriousbusinessconf

Episode Summary:
In this episode of Your Day Off Podcast, host Corey Gray sits down with Garrison Neill, Chief Marketing Officer of Neill Corporation and President of Paris Parker Salons and Spas. As part of a third-generation family business shaping the future of beauty through education, artistry, and innovation, Garrison shares how Neill Corporation continues its 78-year legacy of helping people reach their full potential through beauty.

Neill Corporation’s portfolio includes Paris Parker, Parker Barber, VoMor Hair Extensions, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes, and the industry’s leading personal and business development conference — Serious Business.

In this inspiring conversation, Garrison and Corey explore the story behind Neill’s multi-generational success, how Serious Business became the hair industry’s TED Talk, and why connection-based leadership is transforming how salons grow. The 2025 theme, Shock & Awe, challenges professionals to find gratitude, wonder, and presence in a world that never stops moving.

Highlights:

• The Neill family legacy: 78 years of leadership, education, and evolution

• How Serious Business became a movement for personal and professional growth

• “Connection drives results” — the modern leadership philosophy reshaping salon culture

• The comeback of craft, artistry, and in-person learning

• The purpose behind Shock & Awe: seeing beauty in the chaos

🎧 Your Day Off Podcast – Season 8, Episode 43
Available on all podcast platforms

Corey Gray and co-host Geno Chapman (@genochapman) sit down in Ibiza with Depot Male Tools Global Ambassadors — Luca Malnati (@luca.malnati), Dario J Braun (@dariobarbers.nl), and Tom Hoffman (@diligents_tom @diligentssalons) — for a raw, funny, and inspiring conversation about creativity, connection, and community in the barber world.

Recorded live at Hairtopia, powered by BeautyNova, this episode captures the unique energy of an event that feels more like a beach festival than a hair show. The group dives into how freedom fuels artistry, what it means to collaborate without ego, and how barbers can protect their mental space while building meaningful careers.

You’ll hear:
• How the Depot team turned a stage show into a full-on Ibiza vibe
• The art of street casting real people for authentic work
• Why teamwork and honest feedback create better shows
• How to reset after high-energy events without burning out
• The practice of asking for opportunities — not waiting for them
• Why what you consume shapes your next five years

The conversation moves easily from humor to honesty — from travel chaos and music inspiration to deep talk on leadership, self-awareness, and gratitude for the craft. It’s barbers being human, and that’s exactly what makes it resonate.

🎧 Your Day Off Podcast
Season 8 Episode 42 – Depot Male Tools Global Ambassadors-Luca Malnati, Dario J Braun, Tom Hoffman

Available on all podcast platforms

Why this weekend proves social puts the scissors back in your hands?

Hosts: Corey Gray with Co Host Geno Chapman @genochapman
Guests: @andrewsmithhairstylist @shelleylane_inspires @gianlucagrechi @milkshakehairpro

Backstage energy
Electric prep… tribal goddess hair to the floor… avant garde build tactics… securing heavy pieces without drama.

Social as your voice
And brands used to dictate the look. But hairdressers now set the trend. Therefore you can grow from any town with work that travels.

Shelley’s home salon
Childhood house turned calm studio. Why feel and environment matter. How education reignited a 20 year career.

Gianluca’s path
London training… people watching for real world inspiration… AI as a sketchbook… then proving it by hand.

Andrew’s lens
Light and reflection as the brief. Fostering kids while touring. The heart behind the craft and what family can look like.

BeautyNova x milk_shake x Ibiza
Poolside activations, DEPOT man cave vibes, Guinness record memories, and the Hard Rock closing as we walked out.

Season 8 episode 41… milk_shake Global Ambassadors

Show notes