From High School Cosmo to Salon Owner: Learning, Leading, and Growing With Intention | Sam Lackney | Hairdresser & Owner | The Rare Bird
About this episode
Sam Lackney shares her journey from high school cosmetology to becoming a salon owner, emphasizing the importance of learning, community, and sustainable practices.
In this episode, Sam Lackney , hairdresser and owner of The Rare Bird , shares her journey from high school cosmetology to salon ownership, shaped by curiosity, community, and hard-earned perspective. She opens up about the lessons that come from learning the business side early, navigating uncertainty, and building a salon culture that prioritizes people, sustainability, and long-term growth. This conversation explores how artistry and accountability intersect, and why sustainable salons are built on clarity, care, and long-term thinking. Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review! 📺 Watch this episode on YouTube 📺 Key Takeaways: 🔅 Growth isn’t linear – Sam’s path from high school cosmetology to salon ownership shows that careers are built through persistence, pivots, and staying open to learning at every stage. 🔅 Learn the business early – Understanding numbers, retention, and performance metrics early on helped Sam make smarter decisions long before ownership was on the table. 🔅 Creative voice needs the right environment – Moving into a salon suite allowed Sam to refine her style and confidence, proving…
People in this episode
Host: Hatching Imagination, LLC
Guest: Sam Lackney
Topics covered
- salon ownership
- cosmetology
- business growth
- sustainability
- community building
- salon culture
Keywords
- salon ownership
- cosmetology
- business lessons
- sustainable salons
- community support
- salon culture
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Rare Bird
More episodes of The Hairdresser Strong Show
- From High School Dropout to Industry Leader: Building Salons, Teams, and Opportunity | Scott J Buchanan | President, Intercoiffure America Canada | Multi-location Salon Owner, Scott J Salons
- From Toxic to Intentional: Why Clean Beauty Isn’t About Perfection, It’s About Better Decisions | Jacquelyn Rodriguez | Founder, The Clean Beauty Biz Coach & Enlightened Styles | Co-Founder & Educational Director, Green Beauty Community
- SPECIAL: Building a Salon, Real-Time Docuseries: Permits, Renovation & Reality | Kimberly Christoph | Salon Owner & Color Specialist | Mane Street Georgetown
- HdS NEWS: Market Updates, Consumer Trends, and Tech
- Why Most Hairdressers Don’t Build Wealth (And How to Change It) | Anna Manukyan, CFEd. | Founder, Beautiful Finance Group & Beautiful Wealth
- From Stylist to Educator: Class Design, Inspiration, Philosophy, and What Comes Next | Ashleigh Taylor, Owner + Master Colorist + Educator | Taylor & York Salon
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Hairdresser Strong Show podcast page.