"I was going to sell my salon." with Dominique Molluso-Pigott

What happens when the dream you chased becomes the cage you’re stuck inside? Dom from NEIKE Hair joins us for a brutally honest ride from opening a salon at 22, to surviving lockdowns, to nearly selling everything when burnout and doubt took over. The twist: one hard conversation made her choose community over exit, and that choice reshaped everything.We dig into the early wins and hidden costs of being fully booked, how a scrappy pivot to tint kits and e‑commerce kept the lights on, and why leadership by proximity fails once growth hits. Dom lays out the moment she stopped identifying as “just a hairdresser” and started operating like a CEO: setting standards, publishing numbers, and building systems that let the salon thrive without her glued to the chair. It’s not hype; it’s training pathways, financial clarity, and weekly rhythms that turn chaos into consistency.There’s a powerful identity thread here too. Dom revisits Fashion Week, once the pinnacle of her ambition, and admits she outgrew that dream. Her body knew first; her mind caught up later. We talk about choosing better rooms, collecting evidence that freedom is possible in the salon industry, and leading in a way that heals old workplace wounds. If you’ve felt chained to your calendar, scared to step back, or unsure how to translate values into profit, this conversation offers proof and practical steps to move forward with less hustle and more intention.If this story hit a nerve, follow the show, share it with a salon owner who needs it, and leave a review so more founders can find these tools. Your next brave step starts here.To follow our journey:Instagram @aheadhair_@the_conscious_salon