Salon Culture & Software to Depend On!

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since Rixon Hair first opened its doors in Brisbane City. Back then, Brad and Sharon were just a couple of young guns (not even married yet!) with a dream, a whole lot of passion, and a clear vision of what they wanted to create.

With Brad coming from a third-generation hairdressing family and having worked alongside some of Australia’s top stylists, they set out to bring something different to the Brisbane salon scene... something elevated, considered, and timeless. From day one, Rixon Hair was all about minimalist luxury, refined aesthetics, and exceptional skill delivered in a space that felt warm, relaxed and real.

They started in a small salon on Adelaide Street but quickly outgrew it, relocating just around the corner to Edward Street, where they still are today. The ethos gives the salon a refined yet warm ambiance, blending earthy textures, natural light and that signature dusty pink palette in their custom-designed heritage space that spans a whole level.

Rixon Hair stands apart for its refined salon culture, professional yet relaxed, luxe but approachable. From the moment you walk in, every detail is designed to offer an elevated salon experience framed in trust, creativity and consistency.

And underpinning it all is a long-standing partnership with Shortcuts. Right from the beginning, Brad and Sharon knew they needed software they could depend on, and Shortcuts delivered. After 25 years, that trust hasn’t wavered. From managing bookings to driving business insights and shaping the client journey, Shortcuts continues to support the heartbeat of the salon as Rixon Hair grows, evolves, and inspires the next generation of stylists.

We chat with Sharon & Brad about their journey, and their partnership with Shortcuts Salon Software.

As business partners, how do you balance your roles within Rixon Hair?

We work, play, live and laugh together… sometimes there are tears.

We definitely have a clear division of roles, Brad leads the creative direction, focusing on cutting education, technique and innovation in salon services. Sharon manages business operations, client experience and team development. We are united by a strong vision for Rixon, but within that shared vision we operate independently, trusting each other to make decisions. People see Brad as the visionary and Sharon as the culture shaper and operations queen.

What makes your team at Rixon Hair so special, and how do you nurture talent?

From the outset, we were committed to building a high-calibre team. We’ve fostered a creative and safe learning environment, nurturing stylists both new and experienced. In the salon, our heart is our people! Our team are not just skilled hairdressers, they are creative, kind, passionate and committed to offering the ultimate experience.

We look for authenticity and warmth, people who care about people and love making others feel seen and confident. We also seek a hunger to learn and a growth mindset. Our team grow and thrive through empowerment. We give them autonomy to express their unique style and voice while striving to meet the high standards that define our brand. We guide them to build confidence, culture and a sense of purpose, with clear pathways for meaningful growth.

How would you describe the culture you’ve created at Rixon Hair?

Culture is our tone, calm, polished, positive and purposeful.

We’ve created a culture that balances high standards with loads of heart. Our team is professional but never pretentious. We are quite driven but grounded; we have structure, but it always feels light, warm and welcoming. Our team help each other, learn from each other and celebrate wins in and out of the salon. We even jumped off a cliff together this year!

What role does education play in your salon, and how do you keep your team inspired?

Education isn’t just something we offer, it’s part of who we are. Continuous learning is embedded in our brand.

We believe staying inspired is key to maintaining high standards and delivering consistently exceptional results.

We hold weekly training sessions for our rising talent, or for anyone who wants to jump in, refresh or upskill. We regularly host guest stylists to bring fresh insight, trends and different perspectives into our space.

We encourage and support our team to attend industry events, creative shows and leadership retreats, like recently taking our Manager to the L’Oréal Retreat, where we gained insights in business, branding and innovation.

Our education also includes active listening, health and wellbeing, personal goal-setting and social media. Partnering with L’Oréal Access and recently joining Not Another Club with Sophia Hilton keeps our cups filled with loads of online education.

What advice would you give to salon owners who want to build a high-performing team?

Check in constantly, listen and lead. Surround yourself with the right people! The most experienced stylist may not be the right fit for your brand, skills can be taught. Always trust your gut instincts when expanding your team.

Why did you choose Shortcuts as your salon software partner, and what keeps you loyal?

Shortcuts was the only choice for us when it came to choosing a company to partner with, it is the leader in its arena, and we needed something reliable as we were a fresh startup. After 25 years, we’re still loyal to Shortcuts. Their support and innovations are why we’ve stayed partnered with them.

How does Shortcuts support your dayto-day operations and help your team grow?

Shortcuts plays a key role in helping us run a smooth and supportive environment for our team.

The appointment book is intuitive and flexible, helping our front desk and stylists stay on top of bookings. It also delivers a seamless experience for clients who wish to book online, this has definitely increased our revenue. We love the cloud-based dashboard to see KPIs in real time. It helps us have meaningful conversations around growth, celebrate wins and set personalised goals in revenue, rebooking, retail sales and more.

In what ways has Shortcuts elevated the client journey at Rixon Hair?

From the very first touchpoint, the online booking system allows our clients to book at their convenience, anytime, anywhere. It’s curated with our brand, so everything aligns: our colour palette, our logo, our feel. In this busy world, the automated SMS confirmations reduce no-shows and keep communication clear. We have a very high turn-up rate as a result.

Shortcuts offers powerful marketing tools, what features do you use most, and how have they helped you stay connected with your clients and grow your brand?

It’s a word we’d prefer to forget, but Shortcuts saved our lives during COVID.

We were able to tailor quick messages to our clients to keep them updated with salon closures and re-openings through SMS and email campaigns. Our clients really appreciated being kept in the loop during such an uncertain time.

We still use Shortcuts and Mailchimp to keep clients informed about new product launches, exciting things happening in the salon, staff updates and anything else we need to get across quickly. We’re also excited to launch a loyalty program soon, and we’re confident Shortcuts will support us with that too.

@rixonhair