The Beauty Lab Podcast

79 | Blowout for Volume Critique: A Hairstylist Corrects Monina's At-Home Hair Routine

Velia watches Monina blowdries her hair and steps in to give tips that will make it voluminous  — and she has a lot to say. ALL LINKS MENTIONE: https://veliabeautyco.com/blogs/news/how-to-blow-dry-your-hair [https://veliabeautyco.com/blogs/news/how-to-blow-dry-your-hair] In this episode, Monina blow dries her hair on camera while Velia — licensed cosmetologist with decades of experience — pauses, redirects, and teaches in real time. The result is a full, bouncy blowout with zero teasing and zero curling iron. Just technique .If you've been blow drying your hair the same way for years and wondering why the volume never lasts, this episode is going to change your life or at least change how you approach your next wash day. IN THIS EPISODE: • Why blow drying at 50% damp is the sweet spot,  and what happens if you wait too long • Over-directing explained: how to tell your roots to lift from the very beginning • Why the blow dryer should always point down with the cuticle, even when you're directing hair upward • Flipping upside down correctly: the right arm position to avoid frizz • Why heat-activated mousse has to be engaged from the first pass of the dryer • The horseshoe sectioning method: middle of the ear to middle of the ear • Starting from the bottom up: why this builds the foundation for crown volume • Velcro rollers as you go: setting each section before moving to the next • The cool shot: using it to lock style instead of just letting hair air cool • Why imperfect sections still work, and what actually matters • Real blowout timeline: 28–35 minutes for long hair, start to finish 🎙️ SUBSCRIBE, SHARE & LEAVE A REVIEW — it helps more beauty nerds find us! Don’t forget your Beauty Lab Podcast discount!  Get 20% off of your entire order. Use the discount code: THEBEAUTYLABPODCAST at Velia Beauty Co. [https://veliabeautyco.com] If you're not sure what skin type you are, I have a quick skin type quiz [https://kindred-skin-scribe.lovable.app/]. It'll tell you exactly what you're working with so you can shop with confidence. Welcome to the Beauty Lab Podcast! Your go-to podcast for beauty, health, and wellness tips during your drive time! Hosted by Velia Ramson, licensed cosmetologist and founder of Velia Beauty Co., and Monina Wright, licensed esthetician and founder of Moderne Beauty and Aesthetics, we bring you: ✨ Expert insights on beauty trends and the science behind products.  💡 Myth-busting chats about what really works in beauty.  👩‍🔬 Conversations with industry leaders in health and wellness.  🧴 DIY skincare and haircare tips to try at home.  🤔 Answers to your beauty questions and honest product reviews. Join us every week as we share over 40 years of combined experience and passion for education. Whether you’re curious about skincare, scalp health, evolving makeup routines, or the latest beauty trends—we’ve got you covered! 🎙️ New episodes weekly. Subscribe now, and let’s have some fun in the Beauty Lab! Podcast Management: Jen Vazquez Media [https://jenvazquez.com]

78 | Brazilian Blowout, B3 Bond Builder & CBD Hair with Mary Loyer of Brazilian Professionals

You've heard of Brazilian Blowout. You've probably heard it lumped in with keratin treatments. But they are not the same thing — and the difference matters. In this episode, Velia and Monina sit down with Mary Loyer, Regional Sales Director at Brazilian Professionals and one of the OGs who helped build the Brazilian Blowout brand from the ground up 16 years ago. She breaks down everything: the science behind the formula, why clients can wash their hair immediately after, how the brand has evolved in response to ingredient concerns, and what's behind two of their newer lines — B3 Brazilian Bond Builder and the CBD-based Leaf & Flower.  IN THIS EPISODE: • The real difference between Brazilian Blowout and keratin treatments (amino acids vs. full keratin molecule) • Why the amino acid formula means no over-proteinization, no waiting to wash, and no post-treatment restrictions • How much time clients actually save. Some go days without restyling • The $250–$400 price point broken down: roughly $3–4 a day for up to 3 months • The aftercare products that extend results from 2 months to 3–4 months • The methylene glycol controversy, OSHA testing, and California's 2025 beauty ingredient laws • BB Free: the new no-chemical, no-smell alternative with the same smoothing results • B3 Brazilian Bond Builder: how it improves gray coverage, color vibrancy, and actually makes hair healthier during blonding • Leaf & Flower: the all-natural, vegan, CBD-based line, and why CBD's 20 amino acids make it uniquely effective for hair and scalp • The Molecular Mender: scalp repair + frizz control + split end sealing in 15 minutes, lasting 10 washes • The Volumizing Treatment: rice amino acids that expand at the root and hold lift for 5 washes — with a built-in dry shampoo effect ALL THE LINKS:  🎙️ SUBSCRIBE, SHARE & LEAVE A REVIEW — it helps more beauty nerds find us! Don’t forget your Beauty Lab Podcast discount!  Get 20% off of your entire order. Use the discount code: THEBEAUTYLABPODCAST at Velia Beauty Co. [https://veliabeautyco.com] If you're not sure what skin type you are, I have a quick skin type quiz [https://kindred-skin-scribe.lovable.app/]. It'll tell you exactly what you're working with so you can shop with confidence. Welcome to the Beauty Lab Podcast! Your go-to podcast for beauty, health, and wellness tips during your drive time! Hosted by Velia Ramson, licensed cosmetologist and founder of Velia Beauty Co., and Monina Wright, licensed esthetician and founder of Moderne Beauty and Aesthetics, we bring you: ✨ Expert insights on beauty trends and the science behind products.  💡 Myth-busting chats about what really works in beauty.  👩‍🔬 Conversations with industry leaders in health and wellness.  🧴 DIY skincare and haircare tips to try at home.  🤔 Answers to your beauty questions and honest product reviews. Join us every week as we share over 40 years of combined experience and passion for education. Whether you’re curious about skincare, scalp health, evolving makeup routines, or the latest beauty trends—we’ve got you covered! 🎙️ New episodes weekly. Subscribe now, and let’s have some fun in the Beauty Lab! Podcast Management: Jen Vazquez Media [https://jenvazquez.com]

