Are you still stuck carrying business cards and answering clients on your personal phone after hours? In this no‑fluff episode, Elaine shares how she’s upgraded her daily tech habits—and why every stylist needs to follow. 🎹 What you'll learn: ✨ Why giving your personal cell number to clients is costing your sanity 💡 How to ditch printed business cards and still give a stellar first impression 👀 The magic of shared contacts: swiping your info into a client’s phone i...

Are your formulas still living by the swatch — and leaving your clients with hot roots instead of the perfect tone? In this honest, no‑fluff episode, I share a real forum post gone wrong and break down exactly what went wrong — and how you can avoid it behind the chair. 🎹 What you'll learn: ✨ Why a swatch book is not your hair color result 💡 How the natural hair base (pigment + gray + texture) contributes to your outcome 👀 Why a level‑8 red on a natural level‑5 = trouble ...

Are your clients chasing “greenwashed” promises—or ready to believe in real change? In this transparent, no‑fluff conversation, Elaine sits down with returning guest Jacquelyn Rodriguez—author of Changeworthy, founder of The Holistic Salon Academy, and co-founder of the Green Beauty Community—to explore what it truly takes to build a salon that honors people, profit, and the planet. 🎹 What you'll learn: ✨ Why vulnerability is the foundation of trust in eco‑beauty 💡 How small choi...

Are your clients chasing roots—or ready to lean into reinvention? In this raw, vulnerable episode, Elaine opens up about closing her salon of 36 years—and stepping fully into her next season. 🎹 What you'll learn: ✨ How to recognize when it’s time to let go (even when everything is on the line) 💔 The emotional weight of dismantling a dream—and the freedom on the other side 🤝 How generosity, gratitude, and community carry you through transitions 📦 Real talk: inventory, business rel...

Beyond the Chair: Why Your Eulogy Won’t Mention Your Schedule After attending a funeral, Elaine reflects on what really matters—beyond the hustle, the foils, and the packed books. 💡 Why clients (and stylists) are tired of the 4-week root routine 🎯 The truth about gray blending vs. gray transitioning 🔍 How to adapt color formulas for aging skin, softer tone, and real lifeThis is your reminder to color with intention—and live with it too. 👉 expertcolorsolutions.com 📲 Foll...

Are you feeling stuck in routines—or ready to explore your full stylistic potential? In this honest, insightful episode, Elaine chats with award-winning stylist Vivienne Mackinder about the archetypes that shape every artist’s journey—from Puppet to Perfectionist to Artist to Pedestal. What you'll learn: The four (plus one) archetypes that inform how you show up—and how to balance them.Why technical excellence doesn’t always equal client connection.How to transition from pleasing others...

Are you stuck in a rut—or ready to reclaim your edge? In this heartfelt episode, Elaine reframes the dreaded “7‑year itch” as a powerful signal for growth—not failure. What you'll learn: – Why that nagging feeling at work, friendships, or life is often a gift – How shift‑points—whether relationships, careers, or routines—hit in predictable cycles – Why emotional pain can be your internal GPS calling you forward – How planning for exits (even from places you l...

What happens when your salon’s MVP says “no thanks” to taking over? In this raw, revealing conversation, Elaine sits down with Donna Ryan—her former right hand turned successful salon owner—for a full-circle look at leadership, legacy, and letting go. What you'll learn: ✨ Why saying “no” isn’t the end—it can be the beginning 💡 What stylists don’t understand about discounts, commissions, and referrals 👀 The surprising truth about salon suites (and why most don’t last) ...

Are you carrying the emotional weight of your business alone? In this raw and revealing episode, Elaine opens up about the heartbreak of closing her salon after 36 years—and the communication breakdowns that made it inevitable. She’s joined by Tina Power, LMFT, a licensed therapist and communication coach who helps hairstylists navigate the emotional side of their work with more clarity, confidence, and care. 🎹 What you'll learn: ✨ Why culture is built (or broken) in daily communication...

Are you leveling up—or stuck in what’s “always worked”? In this candid episode, Elaine shares a painful lesson from Pilates class (involving springs, ego, and a bruised finger)—and how it perfectly parallels the mindset traps many stylists fall into behind the chair. 🎙️ What you’ll learn: ✨ Why staying in your comfort zone can quietly kill your career 💡 What a $10 glaze says about your pricing mindset 👀 How fear of judgment blocks real growth 🎯 What actually ...

