Salon Success Secrets

What New Beauty Pros Are Craving (That Money Can’t Buy)

• Lindsay Lowe & Jen Booth

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We share why 50 new beauty pros chose education, community, and growth over money, and how that changes recruiting and retention. We walk through four modern learning styles, a hands-on education model, and a clear growth path anchored by the iron sharpens iron principle.

• Survey insight showing belonging, learning and growth as top priorities
• Four learning styles and how to teach to each
• Education as activation with hands-on practice
• Building community to convert connection into commitment
• Clear career ladders that remove confusion
• Iron sharpens iron as a coaching mindset
• Practical examples for mannequins, micro-reps and libraries
• Leadership shift from content delivery to comprehension

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SPEAKER_01:

We want to tell you something that might shock you. We asked 50 new beauty professionals, all fresh out of school, one question. What's most important to you when choosing a salon? And not a single one of them said money, not one. And that caught our attention because for years, most salon owners have built their recruiting message around pay, perks, and promotions. But this new generation, they want something completely different. And here's the part that's really interesting. What they said actually reveals why so many salons struggle to keep talent and why service providers are leaving within their first year, and what the future of our industry is going to look like in the next five. So in today's episode, we're going to unpack exactly what those 50 BeautyPros said that the three things are that they're really searching for. And the one leadership shift that's going to separate the salons that thrive from the ones that fade. Because the truth is they're not looking for jobs anymore. They're looking for belonging, for growth, and for purpose. And once we understand that, everything changes.

SPEAKER_00:

So good. So, you know, the way, if you think about it, that new beauty professionals learn and connect has completely changed. I mean, I'm sure a lot of you can agree with agree with us. You know, we're just not leading the service providers anymore. Like we're truly leading that generation that grew up learning from, let's say, TikTok, YouTube, um, TikTok tutorials, YouTube tutorials, and expecting instant feedback like that. You know, this next generation, like you guys are creative, they're smart, they're hungry, but they also think and process information differently than we did. Um, and if you're still teaching like it's 2005, that's the year I graduated hair school, you know, we're gonna we could lose them, and not because they don't care, but because they literally can't absorb the way we're delivering. And so when you start training new service providers, you probably learned something is not everyone learns the same way. And so, first of all, we're gonna break down the four different types of learners that show up in our salons right now. And if we don't adapt to all four of these learning styles, like we truly could lose three quarters, three-quarters of our team's potential. So let's walk through them together. So uh the first one is kinesthetic learners, and so they learn by doing. Um, they need to move, they need to touch, they need to feel, and they're the ones who cannot sit still in class because their body wants to learn through motions. If you've ever been uh teaching or having a salon celebration and they're wiggling in their chair, they're probably kinesthetic learners because they just want to do it. Um, and then for them, if you have a kinesthetic learner, you want to slow down and give them space for repetition and real practice. So the next type of learner is our visual learners and they learn by seeing. Get it visual learning by seeing. They actually picture information. Um, they remember, they remember colors, they remember patterns and shapes. They truly need like the storybooks, the diagrams and the examples. And if you've ever um worked with a visual learner, they actually talk pretty fast and they paint pictures with words. And so when you think about teaching a visual learner, like they truly need those storyboards, they need those diagrams and examples. And an opportunity is to talk faster to them and paint pictures with words. Another type of learner we have is the auditory learners, and this is where they learn by hearing, and so they absorb a tone, rhythm, and repetition. And so when you're working with the auditory learner, you want to make sure that you keep your phrasing consistent. Repetition is truly what builds that mastery for them. And there's one more learning style that actually I don't feel like is talked about a lot. I think a lot of people know the kinesthetic, visual, and auditory, but there is another kind of learner too. And I feel like it's more common these days as well. It's called the digital learner. Like I truly feel like this is one of the newer ones. And a digital learner learns through access. So they want to rewatch, rewind, and revisit content. And they learn best when they can press play at midnight and get the, ah, that's great. Let me write that down. The aha moment on their own time. So when you think about that, when we're teaching inside of our salons, we have to train like modern leaders. You know, we have to kind of blend all four because the goal isn't to deliver more content, it's actually to deliver more comprehension.

