Nick Stenson cut his first head of hair at 12 years old, in his mother's Chicago salon, with zero training and a customer's grandson in the chair. He was on track to become an orthopedic surgeon before realizing his mom was doing the same thing doctors do — changing how people carry themselves — one client at a time. He opened his first salon, Caviar Salons, in 2001, eventually running two locations and over 50 stylists. From there he became a creative director for L'Oréal and JCPenney Salons, styled Lady Gaga, Fergie, and Ashley Tisdale, and spent nine years at Ulta — starting with a team of seven and leaving as SVP of Services and Store Operations over a team of 400, after four promotions. In 2022 he launched Nick Stenson Beauty, a luxury haircare line built around aloe vera and creatine instead of ingredients nobody can pronounce. The brand is now sold at Ulta, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Amazon, with a professional distribution arm reaching salons nationwide. Twelve SKUs, all mix-and-matchable, no separate line for curly, straight, fine, or thick hair — just what your hair actually needs.

Make sure to check them out at: https://nickstensonbeauty.com

Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX

Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO

Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/

Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup

Follow Starting Small:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Thank you to this episodes mid-break sponsor, Modern Shade.

They make hardtop gazebos, louvered pergolas, privacy screens, outdoor furniture — basically everything you need to take a backyard from functional to actually finished. Cedar wood, galvanized steel, aluminum — solid materials, well-designed structures across the board.

What we picked up are their Cedar Privacy Screens — great for adding side shade and privacy to a pergola or deck without blocking the whole view. Clean, natural look, does exactly what it should.

If your order's over $700, use code SS6 for 6% off. Check them out at ModernShade.org