In this episode of License & Unsupervised, we’re talking about DIY hair, color theory, and the very different types of salon guests we meet behind the chair.

We kick things off with Chromadaddy and how creative color education and product innovation are changing the way stylists approach vivid and corrective color. From there, we dive into the wild world of at-home hair experiments — the DIY box-color moments, the “I saw it on TikTok” trims, and the guests who treat their bathrooms like chemistry labs.

We break down:

• Why some guests love experimenting on themselves
• Why others won’t touch their own bangs
• The truth about using Pantene and drugstore shampoo
• Whether you should wash your hair before your salon appointment
• The importance of color theory and always doing a test strand
• A throwback to the best class party at Paul Mitchell
• What education really taught us (and what it didn’t)

This episode is for hairstylists, salon professionals, beauty students, and anyone who has ever tried to color their own hair and hoped for the best.

This episode starts with hydration — or more accurately, Naomi’s complicated relationship with water.

What begins as a casual conversation about drinking enough water quickly spirals into college memories, short-lived academic ambitions, and how neither of us exactly followed a traditional path before ending up behind the chair.

Then we take a turn to Hawaii.

Beckee shares the story of the moment she fully believed she was Moana in the ocean — connected, powerful, main character energy — until reality reminded her otherwise. Naomi follows with her own story about having zero fear on land… but perhaps a little too much confidence near water. The episode ends with a moment that is both hilarious and humbling — and yes, Alayna saving Naomi’s life.

This one is lighter, story-driven, and wildly honest. It’s about overconfidence, self-awareness, ADHD brain tangents, and the kind of storytelling that only happens when two hairstylists over 40 sit down without supervision.

Behind the chair, we carry people’s stories all day. In this episode, we share a few of ours. If you’ve ever felt unseen, emotionally exhausted, or quietly questioning what’s next while still loving this industry, this conversation is for you.

Our Instagrams: https://www.instagram.com/beckeeharris/ & https://www.instagram.com/naomitrotto_hairartist/, and Naomi's Avante Garde page can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/nays_muchness/

Learn more about us, our work, and our philosophy at https://basalonmi.com

Explore our services and book an appointment: https://basalonmi.com

For bridal inquiries and alternative bridal hair experiences: https://basalonmi.com

In this first episode, we pull the curtain back on why this podcast needed to exist.

We talk about what it really means to start something new after 40—especially in an industry where you’re expected to always be “on,” always giving, and rarely supervised. Being a hairstylist means working independently while holding space for everyone else’s emotions, stories, milestones, and trauma. Over time, that emotional labor adds up.

In this conversation, we explore how deeply emotional this career can be, how making a real impact on clients’ lives can take a toll on your nervous system, and why burnout in the beauty industry isn’t about weakness—it’s about caring deeply for a long time. We also talk about the freedom that comes with being over 40: caring less about outside noise, people-pleasing, and expectations that no longer serve us, and caring more about honesty, boundaries, and sustainability.

This episode is for hairstylists, salon professionals, and creatives who have been behind the chair long enough to feel the weight of the work—but still love it. It’s about evolution, perspective, and choosing to show up differently as we age, grow, and redefine success on our own terms.

If you’ve ever felt unseen, emotionally exhausted, or quietly questioning what’s next while still loving this industry, this conversation is for you.

Our Instagrams: https://www.instagram.com/beckeeharris/ & https://www.instagram.com/naomitrotto_hairartist/, and Naomi's Avante Garde page can be found here : https://www.instagram.com/nays_muchness/

Learn more about us, our work, and our philosophy at https://basalonmi.com

Explore our services and book an appointment: https://basalonmi.com

For bridal inquiries and alternative bridal hair experiences: https://basalonmi.com