Beauty Boss Confidential

Hi Beauty Bosses,

We can't believe we are officially done with our first season of Beauty Boss Confidential Podcast.  25 episodes later and Nalani and Ren are already planning for a new year and new season.  We hope you enjoyed our episodes and learned a few new things for your personal journeys as Beauty Bosses.  Please make sure to leave us a review/rating on Apple Podcast/Spotify or wherever you stream your podcasts.  This is how we're able to grow and hopefully invite awesome new guests on for next season.  Don't forget you can still listen to all of our episodes in Season 1 while we work on season 2, launching in January 2021!  

Hi Beauty Bosses,

Ren got real and brought her husband Adrian on the podcast.  She talks to him about balancing love, marriage and businesses.  How they've both grown as entrepreneurs and the times she really thought they weren't going to make it.  If you've ever worked with your partner before or considered it, there are some great lessons on communication and balancing it all.  Check it out!

Hi Beauty Bosses,

It's Nalani's very first time interviewing a guest on the Podcast and this week she had a chance to chat with brow client and old time colleague, Strawberri Redd. Nalani always knew Redd on a professional level and during every brow session they always had such great conversation, so Nalani wanted to get to know Redd more on a personal level. On this weeks' episode, Nalani catches up with Redd on how she got started in her humble hometown of Albany, GA and how a small town girl landed a celebtrity clientele like Cardi B, Adrienne Bailon, and the City Girls. If you can't get enough of Miss Redd, make sure you follow her on IG @strawberriredd and check out her website - www.strawberriredd.com.

Hi Beauty Bosses,

We have an exciting episode for you.  For the first time, we're bringing a guest onto our podcast.  Ren interviews Christy Tagatac of @CreateSafely - an Instagram account that has gone viral for transforming the kits of Beauty Professionals post Covid.  Christy has a long career in beauty - from retail and management at MAC Cosmetics, to taking on a Cosmetology license and adding Hair Styling and Salon Owning to her resume.  She has now launched the PokitBook and speaks about how she's pivoted her career with Covid.  We also discuss how growing up as a woman of color in the beauty business has evolved.  This episode is packed full of wisdom and inspiration.  Grab your notepad and let's get listening!

Hi Beauty Bosses,

The other week, Nalani did an Instagram story poll on podcast topics and one of the answers that came up was how to know what to charge and when you should increase. This can be a very confusing topic for emerging artists -- you're constantly conflicted with knowing your worth and being scared you might lose clients. No worries though, Nalani & Ren has been in your exact same shoes and they are here to share some great advice on how to battle those inner feelings while doing what's best for your business.

Hi Beauty Bosses,

In today's episode we're talking about a great way to jump start your beauty career and that's through assisting and apprenticeship.  When you have the opportunity to work along side another artist, it's a great opportunity to get on the job experience and expand your network.  Both Nalani and I have seen some major mistakes we've seen other Artists make when assisting.   We also give you some tips to set you apart from the crowd and move from being a great Assistant into an Artist.  Grab a drink and get ready for some girl chat!

Hi Beauty Bosses! Back at it again with another great episode. A few weeks ago, Nalani did a mini poll on her insta-story on what topics her audience wanted to hear on the podcast and to our surprise, the majority answered "how to manage stress due to work." Being in the entrepreneurial space, it's so easy to never "clock out" -- there's alway something to do! Over the years, Nalani has learned how to manage her stress a little better to prevent going back in the rabbit hole of burn out and resentment. If you're someone that needs help setting boundaries and saying no, this episode is for you!

Hi Beauty Bosses,

In the midst of Covid-19, a lot of us are understanding the importance of pivoting our business strategies to make up for loss income due to reduced capacity and state shut downs.  A great option for many of us is leveraging our business expertise and online audiences to get paid sponsorships online with brands.  In today's episode, Ren shares her experience as a beauty blogger and explains different types of sponsorships and how to go about working with companies to get paid to promote products.  She shares the do's and don't so that you make the best partnerships for your business and brand.  Check it out!