Are your clients chasing roots—or ready to embrace the blend? In this honest, no-fluff episode, Elaine shares her own journey into gray blending—and what every stylist needs to know. 🎙️ What you’ll learn: ✨ Why gray blending isn’t “giving up”—it’s leveling up 💡 How to avoid over-foiling fine hair (even on yourself!) 👀 Why clients love dimensional silver—even when we don't 🎯 What most stylists get wrong about gray coverage & placement 📉 How strategic color can reduce maintenance and ...

Are you building a career—or just winging it and hoping for the best? In this powerful, no-BS episode of the Ask the Color Expert Podcast, Elaine Travis shares 20 hard-earned lessons from nearly 40 years in the beauty industry that every stylist needs to hear—whether you're just getting started or stuck in burnout. From the myth of beauty school to why giving free haircuts is killing your income, Elaine breaks down the mindset traps, pricing mistakes, and boundary issues that hold stylists ba...

Sick of juggling shelves full of demi and permanent color? In this episode, Elaine Travis welcomes Gary Cole back to the mic for a deep dive into salon inventory chaos—and how a few drops of the right additive can change everything. Introducing Color Tricks, a stylist-created solution that transforms any permanent color into a gentle, acidic demi using your existing formulas and 10-volume developer. No new inventory, no complicated re-formulating—just consistent, reliable results. Perfect for...

Are you really stuck—or just stuck in your own story? In this bold and truth-packed episode of the Ask the Color Expert Podcast, Elaine Travis challenges stylists to take a hard look in the mirror and ask: What’s really holding me back behind the chair? Drawing from nearly four decades of salon ownership and coaching, Elaine unpacks the real reasons some stylists struggle to build a loyal clientele—hint: it's not just about getting more Instagram followers. From over-relying on new client mar...

Is your pricing model helping your salon thrive—or quietly draining your profits? In this eye-opening episode of the Ask the Color Expert Podcast, Elaine Travis exposes the top 5 habits that are keeping colorists from reaching their full earning potential behind the chair. From outdated menu language to giving away blowouts, Elaine gets real about the hidden ways stylists lose income—without even realizing it. Whether you're an independent colorist or a salon owner, you'll gain practical insi...

Are your go-to hair hacks helping your clients—or secretly sabotaging your results? In this no-holds-barred episode of the Ask the Color Expert Podcast, Elaine Travis breaks down the good, the bad, and the downright ugly habits showing up behind the chair. From overused techniques to missed summer opportunities, Elaine shares the truth about what’s elevating your client experience—and what might be costing you time, money, and loyalty. You’ll walk away with smart, actionable strategies for re...

Are root touch-ups keeping your color business stuck in the past? In this Ask the Color Expert episode, Elaine Travis unveils her #1 secret to standing out as a colorist—and it’s not just about covering gray. Discover why formulas aren’t one-size-fits-all, and how custom, dimensional color can elevate your work, raise your prices, and build fierce client loyalty. Elaine dives deep into the outdated habits that hold stylists back—like dragging color through ends or relying on a single formula ...

In this episode, Elaine sits down with Tracey Napotnik, the founder of the Pennsylvania Beauty Show, to talk about the exciting return of in-person education for beauty professionals. Tracey shares her vision for the event, the inspiration behind launching it, and why now is the perfect time for stylists and salon owners to reconnect, learn, and grow together. Whether you're looking for fresh techniques, powerful networking, or a boost of inspiration, this conversation will get you fired up f...

Are formulas meant to be shared, or should they stay top secret? In this Ask the Color Expert Podcast episode, we break down the real value of a formula, why true color confidence goes beyond recipes, and how mastering formulation can set you apart behind the chair. Tune in and decide—are you Team Share or Team Keep It Secret? Want to keep up to date with all things hair color? Join the community here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.expertcolorsolutions.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or @expertcolorsolutions on Instagram....

In this latest episode of Ask the Color Expert Podcast, Michael Colr shares his journey of navigating grief. Michael Cole is a salon business expert and industry leader. He is also the board member and shareholder at Summit Salon Business Center, and has over 30 years of experience as a stylist, salon owner, and educator. As founder of Salon Development Corporation, he has helped thousands of salon professionals grow their businesses through innovative strategies. A renowned ind...