Slap It On & Pray: The Balayage That Scares Stylists | Audra Brown

Slap It On & Pray: The Balayage That Scares Stylists | Audra Brown

In this episode I sat down with my online bestie Audra Brown (@audrapaintshair), the colorist and educator behind Atomic Orchard Salon and the creator of the Del Oro Method, and y'all, this one is packed. Audra's been doing hair for 20 years, and she pulls back the curtain on traditional balayage the right way — the low-and-slow lifting that keeps your hair integrity epic, how to actually manage warmth, why she starts every head at a 10 volume, and the consultation moves that separate expensive-looking hair from a hot mess. We get into pricing, color lines, her scary-but-genius "just slap a panel of blonde on it" technique, and yes, she reacts to one of the most atrocious extension fails I have ever laid eyes on. Whether you're a seasoned stylist or the next gen still scared to touch color, you're gonna learn something and feel inspired. So grab your coffee, settle in, and don't forget to subscribe, hit that notification bell, and leave me a five-star review so I can keep bringing you amazing guests like Audra. Enjoy! ✨ Audra Brown – Hairstylist, Colorist & Educator & Owner of Atomic Orchard Salon Based in Fayetteville, NC IG: @audrapaintshair TikTok: @audrapaintshair Website: https://www.audrapaintshair.com 🛍️ Shop Virtue Labs through my link: https://www.virtuelabs.com/en/stylist/Kim-Allison ✅ Subscribe for more conversations with the voices reshaping the beauty industry. Click Here For More Info: https://linktr.ee/TrendywithKimAllison – Listen on Spotify, Apple, and all podcast platforms. – Follow @trendywkimallison on Instagram and TikTok. TIME STAMPS: 0:00 – Intro & welcome 2:43 – Who is Audra: 20 years, the Del Oro Method, Atomic Orchard Salon 3:15 – How they each got into color vs. cutting 10:49 – The origin of "lived-in" color 12:57 – The Del Oro Method explained 15:35 – Traditional balayage & what sets it apart 17:45 – Is balayage still king? Trends for 2026 23:11 – Prep work & avoiding damaged, over-processed hair 29:22 – Controlling warmth & the color journey 36:35 – The business side: timing, scheduling & pricing 41:43 – Favorite products: bleach, color lines, glosses 47:09 – Why one stylist's hair looks expensive (and one doesn't) 48:31 – "What Stopped the Scroll" — extension fail react 50:54 – 60-Second Blowout rapid fire 53:17 – Where to find Audra & wrap-up Subscribe to stay in the know. Message me to possibly be a guest on the show. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Gray Hair Isn't the Problem (Here's What Actually Is)

Gray hair. Lord have mercy, I hate her. 😅 In this Kim's Chair solo rant, I'm pulling the red folder and getting into the silver strands we love to hate. After 30 years behind the chair, gray is now the #1 topic in my chair, and honey, I AM one of you. But here's what got me while prepping this one. Is this really about gray hair? Or is it about aging? You can get Botox on your lunch break and women are looking 40 at 60, yet the moment a woman grows her hair out, everybody says "you're so brave." Brave?? For hair growing out of your head?? Why is a gray-haired man "distinguished" but a woman is "brave"? When did aging become something we're expected to FIGHT? I don't have all the answers today, Trendy Tribe, but I've got plenty of questions. Stay with me. 💅 🛍️ Shop Virtue Labs through my link: https://www.virtuelabs.com/en/stylist/Kim-Allison ✅ Subscribe for more conversations with the voices reshaping the beauty industry. Click Here For More Info: https://linktr.ee/TrendywithKimAllison – Listen on Spotify, Apple, and all podcast platforms. – Follow @trendywkimallison on Instagram and TikTok. TIME STAMPS: 0:00 - The nemesis: gray hair 2:32 - Wait, is this about aging? 7:06 - The real fear: going invisible Subscribe to stay in the know. Message me to possibly be a guest on the show. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

A Hairstylist Ranks Love Island USA Hair

Here's what happens when a hairstylist watches Love Island: I'm deep in the drama like everyone else, but I also can't stop grading the hair. So this week I'm breaking down the villa, from the leave-outs that are absolutely laid to the three rows of curls keeping me up at night. We're talking weaves, blends, baby hair, and who's earning a chef's kiss versus the dunce hat. And before anyone comes for me, my own hair isn't hitting right now either, so I'm grading from a glass house. 🛍️ Shop Virtue Labs through my link: https://www.virtuelabs.com/en/stylist/Kim-Allison ✅ Subscribe for more conversations with the voices reshaping the beauty industry. Click Here For More Info: https://linktr.ee/TrendywithKimAllison – Listen on Spotify, Apple, and all podcast platforms. – Follow @trendywkimallison on Instagram and TikTok. Subscribe to stay in the know. Message me to possibly be a guest on the show. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Why Are We So Obsessed With Long Hair?

This week I'm asking something I've been sitting with for 30 years behind the chair: when did we decide that longer automatically means better? I'm getting into our obsession with long hair, why it means something completely different in every community, and how it gets tied up in our identity. Plus some honesty about my own hair journey, the thinning, the wigs, and why I'll always love a good pixie. So tell me, why is length the goal? Because I really want to know. 🛍️ Shop Virtue Labs through my link: https://www.virtuelabs.com/en/stylist/Kim-Allison ✅ Subscribe for more conversations with the voices reshaping the beauty industry. Click Here For More Info: https://linktr.ee/TrendywithKimAllison – Listen on Spotify, Apple, and all podcast platforms. – Follow @trendywkimallison on Instagram and TikTok. Subscribe to stay in the know. Message me to possibly be a guest on the show. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Reality TV Made Me Toxic

I just recorded a whole episode on toxicity and then realized I might be the problem. This one's me getting honest about my own toxic side, what's feeding it, and why you can't fill a cup with water and pour out orange juice. 🛍️ Shop Virtue Labs through my link: https://www.virtuelabs.com/en/stylist/Kim-Allison ✅ Subscribe for more conversations with the voices reshaping the beauty industry. Click Here For More Info: https://linktr.ee/TrendywithKimAllison – Listen on Spotify, Apple, and all podcast platforms. – Follow @trendywkimallison on Instagram and TikTok. Subscribe to stay in the know. Message me to possibly be a guest on the show. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.