ep71 – Lindsey Olson

This week we have a formidable stylist. She is a global educator for Redken, a Sam Villa ambassador, and a member of the Redken/Mizani Texture Squad. She has won NAHA, and The Big Shot, and she is your L’Oreal Color and Styling winner. She is equally at home in salon seminars as she is on the main stage in front of thousands. Here is Lindsey Olson!

• Falling into the industry, and her experience with education-driven salons (0:00)
• Balancing creativity and simplicity in the beauty industry (12:23)
• Working with diverse hair textures (16:52)
• The impact of competition on a stylist’s career growth (29:07)
• Education, growth, and helping others in the beauty industry (43:33)
• Industry challenges, personal struggles, and career highlights (1:00:39) 

Complete Transcript

Chris Baran 0:00
How great would it be to get up close and personal with the beauty industry heroes? We love and admire and to ask them how did you learn to do what you do? I’m Chris Baran, a hairstylist and educator for 40 plus years, and I’m inviting all our heroes to chat and share the secrets of their success

are welcome to head cases. And I have to tell you a little bit about our guest today. First of all, she doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to doing just one thing. When she does stuff she jumps in with both feet besides working in the salon. She is a global educator for Redken, a Sam Villa ambassador and a Redken Mizani texture squad member, and I’ll have to ask her, when she does actually get some sleep what she actually gets time for. Her accolades include NAHA, Big Shot styling winner, L’Oreal and color styling winner for color and style as well as natural texture, her color and her textured hair work and her styling and I’ll tell you it inspires on a global level, and she has really has the ability to get down and personal, whether it’s in salon seminars, or all the way up to major mainstage presentations of 1000s as a matter of fact, in this interview that we’re doing right now, she’s heading out to Berlin to do the symposium there. So let’s get into this week’s headcase Lindsey Olson. Well, Lindsey, first off, welcome to head cases, it is just an absolute pleasure to have you on here and I and we spend so much time on the road together and doing all the things that we do at the exchange and, and we always have a little bit of our alone time in here, but I’m just really excited about having you in head cases. And just so I get a chance to just chat with you and find out all this great information. So Lindsey, first off just welcome to headcase it’s great to have you on board. Oh,

Lindsey Olson 2:04
Chris, this is super exciting for me. You have no idea. You’re a huge part of my career. So I am thrilled to be a part of this today.

Chris Baran 2:12
Ah, well, listen. I always ask this of everybody that comes on board because I have this philosophy that you always you either fell into becoming hairdresser, which I did. Or you kind of knew you wanted to be at all along, and you and every all your path leading from when you were a child forward into becoming hairdresser. So I just want to what’s your hair story? How did you get involved? What’s What’s the drill,

Lindsey Olson 2:36
I definitely just fell into it. I was 16 and needed to get a job, basically, is where it started. And I was like, Where could I work and I was like, a salon would be cool. I think I think it’ll be fun. I knew nothing of the industry. I didn’t go to salons at that point. I didn’t think I got my hair professionally done yet. But I just was trying to find something that I would fit into like that I would like and I started working at Salon as like a shampoo assistant at 16. And that salon was incredible. And I instantly fell in love with the industry because of that team. So

Chris Baran 3:14
the the I mean, I here’s the way I kind of feel it that you tell me if I think we’ve all been to 1000s of salons and you see that there’s a culture in it. And it can be whatever culture it is. But it seemed to be what I’m from what I’m hearing that yours had more education driven. And I think that creates that community that that is that would you would you put that as part of what drew you in? Or is that what the kind of the vibe of the salon was that made? You want to jump into it?

Lindsey Olson 3:42
Yeah, this team was it felt like one they were like going to classes, they had classes there and I knew nothing of the industry. So like I was like deer in the headlights like what is going on? I’m like, What do you mean, they’re going to Vegas for a show. And then I would see educators come in and the team worked like a family like it was a energy that I never had experienced before let alone was I like this is I mean think about 16 So to have this like energy and like family vibe, and it was super, you know, fast pace and nice but like it at the time to the song was like so nice, but they were not like they weren’t rude. They just were nice. And they were giving these experiences to their guests that like I never even knew existed. So I definitely was like, this is pretty amazing. I had no idea it was even possible. And they had me right away. I was like I have to be a part of this. Even though I knew nothing about doing hair. I definitely had a lot to learn. So

Chris Baran 4:37
did you want to you want to give a shout out to them? Like what salon was that? What salon and where?

Lindsey Olson 4:43
Oh yeah, this is a motto here does. I’m out of here design and I started in Frankfurt and I stayed there for like five years all the way through cosmetology school and they’re they’re still they’re still in existence today. They still reckon elite salon. And yeah, they were they were amazing. They were an amazing team to be a part of I. And the only reason I even left was I felt like, I didn’t want to say a word at one place for my entire life. I felt this like it’s too, like, I should probably work with other people. I did regret it when I first left, though, but I just felt like I should try working in different people because I was 16. And then it was like, 21. And I’m like, I should probably try other other teams. It wasn’t even like I felt dissatisfied with them. I just felt like, Is it weird to stay at the same place? And I’d already got, you know, taking gas and everything like that. But it will say I miss them immediately. And which was a good lesson to learn. I was like, you know, they were an amazing team. And it’s not it. You know, like you said, we go in a lot of places. And, you know, I’m sure our guests feel the same way. It’s the energy. It’s the culture, it’s the vibe that you give, it’s not just the hair. It was else. Yeah.

Chris Baran 5:52
Yeah, yeah. I mean, I think that’s the thing is that the clients feel it, we feel it. And I think that’s what draws I mean, for anybody that’s listening and watching out there right now, is just to think about your business that you have, that not only brings in the customers, but it brings in the new talent, because they see, and they see the energy that’s out there. And we all I mean, we can go 10 ways to Sunday right now about how much money that there is an opportunity that there is for earning in our industry. But and one of which is is kind of the photographic and so like, you know, so I want to I’m gonna kind of jump in here because you obviously started off in the salon. You got a good go, you traveled and got some experience at different salons. But look, what was the jump that that that took you to? Okay, I’m working in the salon. I’m doing good work. I love what I do. But I’m going to try this scary thing that I’ve never done before called photography. What was kind of that that jumped? That took you into the photographic

Lindsey Olson 6:52
side? Yeah, you got that? Right. It was scary. I think at that point, like I knew nothing of it. And I was like, I wanted to experience it. Hair competitions as well as like fashion week and doing photo shoots because like, I didn’t know anything of it. So like, I need to try it out. I need to do this. And I will say to if there’s anything that also totally pivotally changed my career, it was the fact that not just those photoshoots, but styling hair, showing what your your skill set is, was like the gateway to everything. So it was a it was like, Okay, I work in a salon, I’m doing this, you know, you know, I think a lot of guests to ask, like, Oh, do you do Fashion Week? Or photoshoots? Or editorial work? Or have you ever done that? And it’s kind of like, I think everybody should experience some of that as a stylist to like, see what that side of the industry is.

Chris Baran 7:42
What I love about you is that your number one is, I think it’s your commitment to hair number one and number two is, is I remember, I remember doing. We did we’ve done a couple of shoots together. And I remember one particular time. And I think this is so critical that you do what you love to do. And you just said I love long hair. I love coloring long hair. And I love dressing long hair. And so I just like just to speak to that, like the I know that everybody always has her. I’m a short haired guy. You’re the long haired girl. And I think that makes a nice Connect. But tell me, what about this? What is it about that that really pushes you? What is it about that? That really makes you excited and get him to do a photoshoot with a longer head of hair. And how do you keep varying it so that it’s different every time.

Lindsey Olson 8:40
I think one of the things that I love about it is aesthetically it’s something that I enjoy is working on longer lengths. And the other thing about it is I see so many people that do do short hair because they think it fits the box of what they’re supposed to be doing. And I might have gotten different results if I went with short hair, but wanted to push the boundaries of something that seems so classic or timeless, but put a different spin on it or a different edge on it to show that you can have long hair and still make it artistic. It doesn’t have to be, you know, short hair is not the only thing that speaks like edge or artistry. And I think that’s why I stayed with a lot of the shoots that we’ve done with working on long hair instead of going towards a pixie or Bob in

Chris Baran 9:27
one eye. And I’m not trying to put you together with this other person. But the one thing that I really see in similarities between you and Shawn Godard and number one is you’re both on the road. You’re both killing it on the road and everybody wants you in theirs in their salons on the road. But what I think that I and correct me if I’m wrong about this because I was having a conversation with somebody about you the other day and I was saying what I what I think that makes you so tractive to all the people in our industry right now and why they want to learn from you, is you have this incredible ability to take work that can be done. It’s salon double hair. Gorgeous, but done with a flair and a little bit of difference. So it’s not what I love about your work, it’s not necessarily rainbows, even though you can have rainbows mixed in with it, can you kind of speak to your taste in that manner?

Lindsey Olson 10:32
Yeah, um, well, thank you for the compliment. And I do admire Shawn, and I think he’s fantastic, too. I think it’s, you know, it’s never been easy to like, always just own your style. And as the career path goes, definitely you’re pushed to maybe do something different. But I think what’s so important, now more than ever, is to just if you love a certain aesthetic, to focus on that, and not to be worried about comparing. So for me, you know, it’s something that just suits my aesthetic, my style, I love one of the best compliments I can get as to be sustainable. And I think there’s some artists out there that think that’s takes away from their artistry. But my whole goal is I love sharing, and I’m here to help salon professionals. So like, to me, it’s the best compliment that I feel like they can relate to some things that I’m doing that it’s not too far away from them, but maybe it’s got a little spin a little bit of different artistry on its butt that they can relate to it and feel like it’s within their third world. You know, like, I don’t want to get too far away from that, because I’m here to help them. You know. And I really think that’s important. At

Chris Baran 11:43
the end of the day, it’s really about how we help people in the industry. You know, I mean, we have this saying that and whether it’s used a lot or not, earn a better living live a better life, live your best life. But at the end game, Lindsay, it’s really about how we help people make money for themselves and their family isn’t that it’s about what what do we do, that can get them out of a rut, or take something that they can do that they feel comfortable with, but they’re willing to push themselves a little bit with, and that’s what I love about the techniques that you do particularly, and I’m just going back to, I think it was like two shoots that we did a go and you just had that beautiful long head of hair. And the way that you took regular color. Like um, when I say regular color, I just mean blondes and brown and you know, beautiful shades. But then you punch it with something that’s really a you know, like an in your face, but not for the whole head. Yeah. It is like how do you how do you put it together? So do you do swatches? Do you do palettes? Do you like how is it that you come up with those formulas? Or a pattern that you would use for for a shoot? I mean, the things that you would do in this one? Well,

Lindsey Olson 12:53
first, I can’t take all the credit, I’ve learned so much from working with yourself on shoe and knowing that it doesn’t always have to be super complicated to make something really good. You know, it seemed like you know, we’ve done a shoot and seeing like just moving one little piece of hair change the whole look. And less is more. So it’s like seeing how like, you know if I’m working with blondes, but then I put like some pink and just like a little bit of, you know, green or something that like has some that catches the eye differently. But it’s not like in your face. It’s subtle, but it still has like some attraction to it. And I definitely learned that from working with other people is like seeing what works. You know, when you try to do too much. You know, look at a makeup artist. If you do too much too much makeup, too much hair. It’s overdone and the message isn’t as strong were when you can do something that’s a little bit. I don’t wanna say soft, but it can be but then there’s just like a little point a little something interesting. To me, that’s something that I’m attracted to, like, it’s my something that inspires me is like seeing something that can be so powerful, but it’s not like so overdone. Yeah,

Chris Baran 14:00
I think there’s a word I’m wondering, I’m going to use the word. And for people that are listening or watching right now my intent is not to insult but I think there’s this what there’s a saying that I’m familiar with it I don’t know if the rest of the industry or even I’m sure you heard it said before, but hairdresser hair and I think that’s there’s a difference in there when like what the work that you do is is classic and it’s tasteful, and it’s and it’s it has those colors and those elements in it, but it’s not so overbearing that it’s just it’s like blow up in your face and I I say to this as I was judging the Australian awards for apprentices just the other day and and it was really interesting and seeing how these apprentices would put their work together and there was some that just did beautiful, commercial work and explained really well and It stood out a mile. And then the next person would do a really extreme hair cut, and then try to put as many different radical colors in there as they possibly could. And to me, it’s like, I don’t want hairdresser hair to be offensive to people. But I think that you’ve got to pick something and make that the predominant. Could you kind of speak to what your your feel on? That is what like, when you see something that’s too much, or too little, etc? What’s your thoughts on that?

Lindsey Olson 15:34
I think it’s, you know, I think some people go that way, because they, if they get creative freedom, they’re trying to check all the boxes. And it really comes just from experience, I wouldn’t have seen this, if I didn’t try so many things, try and fail number one to make mistakes. And when you’re, you know, putting together extensions, or wigs or shoots with models, and you actually see what works together, I mean, even down to like, you know, you might have this beautiful long hair, and all of a sudden, the shoulders and the dress are too much. And it’s like learning through experience of like, Wow, if I really take it down a notch, but I have like one strong, interesting point. That’s all it needs. It doesn’t need it speaks much louder, and attracts the eye and much more than like this, this, this, this and this. So definitely from experience and just seeing what actually works together to your point, you have to pick something that’s like the focal point, otherwise, people attention, they don’t know what to focus on. Right. And if anything, your message then gets lost instead of being stronger. But I think people feel like they have to be so big and grand to to make their work, like stand out. And I hope more and more like practice a little bit of like simplicity, but interesting, because to me those those looks can be a little bit more timeless.

Chris Baran 16:52
So and I heard you say that you work you work with you’ll work with wigs as well. Yes, yes. So if you’re doing a shoot, will you would you work with wigs? Do you try to add pieces in what is it both

Lindsey Olson 17:02
I mean, anything from making a wig, myself adding pieces to the hair, I do love working with natural hair and adding to as much as possible to create a look. I love the artistry that comes with knowing that there’s real hair with it. And even if you feel like it doesn’t totally take over. But like I love incorporating the real hair because it just has this more like realness to it like really like it’s, it’s not too overdone. So anytime that you can incorporate natural hair and just build off of it, I think is a really cool and strong skill sets. Not always possible, because depends on how much time you have, and how many looks you’re trying to do. But it is a really nice skill set to do that on.

Chris Baran 17:45
I want to jump in because I want to talk to the diversity that you do into here. Because the you know, you’re also part of the texture squad. You know, and because I think that for so many years everybody was doing every time you saw a shoot, it was always on long straight hair or straight hair that was cut into something short. And we have a whole sort of missed opportunity that we have with texture. And so what would you say to people that because we have this thing where people in our industry or some people say look, it comes to really coily hair? I’m terrified of it. What would you say? What would what would your advice to people that are sitting back and just letting all of this money? Experience fun that goes along with doing textured hair? Yeah. What would you say to them? I have How would you what would you advise to get them into to get started in it at least

Lindsey Olson 18:46
I have a lot to say about this. But some of the biggest things I would say is I understand the fear and the insecurity and the lack of confidence because if you don’t have hair like that it’s natural to feel not as you know, qualified or knowledgeable. And we’re you know, as hairstyles everybody wants to make their gastro model feel beautiful and nobody wants to feel like they’re doing it not right and not feel confident it so I don’t really understand where that comes from. My biggest advice is to learn how to work on all textures it to me, I’m almost embarrassed that I went so far into my career without being as confident as I am now. Because the way I look at it is I am here to do hair, all hair and the reason I got into working on all textures because it literally felt like mine. I’m like this is what I my responsibility to be knowledgeable and confident. I had no idea it would actually take me where it did career wise but I just did it because I felt the responsibility of a professional stylist that I should be able to no matter who sits in my chair, no matter if I’m in a salon or shoot or fashion week that I should know this is part of my career. And on top of it to your point of Money. It’s the most creative and professional when you feel that no matter who sits in your chair, you got it. It is like full circle on top of the fact that is the most rewarding thing to give Gus with higher textures that have had less great experiences in the salon. A really good experience. That’s a lot. I know.

Chris Baran 20:21
I’m, I’m out there. I’m listening right now. And I’ve watched you on stage and I’ve seen you do the work. I’ve seen your work I’ve seen you do this incredible work on an a photoshoot just taking somebody’s natural hair and making an incredible and that and let’s say I’m that person listening right now. And I’m terrified that I might make a mistake on that hair because I’ve not done it before. Yeah, what would you tell me to do,

Lindsey Olson 20:49
I would tell you to find a model a person that you feel comfortable making a few mistakes around, find somebody that has the higher texture, but that you feel comfortable to be like, let me practice. Take a couple classes too. But find somebody that you feel that you can be a little bit more open with because I’ll never forget the first few times that like I brushed Hi coily hair, like I you know, but I had to I had to be in a state that I was not going to be too hesitant because I was so scared that I would offend somebody or make a mistake that was gonna like decrement my career, but you have to dive in. So you know, get a model, get a colleague, a friend, and practice. Because once you start getting more confidence that way, then when it comes to a model or guest you really have to come from experience like yes, there’s amazing mannequins that pivot point have that have all textures, but you really got to get your hands on a person

Chris Baran 21:47
on a person. And you know, would you agree that sometimes just talking to that person that has the natural texture, and asking them what they do? Oh, yeah, I’ll never forget, I remember when being in and again, for my co head fans in Victoria, British Columbia, and doing hair. And I had, I had some clients that that had this incredible curly hair. And you know, like it that was in the 80s when you would wrap on perms. And it was like, like, imagine a gray rod perm, but done perfectly. And I remember this, this incredible girl coming in. And then I could never get her hair to look like she did at the end. And, and I thought one day I finally just said, Look, you do your hair way better than I do. I could just do your hair. I want you to do your hair, I just want to watch what you do. Yeah. And the first mistake that I made was I applied product the way that I would do to straight hair. And I didn’t put enough product in her hair. Whereas she went in and slathered this product in her hair. And I watched her do it. And I just wanted to look, I could do that. And that’s just so simple. And all I had to do is ask her yeah, what was your? What are some of the learning experiences that you’ve had in that vein?

Lindsey Olson 23:10
I’m definitely similar, similar and on the opposite side. So I definitely have learned I have a guest of mine that we literally share hot tubs even down to like packaging, I put products in color bowls to scoop them out of color bowls, because packaging doesn’t work. Because to your point of how much product then put in. So like, I have some guests that like we’re so comfortable that she’s like, Oh, I would use it like this, it needs to be in a tub. And I’m like, I know, we should have everything in a bowl, because that’s how it works. So you know, it’s having the relationship that you are open to learning from each other because like, Cory will share with me how tips that like I didn’t think of you know, from her perspective of doing it. I would also add that at some point in the journey, you also have to know that you’re going to have things to share, even if they have the texture that you’re learning on. Because I remember, I got to a point where I would do that. Like I would start to feel like if I was working on a gusta model that had high texture. And if I would ask them like, Oh, do you diffuse their your hair? And if they said no, in the beginning, when I wasn’t as confident as I am now, I would start to get nervous. Like will I need a diffuser? Because we’re like, that’s what we do. And I would start to think I was gonna do what the hell am I gonna do with it now? Right? Yeah, I’m like, I have to defuse it. And I tell this at every class, I said, at some point, you need to approach everybody the same and know that you have something to teach them. So we need to approach it as a sharing point. And know that now I get the point where I’m like, I’m gonna take you through the steps, just like I would if you know, buddy with five hairs on her head, I’m teaching her how to get value. I’m gonna take you through all the steps. Some of it you might know, it’s not the dumbing down, but I’m just going to do what I do to everybody because this is the way I work. And every time I’ve done that and gotten out of the fact of thinking that the guest or the model knows more than you, you enlighten them and I’ve had So many gusset models say thank you for taking the time for teaching me because it doesn’t always happen, especially when you’re talking wavy, curly, coily hair. And you’d be surprised on how much you can share with somebody, even if they have a really good regimen of how they do their hair, and how it looks that you might enlighten them and share with something that like changed it for them. So there’s a little bit of like learning from them, and also making sure that you share in your jumps too, instead of just assuming that they know.

Chris Baran 25:27
Yeah, yeah, it’s true. I mean, just like when we’re teaching people, I mean, sometimes you can go, this is a comb, and they’ll go, oh, the reality is, is some people don’t know how to use certain implements. So yeah, you know, that I’ll never forget watching. You know, and I pride myself that I’ve tried to learn as much as I can, and the things that I don’t know I try to learn from, but I’ll never forget watching, I think it was I can’t remember whether it was Guido or a member a session artists that, that watched them wrap the head of hair, you know, like doing like, like a wrap, wrapping some naturally curly hair, wrapping it around the head, which we’ve all done, you know, we’ll wrap it around to make it straight. But then I remembered that what they did is they just took mousse, and they slathered it on the head. And then they took neck strips that you use for men’s barbering. Yeah. And they just wrapped that all the way around the head and then dried the hair. And I went, that was brilliant. And then I think when you can take that kind of thing and pass just little tips like that on to your clients, I think that really makes a world of difference as well.

Lindsey Olson 26:38
Yes, absolutely agree. Just share, you know, learn, try and then share

Chris Baran 26:45
when you weren’t as confident as you are now, because you have all this experience, we know that’s what creates it. Well, what were some rough spots that you went through, was there anything that that you were doing a head of hair and you went crap, this isn’t working, or whatever, and then the way you had to work your way through it, or whatever, all the

Lindsey Olson 27:06
time, still, all the time, you know, there’s, there’s always what I went through before, I can’t get to where I’m at now. And trust me, I still have so much to learn when it comes to like, how every head of hair is different. Even curls, there’s so much learning. And every time you work with somebody, like you might try something that you really know, and it just doesn’t work the same. You know, I think the biggest thing is like, hold your self responsible, but not be so hard on yourself. And just to your point, it’s like be open to see where’s the learning. I mean, even a couple weeks ago, we were doing a show. And you know, one of my I would say weaker points is like I could be so much better at like building, like putting wire and building up shapes for like more stage work. And I was watching tomorrow and I’m like God, I definitely overcomplicate it, but he’s got it so well. And I’m like I just overcomplicate it. And I could just be a little bit simpler on that, like what the structure is, you know, I thought I was gonna have my models here, up here. And her head was so sensitive. The ponytails hurt so bad, we ended up having put everything in the back of the head. And I had to make a call, I’m not good. You know, maybe somebody else would be like, No, it’s part of the job. But like, it was uncomfortable for the model to wear the hair up on the top of the head. I mean, to call and move the whole look to the back of the head wasn’t exactly what I planned on. But to me, it was the decision to be made. Like it’s, you know, I don’t want anybody to be in pain that I’m working with. So the whole look at a shift. I had planned it at practice on mannequins, blocks, all the things, but everybody’s different. So like what worked for in practice didn’t work on her. So you have to be able to move with it. And you know, be prepared, because things are going to shift and they’re not going to turn out. I mean, I look back at you know, you don’t always love every shoot, you’ve done. You’re like I could have done maybe I would have done this better. But I can’t get there until I go through and make the mistakes, which of course, they’re not always fun to go through, but they definitely bring it to the other side. Yeah,

Chris Baran 29:07
I want to just bring back and you just sparked something in my brain and I can remember I remember doing an I can’t remember the name of the salon. It was highprofile salon down in Chicago. And this had to be at least I’m guessing at least 2025 years ago or 20 At least I know you were seven at the time. And I noticed that you were just getting into the business and you were you were doing some of the color that we were doing at the show etc at the cloud in this classroom. I noticed when you’re talking about I kept watching you I kept watching your progress as you went through the network. And then I remember and I forgive me I don’t remember the first photo competition that you won but I can’t remember whether it was a L’Oreal color trophy or a L’Oreal competition. You won. And, and you came in first and it and it was just the work was beautiful. And then it just your career just blossomed after that. Now what do you what? How do you what would you attribute that to? Number one? I want you to think about that. And then how do you think that just by entering those competitions or pushing yourself or whatever it how do you think that that? What did that help you along with your career? How did that help advance it?

Lindsey Olson 30:30
I think, to the first point, entering you, I remember, I worked with somebody and it was like, let’s not make this about your competitions, because that’s a whole nother side of it. I can’t even imagine my career without here competitions, not for winning. I remember the very first shoot I did by myself was entering na and I did become a finalist, but it was the very first shoot I’ve ever put together myself. And it wasn’t even about becoming a finalist, I’ll never forget the feeling of walking away from that shoot. I, I remember, I mean, I’m kind of like crazy person where like, I practice things a dozen times. And I stand there and I go in that really crazy creative cycle. We’re you love it, you hate it, you love it, you hate it, you love it, hate it over and over again. And I work super hard. And I think one people don’t realize like how hard you sometimes have to put the work in like you got to try, you got to get yourself to the point where you’re frustrated, and it’s literally part of the path. And it sucks and doesn’t always feel good. But I remember after the very first shoot I did, I remember I’ll never forget the feeling of literally walking out of the sack. It was like it was life changing the connection that mean the team had seen like, and trust me the first couple of shots of the work. It wasn’t working, like I had practice and practice and practice. And I’m like, oh, it’s not working. And what happens when you do a competition, you put yourself through this like process of trying something different learning along the way, making mistakes, it has nothing to do with like, if of course it’s amazing to win and be a finalist. But like the growth that happens as a stylist, as a stylist works behind the chair. You just can’t get that without putting your self out there through competitions. I can’t advocate enough for entering competitions because to your point, I completely agree my career totally shifted after doing them. But it’s not just about people getting to see your work. It’s how you will work at your work. How much effort you’ll put in to to do things to try things to you know, I love salon life, but I think a lot of stylist should invest more into competitions. I think it helps stay inspired and energized in the salon. If you get to work with other people and push your skill set outside the salon. I always say get outside the salon to stay in the salon. Like you have to do these things. And this is what makes them when you go back to salon even feel more exciting and like playtime because then you could talk about the shooter the competition or the hair that you did. It definitely helps stay energized that way.

Chris Baran 33:10
This episode is sponsored by the salon associate accelerator from trainers playbook.com. Are you struggling with the time and cost of associate training? Do you feel like your salon is running you will get your associates on the floor, all with 90% Less time from you. So you can get back to building your business. Get them world class design, finishing color and client care skills they’ll use every day for the rest of their career. While you focus on realizing your vision. Go to trainers playbook.com and get the salon associate accelerator and now back to the show. What would you say your I mean, it’s I think when I watch people that at shoots are just in any situation. People are either when they’re in stress mode, or I’m gonna I’ll give you the scenario things aren’t working. It’s not working quite right. stresses can kind of hitting you do you work better in that environment? Or do you work? Does it hurt you when you’re in that environment?

Lindsey Olson 34:23
It’s not I

Chris Baran 34:24
don’t feel it’d be every asset because I don’t pass that correctly. I think like it do you do operate when the stress hits and the kind of the shit hits the fan things aren’t working. Do you find that that pushes you into optimal mode or do you find that it sets you back some people it does some people it doesn’t to be

Lindsey Olson 34:44
honest. It sets me back but I know I will. It will be better that I go through it and figure it out. Because I personally work really good like in my studio by myself practicing trying practicing trying. But to the point just like a stead of the story about the model and not working, you can only get so far by yourself. So it stresses me out. I feel like it sets me back. But it is literally part of the growth like you, you can’t always have it totally planned out. And this is one thing I speak a lot to other stylists is that moment when you I used to think if I can’t get the hair to work, it was because I wasn’t good at doing hair. And it’s really, it’s not that you have to see that everybody’s face shape head body is different. And you could plan something out to a tee on a block on a mannequin. But the skill set then comes with when you work on that model, how you can shift it, that’s where, you know, you have to learn to let go. And you have to see what’s happening there. And like what you might have planned on, it helped you get there. But then you just have to like move with what’s happening there. And I tell you that all the time, I’m like don’t beat yourself up on it, that you didn’t do good hair, and you’re not able to make it work, you’re able to make it work more when you let go. And you see what’s happening in front of you. That’s actually a skill.

Chris Baran 36:01
Yeah, and I love what you said there. I think that’s just absolutely critical. And I hope people are writing down some of this stuff that that you’re saying, because I I think there’s a couple of things. Number one is you just need to be able to let go a little bit. And then number two is just ask somebody around you, you know, I can remember numerous times being on a shoot and it wasn’t working. And I went, dammit, I gotta make this work. It’s, you know, it’s my reputation on the line. And I better be able to do this. And then and then I screw it up. And then so I’ll say to somebody, what would you do? And then they go through it, and they messed it up. Oh, shit, there it is right there. And that’s all I had to do is just let go and just judge it a little or whatever. But so is that does that happen to you? Do you find that sometimes you just have to let go and get other people involved? What’s What’s that? How does that hit you?

Lindsey Olson 36:52
I couldn’t agree more. I I tried to tell and shouted the rooftops as much as I possibly can, how valuable it is to work with other people, how much you need to share work with other people, you will learn from everybody else that’s there besides just what you want to do. It’s one of the reasons why some of the classes that we do, we partner them up the workshop that we do here in Chicago, on purpose, I want them to work with each other. You I mean, there’s been times I’m like, took the hair and flipped it upside down, I would have never saw it because you’re as much as I say let go, it’s very easy for us to get stuck with like thinking I’m going to keep trying to make this work, just trying to get to work, or somebody else has a totally different perspective, I owe so much of my career to everybody I’ve worked with. Because, you know, I’m so grateful for so many people that are so humble, there’s no ego. And you know, when we’ve done shoots together, everybody’s there to help each other get a shot. And it might be just flipping the hair upside down that you didn’t see coming and might be moving one piece. There’s so much value to working with other people. I mean, even that very first shoot, I did, I wouldn’t even have had my team if I didn’t ask Chris Sorby for recommendations. Like, you know, I hope more people reach out and ask for help, because nobody’s doing it by themselves.

Chris Baran 38:06
You know, it’s, I want to You made me think back a couple, I’m just gonna say, I’ll say centuries, years back. And I remember being in, in our salon in Victoria, British Columbia. And we had a great team there. And I and I anytime that somebody had a thought, you know, they were just saying, Look, I’m wrestling with an idea. And we use this term, nobody would come up, say, could you give me a hand with this? We would say could you give me a creative bounce on this? Nice. And we would just say here’s what I’m thinking about. And then but it was interesting when you when you get that mode that you were just talking about where it’s a team working together for the common good. And to create the best product that you can rather than just my ego taking over. It’s if you’re willing to listen to somebody else, and then even just shift on the fly no matter what you planned what you did in the past. They like you because you said it so well. You said that depending on that head of hair that you’re working on. It doesn’t matter whether you worked on a mannequin how much work you did before, but you got to be willing to go with the flow on that hit that particular head of hair. And that’s what you made me think about is that creative bounce. If and how if you just do just ask somebody else and it make would make so much difference. Yeah, it’s

Lindsey Olson 39:31
everything. Teamwork collaboration is literally the secret sauce It’s the magic it’s it is by far what has significantly changed my life and I’m very grateful for everybody that’s been helpful humble willing to guide we’ve we’ve been on set that we were supposed to be done you know how many hours before and everybody’s there. I’m grateful for the planning that goes before it’s I’m also grateful for the salon like I mean I work at a salon I, I’m I personally don’t thrive by working always like I need to see people, their creative bounce learn from them on a daily basis. Yeah,

Chris Baran 40:13
I think, would you agree, I think we’re noticing that a little bit more in our industry lately as well is that there’s people that are working in the salon, people love being in the salon being an all the time. And I think there’s people that really need to have a little bit more like I, you know, I don’t have to be, I don’t want to have to do the screaming Mimi’s on somebody’s head of hair. But I want to have a creative outlet that I can do more than what I might do on a regular basis for all my wonderful clients that I have in the salon and want to be able to push myself. What did how did you start doing that? How did you start getting just from salon to I want to do these other things where I can experiment? What did what was the what was the path you took on that?

Lindsey Olson 40:53
It was learning that like, I needed to do photo shoots, test shoots, and competitions. It was finding and it took a while I mean, I will work with everybody. When it comes to like what I do the most it was finding like the right people, like finding a couple of people that you could every three months shoot with. So that way, everybody comes together. And you know, the people I’m I’m grateful for that I work with a lot. They all have. Everybody has their own company. And I mean the styles I work with all the time, she works for Nike. And you know, but we still do test shoots, because it’s a time to push ourselves to grow and bounce off of each other. And like I said, this is what has significantly helped me stay inspired, you know that I get to go back to the salon. It’s you know, maybe testing a different way to like do waves or how to make the hair Fuller and sad. That then helps take me back to the salon that I then can push my skill set a little bit there. You need both, I think

Chris Baran 41:57
I’ve seen you use that term test shoot. So what if some people that are listening and might not know what a test shoot is, what’s the difference between a regular shooting and test, a test shoot

Lindsey Olson 42:07
that you typically means that the team is coming together, everybody’s doing it, no one’s getting paid. They’re doing it to try things to create their own looks. And the advantage to this is, like I said, you could have stylists that work for huge brands. But when you are working for somebody else, it’s somebody else’s shoot, right? Sometimes you’re there and you’re not you, you are one you showed up, and you have to do good work, but it’s their plan. And when you have to come up with your own plan, I feel like it pushes your skill set differently makes you more prepared to then go shoot for Nike, because you tried more things. But I’m so grateful. I mean, I’ve done test shoots that I didn’t like the hair. I’m like, Oh, I learned from it. But then that way when Redken hires me for a shoot, or if I’m doing an AHA shoe, I’ve gotten some other experiences that aren’t going to happen on the mannequin, and they’re not going to happen in the slot, but then they’re going to help all the other avenues. So everybody’s coming together to create together, you and you know, you come up with a a plan together. And it’s really, I think, helpful to salon professionals to do this. Because you will learn I mean, I learned from the makeup artists, the wardrobe stylist, it’s not just about the other hairstyles that has a perspective, because everybody else is coming with their own experience of what they think looks good, or as we’re working if we need to shift something. And it’s showing up and being open to hearing what everybody has to say,

Chris Baran 43:33
I’m gonna just do a little because you take all of that information that you got there. And at the same time that you were doing all of that you were shooting, you’re doing all that you’re experimenting, you’re getting better in your craft. But then you started on in, you’ve been in the education game for a while now. How like, would you when you I want to just take a look was when I started up. And I’m just gonna say it’s quite a while back when I started in the education game. But back then it was just hey, you want to you want to get on stage and do something and we go yeah, sure. Okay, good, whatever. And that’s not the kind of the game that you have to play. And I’m sure it’s different, even from when you started, and I’m not going to use. I’ve learned never to use yours. But it’s been a it’s been a minute since you’ve been in it and you’re really good at your education game. But what made the shift? Like what was the shift that you’d said, okay, good. I’ve done all this stuff. Now I want to start teaching.

Lindsey Olson 44:30
Um, I, I honestly want it to be I started teaching and it’s kind of I feel like sounds, it has evolved. I’m gonna say this. I want it to be really great. And I wanted to be really great for my guests. And I had no idea in the beginning what education really was. I was like, if I teach it, I would be a great resource to the guests into my salon. I’m like, Okay, I would really have to it made me realize like, if you teach it you got to be really good and you’re good. had to learn it all. And I’ll never forget, I remember in the beginning, before I got into education, I was going to classes going to classes. And I was like, How do I keep this going? How do I do more? How do I do more? And I’m like, I have to do it myself. I mean, if you want to talk to me a few years ago, I wouldn’t know. I mean, Chris, you have seen it, I have changed so much, it has completely changed me who I am as a person, I never would have imagined that I would stand on global stages or had any of the opportunities that I had, I just wanted to be good. And help be a good resource, be a good stylist. And now I can give you a million reasons of why education is important to me. And it has evolved in the past that it happens because you don’t just because popped up on the stage in the beginning, thankfully, not been good.

Chris Baran 45:52
Isn’t it? It’s interesting, isn’t it? And because I think I’ll speak to anybody whether they spoke to spoken to one person and had to stand up or 10,000 people. It’s kind of mix of an adrenaline rush with absolute fear, isn’t it at the beginning, the first time you do it, you’re you’re terrified? You’re excited and you’re exhilarated yet, your little voice is talking to you. But I think that the end game is just literally what can you do? What can you do to help to change somebody else? You know, and I think if you take on that Mo, that look at all I want to do is I’ve got some information that you don’t have, and what’s the best way that I can get my information across. And I think you have that incredible ability of just be able to speak from technique. And then but also be able to, I’ve heard so many people talk about feeling. And that’s all they talk about. They can’t get the technique across. But you have this incredible ability to be able to teach technique. But to give the feeling that goes along with it at the same time. Was that something does that? Does that come to you with? Have you always been able to do that? How did how did that come about?

Lindsey Olson 47:06
Well, thank you for the compliments, I guess it’s just part of how I, as learned all the years too, is how important it is to just be yourself. Which trust me, we’ve had many I’ve definitely had many struggles with like finding what’s the best way to be myself. And the more that I remember, I can remember like the shift of like taking, like calming down and being like this is just how it would be my energy and stage. Yes, you can still bring it up. But I’m a different personality than somebody else. But knowing that when you start to realize like how much you can help people by truly being yourself. And I think because I am in a salon still too, I have the feelings like I, the minute that I realized that I could help somebody behind the chair with anything. It was life changing. It was the it was like when you started to have some people tell you that you helped them, I almost like didn’t, you never really know how much of a difference you’re making. And I will always still feel like this, like surprise that I can’t help but the minute that you realize you are helping, the more that I just want to help in so many aspects even to the point of like, I’ll I’ll never forget the feeling of like, when I started doing like bigger shows, and stage work. I’ll be honest, as much as it was for the audience, what I also felt like was so powerful was like the fact that I was also going to help the other artists were gonna be on my team. Like I remember being the support artist. And when I was like, oh my god, I’m so excited to not only share what I know can help somebody. But I also want to share my experiences the lead artists to help the support artists so that they have an amazing experience so I can help their growth. As an artist. It’s like the biggest full circle package that you can have for me, it’s like I’m like, oh my god, I get to help salon professionals as well as my team. If I stand on the stage, like it’s crazy. I’m like And yes scared but like know that this is it’s almost like I don’t want to when you realize that you’re capable of doing this and I you’d like oh it like I feel like I not everybody has the the opportunity or maybe the not just confidence but like I guess the motivation because I mean I really just got me holding my comb can help somebody work better stay excited. You know, like when you find out that like small things that you’re doing are helping somebody stay passionate about their career or change their career and enlighten them. It is crazy and all you want to do is that more and more and more. Yeah,

Chris Baran 49:48
you know when I what I loved that you just said it was about I love that how you put it as a full circle that you could remember being that person that was helping out backstage on Age. And, and because I think that there’s a couple of things that are in there we spend so much time thinking we have the saying about, always focus on them, meaning the audience. But then we have two things that we have, we’ve got a great opportunity, as you just talked about is if you can help the audience, but then that kid that’s helping you out, probably doing it for a pittance could make way more money that they then you know, we’d like a kid that’s in the salon could make 10 times more just working behind the chair, but they want to learn something different, something better. And they know that if I work with Lindsey backstage, I’m going to I’m going to see all the things that she does that that is going to make me better. And it’s something that she might not be able to share with people on stage, but I’m gonna get a chance to see it. And then not only that, but if you give that give them the secret, like, okay, good gather around, because I want you to see what I’m doing here, rather than just having trying to figure it out. Yeah. And I think that’s what I love about the network that we’re in that you and I are in, is I see it all the time, everybody backstage, just it doesn’t matter whose name is attached. But it’s always, what is the best product that we can possibly get, not only for the work that we’re doing, but for the good of all the people that you know, and I to me, I just don’t I think that I don’t know who brought that to us. But I think that if we could just have more of that in our life in general.

Lindsey Olson 51:25
Totally agree. Yeah, it’s pretty powerful.

Chris Baran 51:32
Yeah. So Lindsay, I want to talk about Lindsay, the human being right now. What, what pushes you? What makes Lindsay want to go out? And do all of these things that experiment and have a risk of failure? And push yourself further? What what really pushes you? Why do you do what you do?

Lindsey Olson 51:53
That’s a big question. It’s a great question. Um, I think once you realize the feeling of like, what you think is impossible, the, you know, the, the the phrase, everybody’s like, think about what you have now, and you only dreamed of it. And now you’re like, it’s seen the evolution of what you’re capable of, if you just work hard enough and try and going through things like achieving things and realizing if I just push myself a little farther, who knows what other opportunity I’ll have, who else I’ll meet. And I think it’s, to me, I’m like, this is I’m supposed to help I’m supposed to serve. And the more I push myself, the more opportunities I push myself to do, the better hair I can do, the better facilitation skills I can acquire, the more opportunities, I’ll have the bigger reach, I’ll have it, I know this, I know that, you know, and I don’t have I thought my entire growth happened the way it was supposed to I, you know, I talked to a lot of artists that are just in a really big hurry. And I can think back to like, when I was just driving like four hours, five hours around Illinois and teaching, you know, just about the product. And I thought it was AMAZING then. And I would also tell more people like that to embrace the journey, because I never thought like, I only wanted to get better and better. But I never thought there was anything wrong with where I was at. So I was like, I have to do this to get to the next place. And the better I got it, those little workshops, and I got to do bigger workshops. And the more that I tried different things, the more opportunities came and if you keep doing that, who knows, I had no idea that I would end up where I was, where I am or what else is coming next. I know I’ll keep trying. And I know it helps you to learn to gain inspiration to meet more people to meet globally to network, like every you know, even after today, this is gonna make me so fired up that I got to talk to you today. You know, you have been a huge part of my career. And it’s like, you know, seriously opportunities, like, I mean, one of my very first big shows that I worked with symposium made your main stage symposium, God, I’m not gonna say what year it was. And I remember that to thinking and, you know, as a support artist, I just wanted to do such a good job, like making sure everybody was ready, even sweeping the hair off the stage at the right time, making sure you weren’t in anybody’s way you know, it just want to do a good job and I, I hope more people like want to do a really good job and reward themselves for I was also embrace the mistakes that are happening, because you have no idea what else is gonna happen from you just trying and putting yourself out there.

Chris Baran 54:38
You know, even what I got out of there is just it’s just to take the risk, you know, and I, unfortunately, I see so many people that are out there that they look at what you and I and other people do and they say I would love to do that but they just aren’t so afraid of taking the risk. Is it was there something and I want to just speak to that because there is risk and you’re gonna make screen a screw up as we go along and you’re going to do something right and something’s wrong. But I mean, let’s face it, you’ve evolved through this process, and you’ve grown to be one of the big wigs that are out there. And I use that that term with with the greatest endearment. But is there? Is there something that along the way in your evolution process that you wished you would have? wouldn’t have done? Like, is there something that happened? Something that along your way, something that you did something that was a part of the plan? And you did it and you wish you didn’t do it was? Or was there something like that that happened in there? And why?

Lindsey Olson 55:36
That’s a good question, too. I I remember a program I did, where I, it all comes out to have been the best thing because I learned from it. It’s a different kind of mistake. Like I thought I was set up for a program and the venue and everything was much larger than I thought. And those are the moments that I remember, like, Oh, I got I showed up prepared. But I wasn’t quite prepared for what kind of venue I was at, I showed up too small, you know, to safe. And you know, that one sticks with me for all for a lot of reasons. One, just realizing like how you can grow as an artist, knowing your, you know, skill sets, pushing yourselves to maybe do things that fit the venue differently. But I think like at a time, I was probably scared of like making a mistake, which of like the hair I was doing, like stepping out of my comfort zone. But like looking back, I’m like I should have because it needed it. So I definitely have done hair shoots that I and I do pride myself in like being overly prepared and always showing up. But it’s you know, maybe I should have asked more questions or advice more of like, what actually was going to happen? So I showed up totally prepared. So I think like yeah, knowing like, don’t ever don’t be scared to make the mistake, take the risk. Because that one definitely was a good one to like, learn of like, I could have probably asked more questions. So as you showed up to the level of preparation that I needed to be bigger. Yeah,

Chris Baran 57:19
I we share a lot in common in that regard, too. Because I know that, you know, sometimes I always I always walk away with those. And I always have that feeling that I I want to, I want to just, you know, go to my bed and just lay down. kind of forget about the whole thing. But that’s sometimes what the universe gave us that we needed to. We needed to get through and have that learning experience. Right?

Lindsey Olson 57:41
Oh, I’ll never forget the feeling. There was Lindsay I want to throw in. Oh, I was gonna say jump on it. That’s okay, there was another artist there. And I’ll never forget the feeling of like my prep work versus another brand. It was a multi brand show. And then being like cool. Where’s all your wigs and extensions? I was like, I don’t have any I was just gonna do some hair. You know, it was a good experience. It goes here. I was like, I’m gonna do the ponytails. Yep. You know, so you learn? For sure. No, no, the the audience in the venue

Chris Baran 58:16
learn always along the way. Yeah, okay, it’s time we’re gonna jump into our rapid fire. Just I’m gonna throw a bunch of questions at you just the first thing that comes to your brain. What turns you on in the creative process? Oh,

Lindsey Olson 58:33
trying new things, trying new things, having the time for him by myself for sure. So I was trying something that I didn’t think that was going to work that’s going to work for sure. And that’s obviously one because it works. Love it.

Chris Baran 58:49
And what stifles creativity for you,

Lindsey Olson 58:52
I think if I am too busy, and I mean this in all positivity, but just knowing that when I am too busy. I’ll never forget one of my mentors, saying don’t be too busy just being busy. Take the time to be creative. And if I’m like going from one program to the next and I don’t have the time to do the test shoots to make the mistakes. I don’t find that I’m being creative. I have to have the time to to play and to do things differently. And I could be booked, I could have classes every week I could be booked in the salon. That to me slows down my creativity because I’m not taking time to make those mistakes and try something different in

Chris Baran 59:31
life What do you dislike the most winter in Chicago, Chicago No, no.

Lindsey Olson 59:40
Um I I think that’s a big question. Like the most I think I feel bad for people that hold themselves back that miss out because they’re just too timid or don’t be Even themselves like, I mean, there’s that massive quote of like the one that’s doing all the things just because they believe in themselves. And when I see people just not try, I don’t like that. And I feel like Go for it. Yeah. And

Chris Baran 1:00:15
in life what do you love the most

Lindsey Olson 1:00:21
I love spending time with people I love. I love being in the moment trying different things. Whether it’s a walk or traveling. I love connection. Yeah.

Chris Baran 1:00:36
Most difficult time in your life. The

Lindsey Olson 1:00:39
pandemic, which the pandemic was pretty tough. Yeah, I think my entire and I know everybody had their own trout, their own struggles. I had some other personal things everything happened in like one week that I didn’t like it was it was tough. But there was so many good things that came out of it. Like so many I had, you know, we were all so busy before it’s and just realizing like, to your point of like, what doesn’t work is like me just being too busy. And realizing how like I need to go for the walk or in any downtime to decompress instead of just being like a machine and just going from one thing to the next so but the pandemic I think was definitely the hardest time for sure. Um, but

Chris Baran 1:01:23
the thing that you dislike most about our industry

Lindsey Olson 1:01:27
the memes of hairstyles life like I’m living on coffee, and I you know don’t stop and you know, I think we are here to help others feel great and there should be this elevation of what kind of person you are and I don’t like that and trust me I get it I have worked a million days where it felt like that where it was so busy and you didn’t even sit down once I don’t like that part of the industry. I think it’s not funny to say I didn’t eat all day because I was too busy and I think we could do better and like go the other route of like we’re the ones making everybody feel good so like we should be you know it’s like the doctor smoking I don’t know it doesn’t make any sense

Chris Baran 1:02:14
what do you what do you what do you like most about our industry

Lindsey Olson 1:02:19
how many options there are my god you could work one day a week three days a week you could travel what is considered work going to a show in you know another city collabing with people there is just there’s not one way to do this there is studios there’s commission there’s hourly, there’s departmentalized there is so many options in this industry. I don’t know any other job like this

Chris Baran 1:02:45
at all. Yeah, proudest moment of your life. I

Lindsey Olson 1:02:49
don’t know if I could say one. I’m very proud to be part if I can. And I know it is if there’s something that has changed my life the most it’s the brand because between the people and the opportunities and the traveling and trying different things in meeting different people working with different people I mean, I can’t even imagine my life. I can’t imagine my life without it and I had no idea it would even do that at all. No amazing very proud to be a part of the brand.