77 | Why Your Skin Looks Dull Even with a Full Skincare Routine — Esthetician Monina Explains

You're doing the routine. You're buying the products. Your skin still looks dull. Sound familiar?  In this episode, licensed esthetician Monina walks Velia (and all of us) through the real reasons skin loses its glow — and why the answer is almost never "buy more products." She covers the five root causes of dull skin, the biggest mistakes she sees over and over in her treatment room, and what a truly glowing skin routine actually looks like.If you've ever bought a $100 serum and felt like it wasn't doing anything, or wondered why your skin looks worse after adding more products — this one is for you. IN THIS EPISODE: * The 5 root causes of dull skin: barrier dysfunction, dehydration, poor product absorption, inflammation, and slow cellular turnover * Dehydrated vs. dry skin — they're not the same and they need different fixes• Why over-exfoliation is the #1 skin mistake right now (TikTok is partly to blame) * What humectants are and why skipping them leaves skin looking flat — even under makeup * The pilling test: how to know you've officially put too many products on your skin• Skin cycling explained — and how to use it without confusing your barrier * Glowing skin vs. oily/shiny skin: the actual difference and what each one means for your barrier * Why professional treatments can be completely undone by aggressive at-home routines * Monina's recommendation: infusion facials over aggressive resurfacing for most people ALL THE LINKS MENTIONED: https://www.modernebeauty.com/why-your-skin-still-looks-dull-and-what-s-actually-missing-from-your-routine Don’t forget your Beauty Lab Podcast discount!  Get 20% off of your entire order. Use the discount code: THEBEAUTYLABPODCAST at Velia Beauty Co. [https://veliabeautyco.com] If you're not sure what skin type you are, I have a quick skin type quiz [https://kindred-skin-scribe.lovable.app/]. It'll tell you exactly what you're working with so you can shop with confidence. Welcome to the Beauty Lab Podcast! Your go-to podcast for beauty, health, and wellness tips during your drive time! Hosted by Velia Ramson, licensed cosmetologist and founder of Velia Beauty Co., and Monina Wright, licensed esthetician and founder of Moderne Beauty and Aesthetics, we bring you: ✨ Expert insights on beauty trends and the science behind products.  💡 Myth-busting chats about what really works in beauty.  👩‍🔬 Conversations with industry leaders in health and wellness.  🧴 DIY skincare and haircare tips to try at home.  🤔 Answers to your beauty questions and honest product reviews. Join us every week as we share over 40 years of combined experience and passion for education. Whether you’re curious about skincare, scalp health, evolving makeup routines, or the latest beauty trends—we’ve got you covered! 🎙️ New episodes weekly. Subscribe now, and let’s have some fun in the Beauty Lab! Podcast Management: Jen Vazquez Media [https://jenvazquez.com]

76 | The Ingredients Your Hair Actually Needs After 40: Velia Beauty Co Founder Explains

If you've ever switched to a "professional" brand and still ended up with flat, heavy, or inexplicably dry hair — this episode is for you. This week on The Beauty Lab Podcast, Monina interviews her co-host Velia — licensed cosmetologist and founder of Velia Beauty Co — about the product line she built specifically for women whose hair is starting to change. Because after 40, it does change: the scalp produces less oil, hair becomes more porous, texture gets wiry or thin. And most products on the market — at every price point — were not designed with that in mind. In this episode you'll learn why Velia created the line and who it's really for; what sulfates, parabens, and heavy waxes are doing to your hair even at salon prices; why sunflower seed extract functions as UV protection for color and gray hair; how quinoa reinforces the structure of a weakening hair shaft; the difference between coconut milk and standard conditioning agents; everything about the Liquid Amethyst Trio and why the formula includes actual pulverized amethyst crystal; and how to start the switch with just two products. Grab the free guide and all other links: https://veliabeautyco.com/blogs/news/whats-inside-velia-beauty-co-ingredients-explained Don’t forget your Beauty Lab Podcast discount!  Get 20% off of your entire order. Use the discount code: THEBEAUTYLABPODCAST at Velia Beauty Co. [https://veliabeautyco.com] If you're not sure what skin type you are, I have a quick skin type quiz [https://kindred-skin-scribe.lovable.app/]. It'll tell you exactly what you're working with so you can shop with confidence. Welcome to the Beauty Lab Podcast! Your go-to podcast for beauty, health, and wellness tips during your drive time! Hosted by Velia Ramson, licensed cosmetologist and founder of Velia Beauty Co., and Monina Wright, licensed esthetician and founder of Moderne Beauty and Aesthetics, we bring you: ✨ Expert insights on beauty trends and the science behind products.  💡 Myth-busting chats about what really works in beauty.  👩‍🔬 Conversations with industry leaders in health and wellness.  🧴 DIY skincare and haircare tips to try at home.  🤔 Answers to your beauty questions and honest product reviews. Join us every week as we share over 40 years of combined experience and passion for education. Whether you’re curious about skincare, scalp health, evolving makeup routines, or the latest beauty trends—we’ve got you covered! 🎙️ New episodes weekly. Subscribe now, and let’s have some fun in the Beauty Lab! Podcast Management: Jen Vazquez Media [https://jenvazquez.com]

75 | Permanent Brows 101: Microblading, Powder Brows & Skin Type with Cosmetic Tattoo Artist Shauna Nasri

If brows have ever been a pain point for you — whether you over-tweezed in the nineties, lost hair through hormones or health changes, or just spend way too much time filling them in every morning — this episode is going to feel like a gift. Shauna Nasri, founder of Nasri Aesthetics in Orange County and a cosmetic tattoo artist specializing in natural, soft brow enhancements, joins Monina and Velia for a full breakdown of the permanent brow world. She explains techniques, how she matches the method to your skin type, what the process actually looks like, and why her most rewarding client moments involve the words "I feel like myself again." IN THIS EPISODE: * Shauna's origin story — from childhood sketching to founding Nasri Aesthetics six years ago * The four main permanent brow techniques: microblading, nano brows, powder brows, and hybrid * Why skin type is the most important factor when choosing a technique (oily skin + microblading = a problem) * How brow shape is mapped using facial structure — the nose bulb method, arch placement, and tail length * What to expect during your first appointment and the one-to-two-week aftercare window * Pain level: lidocaine before + during, and why most clients rate it a 2 out of 10 * What it means to "feel like myself again". Shauna's most emotional client stories * The aging conversation: why brows and hair are the two things that most change how women see themselves in the mirror Get all the links mentioned including how to find Shauna and access her discount. ALL THE LINKS:  Don’t forget your Beauty Lab Podcast discount!  Get 20% off of your entire order. Use the discount code: THEBEAUTYLABPODCAST at Velia Beauty Co. [https://veliabeautyco.com] If you're not sure what skin type you are, I have a quick skin type quiz [https://kindred-skin-scribe.lovable.app/]. It'll tell you exactly what you're working with so you can shop with confidence. Welcome to the Beauty Lab Podcast! Your go-to podcast for beauty, health, and wellness tips during your drive time! Hosted by Velia Ramson, licensed cosmetologist and founder of Velia Beauty Co., and Monina Wright, licensed esthetician and founder of Moderne Beauty and Aesthetics, we bring you: ✨ Expert insights on beauty trends and the science behind products.  💡 Myth-busting chats about what really works in beauty.  👩‍🔬 Conversations with industry leaders in health and wellness.  🧴 DIY skincare and haircare tips to try at home.  🤔 Answers to your beauty questions and honest product reviews. Join us every week as we share over 40 years of combined experience and passion for education. Whether you’re curious about skincare, scalp health, evolving makeup routines, or the latest beauty trends—we’ve got you covered! 🎙️ New episodes weekly. Subscribe now, and let’s have some fun in the Beauty Lab! Podcast Management: Jen Vazquez Media [https://jenvazquez.com]