Hey Beauty Bosses! And we are back at it again with another awesome episode. Let's face it, one day we are going to need help. On this week's episode, we give some tips on what to evaluate if you are considering hiring someone to help out and what to look for. Whether it's an independent contractor, W2 employee, or even someone simply helping you around the house, we've got you covered on some things to consider before you make that move. Turn up the volume and let's have an engaging conversation on how to know when to hire or outsource and what to look for.

Hi Beauty Bosses,

If you're like us, during your downtime during this pandemic you're taking advantage of getting your read or listen on.  Ren loves a good book, especially ones where she can grow and learn.  In this installment episode, she talks about her current read, "How to Be An Anti-Racist" by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi.  During this unprecedented movement for Black Lives Matters, she felt that it would be a great time to go beyond beauty topics and talk about something that affects us all - the fight for equality and justice.  Next, Nalani speaks of her love for podcasts and shares her favorites.  From business, to entertainment and self-help, she's got some great recommendations for you.  Check it out!

Hi Beauty Bosses! We are back with another episode and this one is soooo good. We both definitely have had our shares of late nights, no sleep, and eating nothing but fast food. We are here to tell you that sometimes "hustling" is not always a good thing. Instead, it might lead to burnout, resentment, and missing out on a lot of important family functions. If you're at the building stage right now, we have a conversation on how you can build in time for yourself and your loved ones to possibly prevent your breaking point. Tune in as we give you our recent realizations that have helped save us from deteriorating our physical and mental health. You don't want to miss this episode!

Hi Beauty Bosses,

Bill Gates said “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning”.  Let’s be real, you’re going to get difficult clients, it’s inevitable.  Fortunately, most clients are going to be great but you need to be prepared for those bad apples.  Nalani and I have had this experience multiple times and want to share with you what we learned from it.  In this episode, Ren tells you about a Bridezilla she worked with in her early career and what she learned from the experience.   Looking back, there are definitely expectations you can set early on and you can decide when it's worth issuing a refund or even firing a client.  To make it simple, we'll give you a framework on how to best deal with difficult clients.  Grab a drink and get ready for some girl talk!

Hey Beauty Bosses! Nalani and Ren here with another great episode. Thank you for allowing us to be in your ear buds once again. Today’s episode was lots of fun to record, but serious at the same time. Growing up as a first generation Asian female, we have definitely had our shares of being teased and stereotyped in the worst way. We mainly wanted to educate the masses in hopes that you would be more open minded to navigate the world in a more considerate and respectful way…to judge less and love more. Hope you guys find this episode educational. Stay tune for another great thought provoking, but fun chat!

Hi Beauty Bosses,

Today's episode is something that we think a lot of you can resonate with.  Have you ever had someone ask you to give you a hookup?  As Beauty Professionals, we especially have tons of friends and families that would love a beauty service for a discount or free.  This is a complex situation filled with feelings of obligation, guilt and oftentimes disruptions to your business.  Nalani and Ren talk about their real life instances of giving homie hookups and what they learned from the experience.  Also, we discuss bartering services with other professionals and how to ensure that you ensure a fair trade.  Check it out!

Hi Beauty Bosses! With social media an everyday part of our lives, we see beauty evolving a mile a minute.  Beauty trends come and go, and some are crazier than others.  As beauty professionals, we give our two cents on what we think of these new beauty looks.  Nalani weighs in on brow trends as a brow professional, and gives her take on what she thinks makes a perfect brow.  We also discuss makeup and hair trends, and whether we think they're here to stay or just some crazy click bait.  Tune in for some laughs and good conversation on this episode!

Hi Beauty Bosses!  We're back with another episode and today we will be sharing with you guys 3 actionable Instagram tips that you can implement right away to help grow your engagement on Instagram and in turn, grow your business. We both personally have a love/hate relationship with Instagram, but we are here to tell you that it doesn't have to be that dreadful. Instead of trying to beat the forever changing algorithm, just have fun and experiment with the app. We are excited to share these tips with you that have worked for us for many years and hope it can help you too! Trust and believe, we will have more IG hacks in future episodes to come.

