334 Why Modern Hair Education Must Meet Hairdressers Where They Are with Gerard Scarpaci

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Gerard Scarpaci, co-founder of Hairbrained and host of the Hairbrained Conversations podcast. We talk about the big shifts happening in hairdressing right now, how the next generation learns differently, and why the old business models have been turned on their head. Gerard shares what excites him most about the industry today, but he’s also refreshingly honest about the risks, particularly around lack of direction, mentorship, and the pressure many hairdressers are carrying without even realising it. We also dig into job satisfaction, education, live events, the changing relationship between salons and manufacturers, and why content creation is becoming one of the biggest opportunities for young hairdressers today. This is a wide-ranging, honest conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable, fulfilling career in today’s salon business. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00] Welcome and Introducing Gerard Scarpaci [01:48] What excites Gerard about the industry today [05:00] The concerns and risks of increased independence [09:00] The Hairbrained Confidence Index explained [12:36] Why industry data is emotional, not scientific [16:26] What successful salons are doing differently [17:56] Job satisfaction, pressure, and performance [23:08] Learning, relevance, and modern education challenges [29:36] Fundamentals vs "timely and relevant" learning [32:32] The changing relationship between brands and salons [37:00] Online education, live events, and what's working now [44:28] Opportunities for the next generation of hairdressers [48:00] Where to connect with Gerard and closing thoughts Want MORE to help you GROW? 📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books 🆘 Management overwhelm!? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏Thanks so much for joining me this week . If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do: - On your phone, Click here (Read steps below first) - Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews' - Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars - Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time! Antony 👉

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334 Why Modern Hair Education Must Meet Hairdressers Where They Are with Gerard Scarpaci is an episode from Grow My Salon Business Podcast by Antony Whitaker.

This episode is 50:13 long.

This episode was published on Feb 10, 2026.

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