SPEAKER_01:

So good. So love what you just said. It's not to deliver more content, it's to deliver more comprehension. That's so good, Jen. You know, so let's go back to that survey where we asked 50 new beauty professionals what's most important to you when finding a salon. And their answer can truly be summed up in three powerful words: education, community, and growth. So let's break each one down. Let's start with the first one, which is education. You know, I don't want you to think just any kind where they can just stand around and watch. You know, what they told us was we want to do it. We want someone beside us, not in front of us. You know, see, they don't want to just observe, they want to participate, you know, and this is where many owners miss it. Um, you know, because education isn't about standing behind someone and nodding, you know, education is truly about activation. Because if they can't touch it, try it, and make a few mistakes while someone supports them, then they don't feel like they're learning. So when you're designing training, it's great to ask yourself am I creating an environment where they can practice and not just watch? Because mastery doesn't come from observation, it comes from application.

SPEAKER_00:

That's so good, Lindsay. You know, it makes me think about sometimes when we have new educators, and for some reason at the last minute, maybe they got three haircuts back to back on their schedule and they're working with a co-stylist, they'll come like, oh man, what should we do with the co-stylist? Or like, are they just gonna stand there and watch and like, hey, I have a great idea. Why don't they grab a mannequin as well, a mannequin too, and follow along as you do that haircut? And they are going to learn so much by you doing a part, teaching it, clients love it too, guests love it too, and then letting them do it on a mannequin. So I love what you said is I think you said we want someone beside us, not in front of us. So that's a great example of that. I love it. And so the next thing when we surveyed these 50 uh new beauty pros that they were truly looking for was community. Um, and like I almost got emotional thinking about this when we got the surveys back because so many said, I just want to feel like I belong somewhere. I was like, wow, this is so cool. Like it hit me. This generation has truly grown up in this online world and they don't feel connected a lot of times. They feel lonely because the greatest thing they do is scroll through social media. You know, they don't always want to be the best service providers in the salon, they just want to be part of the best salon team. You know, what they're craving truly is that mentorship, that collaboration and a place to grow without judgment. And when we create that, we create that kind of loyalty that we're seeking because connection creates commitment. And community isn't a nice to have anymore, it's a non-negotiable for salon owners.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, that is such a missing component right now. I love that one. And uh, when we move on to the to the third one, which is a path to grow, not just a job. You know, this one came up in the feedback from almost every single person. They said, I want to know what success looks like before I start. And the truth is, this generation wants clarity, they want to see the next step, level one, level two, level three, and not to rush it, but to just know that it exists. And, you know, I truly think this is where leadership evolves because when people can see their future, they stay. But confusion kills motivation. But clarity, you know, it clarity creates uh movement. And there's truly a timeless uh principle that ties all of this together. And it's one of my favorites. It's it comes from Proverbs, Proverbs 27, verse 17, where it says, as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. So beautiful, you know. When two pieces of iron rub together, both are changed. There's friction, there's heat, and sometimes, you know, there's sparks, but the process is what creates an edge. So, in other words, sharpening doesn't happen in silence, it happens in relationship, you know? And that's what this new generation of beauty pros is craving. They don't just want to work around people, they want to grow with them. And that's why community matters, that's why coaching matters, that's why your leadership matters, real leadership. It isn't about being the expert in the room, it's about creating an environment where everyone gets sharper together, you know. And I want to pause here just a second to just go a little deeper because think about it. If iron sharpens iron, that means friction isn't failure. It means progress. You know, so when a new service provider asks a question, when they struggle with confidence, when they get feedback, that's the sharpening process. You know, and so our job as leaders is to guide that friction so it forges growth instead of resentment. Because when your team learns how to work with each other, their edge becomes unstoppable. And in that kind of environment, you don't just build stylists or service providers, you're truly building beauty professionals.

SPEAKER_00:

So good. So um, you know, if you think about it, everything that we talked about today, the learning styles, the desire for community, the need for a clear path, and this iron sharpens iron principle. That's exactly actually what Lindsay and I have been building behind the scenes at Salon Business School. It's something designed for this next generation, and we're so excited about it. Um, it's to help beauty professionals grow their mindset, method, and map for success. It's actually called Million Dollar Beauty Pro. And now, this isn't a course that teaches skills. It's truly a movement, you guys, that transforms the way beauty pros think, learn, and lead. And it's for the ones, it's for the salons who want to be part of a community that sharpens them, you know, who wants that hands-on education that sticks and who truly want a clear roadmap to six-figure success that's built on service and not sales. So if you're truly feeling that spark and that sense of, hey, this is what I've been waiting for in my salon. I'm a salon owner. I don't have time to train my team. This is exactly what I've been seeking. You can get um early access right now. So just text the word pro PRO to 469-283-5590. Again, that's pro PRO to 469-283-5590. Because truly the future of this industry doesn't belong to the loudest salon on social media. It belongs to the ones who sharpen others, who build together, and who believe that when one rises, we all rise.

SPEAKER_01:

Thanks for tuning in. We'll see you next time.