Ren first started her YouTube in 2007 before the days of viral videos and Internet Superstars. It was one of the best business moves she made to grow her Beauty Platform. 800 videos later, she learned what works and what doesn't. Good news is that you don't need a ton of money to get started. We breakdown everything you need - from cameras, lighting, audio, backdrops to editing equipment. So grab a pen and paper and take some notes! We can't wait for you to launch or grow your own YouTube channel!

Hi Beauty Bosses,

On this episode, Nalani shares for the first time ever what it's really like working with her husband, P. She gets asked that question on a daily basis by clients, and today she's dishing out all the deets on how she separates business and marriage. Nalani shares very insightful questions and perspective that you might not have thought about. If you're thinking about working with your spouse or a family member, this is the episode you don't want to miss! 

Hi Beauty Bosses,

Whoever said we could have it all must have been a superwoman!  As a new mom, wife and business owner I have definitely felt the difficulties in finding that perfect work life balance.  And yes, Mom Guilt is a real thing.  In this episode, I open up to Nalani about some of the struggles I experienced in my first year and a half of motherhood.  I also share some of the successes I've achieved in learning to get my groove back while bringing a new member into our family.  If you're a new mom, expecting or have friends with kids, this episode is for you!

Hi Beauty Bosses,

We are in an unprecedented time.  Who would have thought a global pandemic would literally stop all of our lives in an instant.  Many of us small business owners took a hit when we were forced to close our doors due to government shelter in place orders.  Now that states are allowing us to slowly reopen, now is the time to take the right safety measures and precautions to ensure that we keep our staff and clients safe.  Especially for us beauty bosses, hygiene and sanitation is a critical aspect of running our businesses.  We've broken down an easy outline with some great guidelines for you to reopen your business.  Take the time to listen to this episode as you reopen your doors.

Hi Beauty Bosses,

On today's episode, Nalani shares the exact steps she used to finally have the courage to quit her corporate job to pursue her passion in makeup. It's not always easy to make such a big transition and there's definitely a lot to think about before you make that departure, but she is here to share 10 tips that's super actionable when you decide to finally take the leap.

Renelyn Thomas of Makeup by Ren Ren created her Beauty Blog in 2007 to fill a gap in the beauty industry.  As an everyday consumer, she could not find products or artists that suited her ethnic roots.  She decided to fill this void by creating a blog catering to women of all ethnicities, ages, and walks of life.  She expanded Makeup By Ren Ren, the blog, to include video reviews and makeup tutorials on YouTube. Her YouTube page has received over 8 million views and her blog hits continue to increase month after month.  She has also partnered with major cosmetic companies to offer product reviews, giveaways and interactive events for readers.  After an overwhelming positive response, Renelyn entered into a professional career in Freelance Makeup by launching Urban Pretty – Makeup By Ren.  Renelyn now teaches makeup classes, and offers makeup services from anything to brides, fashion shows, photo shoots and award shows.  She is also a partner and instructor at Industry Makeup Academy located in Atlanta, GA.  Renelyn is married and just became a new mommy. On this episode, she shares her story on how she found her true passion after obtaining her MBA.

Nalani is a Permanent Makeup Educator, Artist, Studio Owner in Atlanta, and Ex-Makeup Artist/Corporate Girl. She has come a long way since she started her beauty business journey back in 2007. People often think her success happened overnight, but what people don't know is that she has been planting the seed for over 7 years before she gained confidence to pursue her real passion. Catch the shorten version of Nalani's story.  It wasn't all glitz and glam in the beginning. In fact, she was a 27 year old that moved to Atlanta without a job, hospitalized for 11 days, and had zero balance in her account. Since then, she worked vigorously to reclaim back her independence and became the SHE.E.O of her life!

Hi Beauty Bosses,

Welcome to our first episode! Before we dive right into all the juicy stuff, we wanted to share with you guys how the idea of starting a podcast came about. We've had so much fun so far creating these episodes for you and we hope that you will continue to tune in every week. We will be discussing all things beauty, business, marketing, social media strategies and of course, how to maintain our sanity while trying to hit our highest performance! Whether you're an entrepreneur or intrapreneur, we are sure you will find our experience and stories valuable since we have once played both sides of business! Sit back, relax, and grab a cocktail for this business happy hour with your beauty besties!