The Constant
Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.
by Stacey Soble
Personal Compass: Where's Oliver?
Take a photograph from any salon industry gathering and chances are Oliver Steinnagel is in the crowd. Armed with an amazing work ethic passed down from his German immigrant parents, Steinnagel, who co-owns Oliver’s Hair Salon with wife ...
May 2, 2016
3 min to read
Take a photograph from any salon industry gathering and chances are Oliver Steinnagel is in the crowd. Armed with an amazing work ethic passed down from his German immigrant parents, Steinnagel, who co-owns Oliver’s Hair Salon with wife Wendy in Overland Park, Kansas, seamlessly blends managing a successful salon operation with keeping active in the industry. Over the past six years, he has served on the boards of both the Professional Beauty Association and Intercoiffure.
His interests have led him in some unique places, from his early dates as a Rodeo Drive stylist welcoming clients including Farrah Fawcett, Brooke Shields and Jaclyn Smith to obtaining patent rights on fishing lures to lobbying for improved cosmetology laws in Washington D.C.
Maintaining a core value of customer service and a belief that how a client looks after a visit should be as important to the stylist as it is to the client, it’s no wonder Oliver’s Hair Salon is a success.
SALON TODAY: What time is your alarm set?
Oliver Steinnagel: "Typically 6:30, but I usually wake up earlier."
ST:What’s for breakfast?
OS: "Usually a protein bar and one of my creative protein shakes with fresh fruit and a variety of other healthy things!"
ST: Which do you check first: email, Facebook, Twitter, or voicemail?
OS: "I normally start with my emails. Then focus on returning voicemails and text messages."
ST: What time do you go in to the salons?
OS: "I usually arrive between 9 and 10 a.m."
ST: How do you divide salon responsibilities?
OS: "Wendy tackles training new talent, developing systems and programs, human resources, philanthropy, photo shoots and event planning. I handle leadership development, coaching, stylist technical skill development, goal setting and industry and public relations."
ST: Who do you wish you could have lunch with?
OS: "Ed Doering who was like a father to me, and passed away 30 years ago."
ST: Daily fitness ritual?
OS: "I love to walk outdoors."
ST: What do you do when slacking off is an option?
OS: "Riding my Harley or an occasional nap."
ST: When do you get your best ideas?
OS: "Walking, fishing, or riding my Harley."
ST: Tell me something that would surprise me about you.
OS: "I had two patents on fishing lures at the age of 16."
ST: Cat, dog, both, or something else?
OS: "Dog- Ellie"
ST: Do you cook?
OS: "I specialize in scrambled eggs."
ST: How do you unwind?
Crown Royal on the rocks, with friends.
ST: What time do you go to sleep?
OS: "10-10:30"
ST: What do you love about your life?
OS: "Being married 28 years with with daughters whom I am very proud of."
ST: What career would you have if you weren't a hairdresser?
OS: "A cowboy, riding the range."
ST: What do you want to come back as in your next life?
OS: "Our family dog."
Steinnagel holds two patents on fishing lures.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Salon Management
The Most Wonderful Time in Salons and Spas
Planning is in full swing for the most anticipated events and promotions for the 2026 holidays. As owners share their favorite ways to celebrate, they prove that a carefully planned event can also build culture, increase client loyalty, boost sales, and set a business up for a successful 2027.
by Stacey Soble
Leading with Empathy, Humility and a Mastery of Systems
When things run amok at Mane Attraction Salon, Owners Chris and Jenny Knudsen say General Manager Sami Hernandez is their go-to resource and ultimate sounding board. Meet Sami in this installment of Meet the Manager.
by Stacey Soble
Pagoda Brings AI-Powered Operations to Skinovatio Medical Spa Locations
Pagoda, a new AI-native operating system for scheduling, payments, patient records, marketing, and client communications, launches at Skinovatio Medical Spa in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
by Staff
How Women are Rewriting the Rules of Grey Hair
At a panel discussion hosted by L’Oréal Professionnel in Paris in early July, French Philosopher Sophie Galabru explored the cultural shift where women are increasingly choosing natural, personalized color results over traditional grey coverage. In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Galabru and L’Oréal Professionnel Colorist Pierrick Beringer discuss this shift and how salons and colorists respond.
by Stacey Soble
Warm Leadership and Analytical Precision
At Salon Blonde, Director of Operations treats the staff as the salon's most important guests, while her wonderful 'nerdy' side, loves data, systems, and numbers. Find out how she makes Salon Blonde tick.
by Stacey Soble
Trotting the Globe, Forging Connections, Fostering Artistic Creativity
In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Salon Owner Salvatore Minardi reflects on his past 18 months as Intercoiffure America Canada's World Talent Exchange Ambassador and how his experiences will help encourage cultural and artistic exchange and support greater engagement between ICA and the global organization Intercoiffure Mondial.
by Stacey Soble
Client Retention Guidebook
Everything you need to know about client retention as a salon owner.
Success Grown from Within
Owner Shelby Bills says her general manager, Sydney Osborne, reminds her of the power of leading with heart. Find out how Osborne became a great leader in our lastest installment of Meet the Manager.
by Stacey Soble
How Salon Leaders Can Process the Pain and Lead Forward When a Team Members Leaves Unethically
In her latest blog, Kati Whitledge identifies the five stages salon owners go through when a team member leaves the salon unethically, offering advice for each stage.
How AI Is Closing Revenue Gaps for Salons and Spas
The beauty and wellness businesses pulling ahead aren’t just working harder—they’re using AI to capture demand, personalize pricing, and convert more of every guest interaction into revenue. Here’s what the benchmark data reveals about the growing gap between AI adopters and everyone else.
Sponsored by Zenoti
The Premium Talent Magnet: The Modern Salon Playbook for Attracting Six-Figure Stylists
Stop chasing recruitment ghosts on generic job boards and start curating an elite team. Discover the framework that top-tier salons use to bypass phone tag, automate visual portfolio vetting, and attract high-earning, culture-first beauty professionals directly through real-time messaging. Turn your recruitment process into an exclusive brand invitation that keeps your highest-ticket chairs permanently filled.
Sponsored by Beautista
Five Revenue Leaks Hiding in Your Salon
Your calendar looks full, but is all of that demand actually converting to revenue? From phantom rebookings to underpriced peak hours, the 2026 Benchmark Report exposes five revenue leaks that most beauty and wellness businesses don’t even know they have.
Sponsored by Zenoti
The Heartbeat of Zandi K's Success
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
by Stacey Soble
Rethinking Retail in the Era of E-Commerce
In a world dominated by e-commerce, salon owners push back with proven strategies to increase retail sales while motivating team members to educate their clientele and delighting clients with retail-themed events and clever merchandising displays.
by Stacey Soble
The Harper Ellis Hair Co. Certification Program Teaches Stylists a Smarter, Safer Way to Install Extensions
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
by Staff
The Micro-Salon Blueprint: How Kat Scott Quadrupled Income by Maximizing Her Suite
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
by Staff