The Power of Community over Competition.

By Guest Editor Robyn McAlpine

From mean girls to girls girls, how the beauty industry is embracing community over competition. It’s no secret that the Beauty Industry can feel like a battlefield. The guarding of secrets, the competition and usual “if they win, I lose” side-eye at every industry event.

But instead of winning, it drives intimidation and isolation as we retreat to the safety of our own salon walls, going it alone because peace is better than drama, right?

But the real kicker is, we are all facing the same battles, all have the same fears, and all want the same thing, to serve our clients and finish the day, proud of what we do.

As humans we are wired and designed for connection. We thrive in relationship with others and it’s so important for our mental health and wellbeing. When we are connected, that energy flows into every client interaction, every treatment, and every decision we make.

“It can be tough working alone, long hours among all the other challenges of running a business and supporting clients, having a community of supportive people is so important to help stay inspired, for mental wellbeing, to ask any questions at all and stay up to date with what’s important in the industry.” Rachael Bellinger- Skinside Out Squad member

When I started the Skinside Out Squad, I knew I was creating a platform for education delivered in a language beauty therapists could understand. I knew I was pioneering something that would elevate the way our industry thinks and acts in the treatment room, and I did set out knowing that there would be a way for members to connect with like-minded therapists.

BUT what I didn’t realise at the time was the accidental rebellion I had begun, simply by creating a space where collaboration and community were the culture.

It’s easy to share the wins, but what about in those times that are hard, when you feel like nothing is going right? Where can you be vulnerable and ask for help?

It’s not posting anonymously in the Facebook group of 5000 strangers, popcorn in hand, ready to use your vulnerability to feel better about their own situation or to weed through advice poorly disguised as a sale’s pitch.

True community is where you know you can have a vulnerable moment and be uplifted by people who willingly share their experience in order to support you in yours.

It’s creating safety to fail and celebrating each other’s wins without it diminishing our own.

Sounds like utopia, right?

But tapping into a community is simple if you know where to look.

1: Start with values, not Popularity.

Notice who you admire, who you’d trust with your client’s skin, and who shares the same approach to integrity in our industry. What spaces are they spending their time in?

Proximity doesn’t matter as much as alignment. Love your skin care brand community? Start there, then look beyond.

2: Then test the waters.

This means you’ll need to put yourself out there. Scary, especially if your first experience wasn’t all warm fuzzies. Join forums, attend events, follow those you admire and engage genuinely. Don’t just scroll, contribute. You’ll always get out what you put in, and even the smallest contributions can ripple outward. Share not just your wins, but also your struggles. Lead with your values, and if something feels out of alignment, trust that instinct. You’ll know when it’s time to move along and continue your mission.

3: If you can’t find the right circle?

Create your own. True community doesn’t just fall into your lap, it’s built, often by someone brave enough to go first. That’s you. It takes leaders to step up and say, “Hey, let’s do this differently.”

And remember, it’s not about the size of the group, it’s about the intention behind it. One genuine connection, a friend who truly gets the highs and lows of salon life, is worth a thousand surface-level acquaintances. Start with a cuppa with your local industry friends, a virtual sip and salon chat with people you meet online.

The good news? The right ones do exist. I know, because I’ve been part of building one, a space where therapists who once felt isolated, now feel like they’ve found their people. And that’s when this industry truly transforms when we stop going it alone.

A community doesn’t just impact the therapist, it impacts clients through better care, the industry rises to a higher standard and families, benefit from happier, less stressed salon owners. That’s the power of belonging.

Whether it’s over a coffee, a Zoom, or a quick check-in at an event, there’s a circle ready to catch you when the day feels heavy. You are not alone, and the industry shines brighter when we rise together.

Robyn xx @expert_skin_therapist