You can look like you've got everything together on the outside while your brain is running at full volume on the inside.

In this episode, Nic and Tess sit down with salon owner and educator Jess Lewis for a raw, funny, and deeply relatable conversation about being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult—and why so many women spend years believing what they're experiencing is simply anxiety, overwhelm, or the pressure of having too much on their plate.

Jess opens up about what finally prompted her to seek answers, what sensory overload feels like in real time, and how intrusive thoughts and mental spirals can affect relationships, parenting, confidence, and the way you show up as a business owner.

The conversation also explores the reality of running a fully booked salon in a challenging economy while raising three children and carrying the constant responsibility that comes with business ownership and motherhood. Jess shares how hormones, exhaustion, and never-ending demands can impact your capacity—and why understanding what's happening in your brain can be such a powerful first step.

They also get practical about what has helped Jess, from ADHD medication and creating boundaries to recognising masking, protecting her energy, and finding healthier ways to quieten the noise.

Most importantly, this is a conversation about normalising the messy middle and creating space for women to talk honestly about what they're experiencing without shame.

In this episode, you'll learn:
🧠 What led Jess to seek an ADHD diagnosis as an adult
💭 Why ADHD symptoms in women can sometimes be mistaken for anxiety or overwhelm
🔊 What sensory overload, intrusive thoughts, and mental spirals can actually feel like
👩‍👧‍👦 How ADHD, motherhood, hormones, and exhaustion can affect your capacity
💼 The reality of managing a busy salon while trying to be present at home
💊 What Jess has found helpful in quietening the noise and managing her ADHD
🚧 Why boundaries are essential for protecting your energy and capacity
🤍 How masking can affect the way neurodivergent women show up at work and in relationships
🌱 Why normalising the messy middle can help women feel less alone

Whether you've been diagnosed with ADHD, are beginning to question your own experiences, or simply feel like your brain never stops running, this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone—and that understanding yourself can change everything.

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon

Selling a salon might look clean and straightforward on paper—but living through it is anything but.

In this episode, Nic and Tess are joined by Team Leader Tae for an honest conversation about what it's really like to navigate a salon sale from inside the team. With the business changing hands and the new owner coming from within the existing team, Tae shares the mix of sadness, excitement, overwhelm, and fresh energy that comes with what feels like the end of an era.

They explore what happens to team culture when the ground starts shifting, how leaders can create stability during uncertain times, and the difficult question of when to tell your team about a potential sale. From communication and trust to managing expectations when timelines change, this conversation gets real about the human side of business transitions.

The conversation also goes beyond the sale itself and into capacity, time management, and leadership focus. After an intense 24 hours of filming a leadership course, planning future podcast episodes, running a private client session, and still showing up to record, Nic and Tess unpack the belief that "I don't have enough time", and how distractions can quietly take us away from the work that actually moves our business forward.

Because getting off the salon floor to think, plan, and lead isn't a luxury. It's part of building a healthy, sustainable business.

In this episode, you'll learn:
💭 What it really feels like for a team leader when their salon is being sold
❤️ How to navigate sadness, excitement, uncertainty, and change within a team
🗣️ When to tell your team about a potential sale—and when to wait
🤝 How trust and communication can protect your team culture during major transitions
🧠 Why distractions can quietly steal your leadership capacity
⏰ How to rethink the belief that you simply don't have enough time
🚪 Why getting off the salon floor creates space for better leadership and decision-making
🌱 How stepping aside can be a powerful act of conscious leadership when it's time for a new chapter

Whether you're a salon owner considering a sale, a team leader navigating change, or a business owner thinking about succession planning, this episode offers an honest look at the emotional and practical realities of handing over a business you've built.

Sometimes leadership means holding the team steady through change. And sometimes, it means having the courage to step out of the room and make space for what's next.

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon

Does recommending retail products make you feel pushy or "salesy"?

You're not alone. But what if you've been looking at it the wrong way?

In this episode, Nic and Tess sit down with Sonia Tomas, also known as The Salon Doctor, to unpack one of the biggest mindset shifts every salon owner and stylist needs to make: selling isn't about making more money, it's about serving your clients well.

Drawing on more than 37 years in the hair industry and helping salons generate over $8 million in retail sales, Sonia shares why so many teams struggle to recommend products, the limiting beliefs holding them back, and how a simple shift in perspective can transform both the client experience and your salon's profitability.

If you've ever felt uncomfortable recommending retail, this episode will completely change the way you think about sales.

In this episode, you'll learn:
💡 Why selling is really about serving your clients—not pushing products
🧠 The mindset blocks stopping salon teams from confidently recommending retail
💬 How asking better questions leads to better client outcomes
🎯 Why consultations should focus on solving problems, not making sales
💰 How creating value naturally increases retail sales and client trust
🤝 Why your clients actually want your professional advice
🚀 Practical ways to increase retail sales without feeling pushy or uncomfortable

Whether you're a salon owner wanting to grow your business or a stylist looking to build more confidence with client recommendations, this episode is packed with practical advice you can implement immediately.


To follow Sonia's journey:
https://www.instagram.com/thesalondr/

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon