Licensed & Unsupervised with Beckee and Naomi

Licensed & Unsupervised with Beckee and Naomi

by Beckee Harris & Naomi Trotto

Fashion & Beauty Management

Season 1

💇🏼‍♀️ Licensed to Color: DIY Guests, Pantene Debates & Color Theory 101

In this episode of License & Unsupervised, we’re talking about DIY hair, color theory, and the very different types of salon guests we meet behind the chair. We kick things off with Chromadaddy and how creative color education and product innovation are changing the way stylists approach vivid and corrective color. From there, we dive into the wild world of at-home hair experiments — the DIY box-color moments, the “I saw it on TikTok” trims, and the guests who treat their bathrooms like chemistry labs. We break down: Why some guests love experimenting on themselves Why others won’t touch their own bangs The truth about using Pantene and drugstore shampoo Whether you should wash your hair before your salon appointment The importance of color theory and always doing a test strand A throwback to the best class party at Paul Mitchell What education really taught us (and what it didn’t) This episode is for hairstylists, salon professionals, beauty students, and anyone who has ever tried to color their own hair and hoped for the best.

Hydration, Hawaii, and Almost Dying: Stories About Fear and Having NO Fear

This episode starts with hydration — or more accurately, Naomi’s complicated relationship with water. What begins as a casual conversation about drinking enough water quickly spirals into college memories, short-lived academic ambitions, and how neither of us exactly followed a traditional path before ending up behind the chair. Then we take a turn to Hawaii. Beckee shares the story of the moment she fully believed she was Moana in the ocean — connected, powerful, main character energy — until reality reminded her otherwise. Naomi follows with her own story about having zero fear on land… but perhaps a little too much confidence near water. The episode ends with a moment that is both hilarious and humbling — and yes, Alayna saving Naomi’s life. This one is lighter, story-driven, and wildly honest. It’s about overconfidence, self-awareness, ADHD brain tangents, and the kind of storytelling that only happens when two hairstylists over 40 sit down without supervision. Behind the chair, we carry people’s stories all day. In this episode, we share a few of ours. If you’ve ever felt unseen, emotionally exhausted, or quietly questioning what’s next while still loving this industry, this conversation is for you. Our Instagrams: https://www.instagram.com/beckeeharris/ & https://www.instagram.com/naomitrotto_hairartist/, and Naomi's Avante Garde page can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/nays_muchness/ Learn more about us, our work, and our philosophy at https://basalonmi.com Explore our services and book an appointment: https://basalonmi.com For bridal inquiries and alternative bridal hair experiences: https://basalonmi.com

⭐️ Unsupervised & Over 40: The Emotional Weight of Being a Hairstylist

In this first episode, we pull the curtain back on why this podcast needed to exist. We talk about what it really means to start something new after 40—especially in an industry where you’re expected to always be “on,” always giving, and rarely supervised. Being a hairstylist means working independently while holding space for everyone else’s emotions, stories, milestones, and trauma. Over time, that emotional labor adds up. In this conversation, we explore how deeply emotional this career can be, how making a real impact on clients’ lives can take a toll on your nervous system, and why burnout in the beauty industry isn’t about weakness—it’s about caring deeply for a long time. We also talk about the freedom that comes with being over 40: caring less about outside noise, people-pleasing, and expectations that no longer serve us, and caring more about honesty, boundaries, and sustainability. This episode is for hairstylists, salon professionals, and creatives who have been behind the chair long enough to feel the weight of the work—but still love it. It’s about evolution, perspective, and choosing to show up differently as we age, grow, and redefine success on our own terms. If you’ve ever felt unseen, emotionally exhausted, or quietly questioning what’s next while still loving this industry, this conversation is for you. Our Instagrams: https://www.instagram.com/beckeeharris/ & https://www.instagram.com/naomitrotto_hairartist/, and Naomi's Avante Garde page can be found here : https://www.instagram.com/nays_muchness/ Learn more about us, our work, and our philosophy at https://basalonmi.com Explore our services and book an appointment: https://basalonmi.com For bridal inquiries and alternative bridal hair experiences: https://basalonmi.com

Can Stylists Ever Be Anonymous? ⭐

This is a shorter episode of License & Unsupervised while we catch up from a couple missed weeks. Today we’re talking about something simple but real — what it’s like trying to walk into a hair salon anonymously… and why that’s basically impossible where we live. We share stories from our time as educators, what it was like teaching and learning at the same time, and how we’ve used ourselves as models for growth behind the chair. We also talk about: Apprentices and how we support them Practicing on real people (including ourselves) Why neither of us wants to do perms Showing up for clients and students Being generalists in an industry that pushes specialization This one is quick, honest, and very “behind the scenes.” Licensed? Yes. Anonymous? Not a chance.

Special Guest Coming Soon - Rian DeVeer

This is our first guest and he will be on the pod we couldn't be better!

Being “Different” in an Industry That Lost Its Way

In this episode of License & Unsupervised, we continue the conversation about being older in the room — and what that really means in today’s culture. We talk about pop culture gaps between generations, how apprentices seem to know everything, and how quickly things change when you’re not paying attention. But this episode goes deeper. We revisit the foundations of the industry — Vidal Sassoon, Paul Mitchell, the tradition of wearing black — and contrast that with today’s world of dopamine dressing and self-expression. We also talk honestly about: Perimenopause and how it affects not just us, but the people around us The emotional weight we carry as hairstylists How clients often cry in our chairs simply because they feel safe Why our salon has become a place where people can be themselves Whether we’re “alternative” — or just different How the industry shifted after COVID Why some stylists left, and why others stayed The importance of consent when sharing client images How we help people reconnect with their confidence and power We also reflect on the past — London Calling salon, the Real Big HairBall — and how those experiences shaped who we are today. This episode is about identity, impact, and remembering what really matters in this industry. Licensed? Yes. Different? Definitely. Still here? Always.

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