Chris Baran 1:03:15
Yeah, which living person do you admire? I admire the most

Lindsey Olson 1:03:20
my parents they are funny how that they are the most selfless yes yeah it’s yeah, they are the most selfless live in the moment people happy giving like I Yeah,

Chris Baran 1:03:37
yeah something that people don’t know about you

Lindsey Olson 1:03:43
I went to raves for a very long time went to raves rated No. Love it.

Chris Baran 1:03:55
My techno geek girl. Okay, good a month off where would you go? What would you do

Lindsey Olson 1:04:01
everywhere Africa is high on the list. I would also I have a lot of friends in Australia and I haven’t been there yet and I’m dying to go there and set up a class I noticed so work related but I would love to go there and set up a shoot in a class with Ben Mark Martin and Bart dan ben martin and Cherie from pixie color because I love working with both of them and I it’s it we need some time like that so

Chris Baran 1:04:33
your greatest fear

Lindsey Olson 1:04:36
dying in a really sad way like not adventurous like a car accident like I try to be very fulfilling life and I don’t want to kill I don’t want to go by just like getting hit by a car and like the suburbs or something sad like that. I hope I like yeah, I want to like fall off a mountain or something at least like I was like going for life but if like somebody texting ends up taking me I’m gonna be pissed You know, like, I like to live a little bit more than that.

Chris Baran 1:05:05
Your favorite curse word? Who

Lindsey Olson 1:05:13
probably fuck because it is very universal. It can be very positive. Yeah, so I’m gonna I’m gonna go fuck.

Chris Baran 1:05:22
It’s an old grammatically environments, your favorite comfort foods. Ooh, potatoes tech love it. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Lindsey Olson 1:05:37
My overthinking. Maybe chill out on the overthinking sometimes.

Chris Baran 1:05:45
Something in the industry you haven’t done but you want to?

Lindsey Olson 1:05:50
Oh, um, I have done like a lot of braided extensions. Like I’ve done a few. So like, I would do more like other styles of extensions, box braids, or things like that, I think would be kind of cool, more texture.

Chris Baran 1:06:08
Love it. If you had a one do over and I won’t, I won’t take if I, if I didn’t do what I did, then I wouldn’t be who I am now. But if you had one do over things, something you could do over in your life, what would that be? They would try

Lindsey Olson 1:06:20
to I did some solo traveling, which was amazing. But I think I would maybe try to have gotten a family member to come with instead, because they have seen some pretty amazing things that I traveled by myself because it just worked out that way that went by myself and I wish to share it with family. So love it.

Chris Baran 1:06:41
Okay, tomorrow, you couldn’t do here? What would you do?

Lindsey Olson 1:06:47
I would teach? I think I would teach. So whether it’s um, I think it would teach from experience so far, whether it’s not just doing hair, but business salon life, traveling, I wouldn’t mind maybe sharing more travel blog tips. And if I really couldn’t do anything with here, I would do something with food, like how to make cook. I do love cooking. So something with that. Okay,

Chris Baran 1:07:20
last question. Well, I mean, I want to do this, and I’m gonna ask your last question. If people want to get a hold of you to book you in to do a class or to do anything, how would they get? How do they get a hold of you?

Lindsey Olson 1:07:32
I have a website that I have everything on there from how to book me through level loyalty for reichen as well as they can just reach out to me so that we can set up the work though, you know, class independently if it doesn’t work for level loyalty for redkin. And I think it’s important to because as much as like Instagram and Tiktok are great, I think websites pretty helpful because everybody’s on social media. So website, which has all the information there so that they can book me even three levels.

Chris Baran 1:08:01
Okay, last question. If you had one wish for industry, what would it be?

Lindsey Olson 1:08:07
Um, that everybody feels like they can work on all textures fair. That would be like, yeah, like, we need stylists to feel confident, and we need guts to be able to walk into every salon. And it to feel safe, I think, you know, there’s a lot of like, fear, people don’t want to say the wrong thing or, you know, be judged. And let’s just, let’s just make it easier for people to learn on higher textures. Hair, let’s not judge them for not knowing they just don’t know not everybody knows I’ve worked on guests that have coils that they don’t know how to work on their hair. So it’s okay, if you don’t know, let’s, let’s take down the pressure of it and just help each other so that you know, no matter where you’re at that you’re everybody that comes in your chair, and you have a very creative to me, it’s like you will be the most creative, you’re not gonna get bored. I have waves I have coils, I have short hair, I have, you know, long hair all in the day that and this is how you stay energized is not as great as it is to like really be good at lived in blondes. At some point, you’re gonna get bored. Let’s do it all. Let’s keep it professional and creative and do it all. So that’s my that’s my message.

Chris Baran 1:09:21
Lindsay, as always, I you know, I always enjoy our conversations we’ve had and this one was just between you and I and I especially appreciate this one. So I just want to thank you for your time and energy and taking away from your busy life to help to share with our people on head cases. So, Lindsey, thank you so much for being a part of this.

Lindsey Olson 1:09:40
It’s an honor Chris, I can’t say it enough. I hope you know but I’m going to tell you you have no idea how much you have impacted my career. I mean, I have learned so much from you from facilitation to hair. I mean, I have gone and prepped for shoots to learn from you. I will do it again in a heartbeat. You’re so humble and generous with Your knowledge and sometimes I think back in Macau should have watched more. I should learn about like, you know so much and I am very appreciative to known you and been working with you and I can’t wait for more. And I hope people know that like, take initiative like, you know, ask, like, I’m always like, you know, I tell people all the time I’m like, God, you can come shadow you come to a class like, I wouldn’t be where I was, if I didn’t have people like Chris Barron, show me how to do things. I had no idea how to make the wig or do a wig wrap but because somebody was helpful enough to show me then I learned I definitely don’t know it by myself. So thank you so much for having me. Thank you for so much for your knowledge that you’ve given to the industry. I can’t imagine the industry without you. So there’s so many people that can say the same thing that you changed their life. So thank you so much.

Chris Baran 1:10:51
Lindsay, you’re You’re too kind and I thank you very much. And one more time, just thank you. So much for being on headcase says I really, really appreciate it.

Lindsey Olson 1:10:58
Thank you very much. My pleasure.