In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears is joined by Soul Hair co-owners Andrea MacKellar and Ash Lennan for an honest conversation about career growth, partnership, motherhood, and building a values-led salon in regional New South Wales.

Andrea shares her journey from starting hairdressing at 15 to relocating from Sydney to Gunnedah for a slower pace of life — a move that unexpectedly led to opening and scaling a thriving salon. What began as a small, personal space evolved into a fully structured business, shaped by strong leadership, clear goals, and a commitment to team culture over rent-a-chair models.

Ash reflects on her unconventional career path, returning to hairdressing as a young mother and using her ambition to set an example for her daughter. Her progression from team member to salon manager — and ultimately buying into the business — highlights the power of mentorship, belief, and shared vision.

Together, Andrea and Ash unpack the realities of juggling motherhood and business ownership, sharing practical strategies like “healthy compartmentalisation” and “brain allocation” to stay present both at work and at home. They also discuss the importance of supportive partners, emotional resilience, and creating a workplace that genuinely accommodates working parents.

The episode dives into Soul Hair’s strong team-first culture, including their success with mature-age apprentices who bring drive, discipline, and lived experience. They also share their innovative commission model, where upsell treatments contribute to a team education fund — helping finance external training such as Salon Forum, where Andrea will appear on the Mom Panel.

This is a heartfelt and practical conversation about leadership, loyalty, learning, and redefining success — especially for women balancing family, ambition, and business.

In this episode, we cover:

• Building and scaling a salon in regional NSW
• From team member to co-owner: Ash’s partnership journey
• Motherhood, mindset, and managing mental load
• “Healthy compartmentalisation” and brain allocation strategies
• Creating a supportive, family-first team culture
• Employing and empowering mature-age apprentices
• Team-based commission and education incentives
• Preparing for Salon Forum and the Mom Panel

Useful Links:

https://www.instagram.com/soulhairstudiogunnedah

https://www.instagram.com/andrea_soulhairstudio

https://www.instagram.com/ash_soulhairstudio

In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears sits down with industry disruptor, founder, and author David Thurston to unpack the release of his book The Spiral Staircase and the seismic shifts shaping the global hair industry.

David reflects on the deeply personal journey behind the book — a candid account of his path from the independent salon movement through the rise of social media and into the current AI-driven era. Written in his signature “rock and roll swagger,” the book captures the highs, failures, reinvention, and purpose that defined his career, offering lessons that extend far beyond hair.

The conversation explores the industry’s current era of change, with both Hayley and David sharing concerns around the rapid acceleration of AI and the blurring of professional and consumer channels. David doesn’t shy away from calling this shift “troubling,” warning that brands and businesses who fail to adapt risk being left behind at speed.

David also opens up about selling Pulp Riot, the unexpected emptiness that followed financial success, and the clarity that led to creating Danger Jones — a brand built on community, culture, and creative impact rather than quick wins. From paying artists instead of himself to launching the global Dangerfest event, his focus remains firmly on legacy, not ego.

They discuss partnership, purpose, and what it truly means to build something meaningful in a noisy industry — touching on failure, humility, reinvention, and choosing both freedom and ambition.

This is an honest, future-facing conversation about leadership, creativity, and staying human while everything else evolves.

In this episode, we cover:

• The story behind The Spiral Staircase and why David finally wrote it
• How the hair industry has transformed across multiple revolutions
• AI, automation, and why those who don’t adapt will fall behind
• The blurring of professional and consumer channels — and why it’s concerning
• Selling Pulp Riot and redefining purpose beyond financial success
• Building Danger Jones as a community-first brand
• The power of partnership, failure, and long-term vision
• Why culture, creativity, and human connection still matter most

Useful Links:

@davidthurstonofficial

Thurston Productions Website

The Spiral Staircase BOOK

http://dangerjonescreative.com/en-au

https://www.instagram.com/dangerjonesbalayage/

https://www.instagram.com/dangerjonesbold/

In this episode of Cutting Through the Noise, Hayley Mears is joined by industry icon Tabatha Coffey for a wide-ranging and deeply honest conversation about growth, discomfort, and the realities of building a sustainable career in the hair industry.

Drawing from salon forum discussions and decades of global experience, Tabatha shares why growth isn’t meant to feel comfortable — and why chasing too much expansion at once can fragment focus and energy. From scaling a business to personal reinvention, they unpack the importance of planning, logistics, and creating a sense of safety when navigating disruption.

The conversation also explores the differences between the Australian and US hair industries, with Tabatha highlighting Australia’s strong team-based culture, high calibre of work, and thoughtful approach to education. While AI and automation are rapidly reshaping admin, marketing, and customer touchpoints, both agree that human connection, communication, and touch remain irreplaceable — making soft skills training more important than ever.

Tabatha introduces somatic work as a powerful tool for overcoming resistance to change, helping salon owners and creatives move beyond paralysis, procrastination, and burnout. By aligning decisions with personal values and learning to respond rather than react, long-term confidence and self-trust become possible.

The episode closes with a candid discussion on hustle culture, the difference between hard work and sacrifice, and why “not all money is good money.” Tabatha offers grounded advice for both seasoned salon owners and those just starting out: sustainable success comes from fluidity, self-awareness, and a willingness to stay uncomfortable — on purpose.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why growth always involves discomfort — and why that’s a good thing
• The danger of chasing too many goals at once
• Key differences between the Australian and US hair industries
• How AI will reshape admin, but not human connection
• Why soft skills and communication training are essential
• Using somatic work to move through fear and resistance
• Making decisions aligned with personal values
• Hard work vs sacrifice — and dismantling hustle culture
• Advice for the next generation of hair professionals

Useful Links:

• https://www.tabathacoffey.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/tabathacoffey/