325 Branding, AI & The New Rules of Instagram with Hayley Mears

In this episode, I’m joined by Hayley Mears, former hairdresser, branding expert, and the driving force behind Six Underground Media. Hayley is also one of the guest educators inside our marketing course, and she brings a level of insight into social media, branding, and digital trends that most salon owners simply don’t have access to.

We dive deep into what salon owners should expect from Instagram in 2026, why the platform is about to shift in a major way, and how AI is going to become a natural part of your marketing workflow, whether you like it or not. Hayley also opens up about outsourcing, building teams globally, why email addresses are more valuable than followers, and how Canva has democratised design for salon owners everywhere.

If you want to stay ahead of the curve, understand what’s changing, and get practical, real-world advice from someone who lives and breathes digital marketing for salons, you’re going to love this conversation.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[02:23] Instagram trends coming in 2026
[04:26] Auto-responses, ManyChat, and in-app automations
[06:00] The overwhelm salon owners feel around tech and social media
[07:26] Should salons outsource or DIY their social?
[08:59] Why capability and confidence aren’t the same thing
[09:39] The shift in what salons need from social agencies
[17:41] Three things to focus on for Instagram in 2026
[18:21] Why storytelling matters more than ever
[21:04] How to use AI for content and campaign ideas
[27:27] Canva: why every salon should be using it

Want MORE to help you GROW?

📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books https://growmysalonbusiness.com/books/

🆘 Management overwhelm!? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-checklist/

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Until next time!
Antony

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Online Marketing Course - Join the waitlist - Enrolment opening January

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