From Princess Diana to Kim Kardashian: How Joh Bailey Built Legacy and Relevance for 41 Years

"You can't afford to be an arsehole if you're famous; people talk about it too much." - Joh Bailey

Forty-one years ago, Joh Bailey opened a single Double Bay salon with one goal: to be number one. Today, that same "no bullshit" philosophy has taken him from doing Princess Diana's hair on royal visits to building his own haircare line from scratch; tested, adjusted, and re-tested until it was right.

In this episode, Joh gets refreshingly honest about what it actually takes to survive four decades in an industry built on trends: the phone call from Buckingham Palace that changed everything, what working with clients like Kim Kardashian taught her about fame and behaviour, surviving the GFC when she and her business partner Marilyn had "no idea what to do" with the money coming in, and why she still tests every product on himself before it ever reaches a client. It's part masterclass, part memoir, and a genuinely funny, unfiltered look at what it takes to build something that lasts.

INSIDE THE EPISODE:

00:00 — Intro: 41 Years & the Marilyn Partnership

03:05 — The Non-Verbal Language of hair

06:45 — The accidental business partner

09:01 — Breaking the judgement intimidation in salons

11:08 — Anatomy of a world class blow-dry

15:41 — Doing Princess Diana's Hair

21:53 — 40 Years of Ups & Downs

26:47 — Celebrity Clients

28:25 — Building the Haircare Line

33:20 — The harsh reality on how to have good hair

35:02 —Business Advice for Hard Times

29:23 — Going Global?

40:02 — Giving Back & Handwritten Notes 

42:25 — Can Damaged Hair Be Repaired?

46:05 — Work Ethic

47:32— What's Next?

54:01 — Connect with Joh 

Connect with our Guest:

• Joh Bailey on Instagram: @johbaileyofficial

• Joh Bailey Salons & Haircare: johbailey.com.au

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This episode includes discussion of third-party public figures and historical events for educational commentary. Any imagery referencing Princess Diana or other celebrities is press/archival material; all rights and ownership belong to their respective copyright holders. This content is utilized under Fair Use principles and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with Process The Podcast. For takedowns or copyright inquiries, please contact [email protected]

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