The Itch to Change Everything
Jadu Beauty Podcast · Salon Series
From Corporate PR to Midtown Salon Owner
Tina Malhotra spent 13 years in entertainment and fashion PR before she walked away from it all. Today she owns a private hair studio on 57th and 6th in Midtown Manhattan and she's never looked back. Hair had always been part of Tina's world. Her mother was a hairdresser. Growing up Indian, beauty and personal style were woven into the culture around her. But becoming a stylist herself? That was never the plan. Until it was. .
"If you feel that itch to try something new, as wild and crazy as it may seem, do it. Just go for it. Your old career will still be there"— Tina Malhotra, Owner · Hair by Tina M
In this episode of the Jadu Beauty Podcast, Tina opens up about the humbling early years as an older assistant, the natural aesthetic she's built her reputation on, and a simple but powerful philosophy: a great haircut is one you can style yourself at home. She also shares her first impressions of two Jadu Beauty products live on the episode and why her product standards are non-negotiable.
What We Cover in This Episode
Leaving PR After 13 Years
Tina takes us inside the moment she decided to leave a stable, successful career for something completely unknown. She talks about the fear, the family context, and why she believes every skill you've ever built travels with you.
Starting Over as the Oldest in the Room
As an older assistant surrounded by younger trainees, Tina had to check her ego at the door. She shares what humbling yourself to learn looks like in practice and how her background in people and communication gave her an edge no cosmetology school teaches.
Radical Honesty as a Business Strategy
Tina is known for soft, sun-kissed color and lived-in balayage that looks natural across every texture. She explains the philosophy behind subtle one-to-two-shade shifts and why her social content, "hair in the wild," features clients styling their own hair.
The Real Test of a Great Haircut
A beautiful result under a stylist's hands means nothing if you can't recreate it on a Tuesday morning. Tina's client philosophy starts with listening, past hair trauma, life context, photos, and ends with a cut or color that fits a client's actual life, not just a salon moment.
Split Ends, Damage, and Product Honesty
Tina has a closet full of formulas she's personally tested. She never recommends what she hasn't tried herself. Hear how she discovered Jadu's Split Ends Care oil, why she applied it on freshly trimmed ends to build a clean baseline, and what surprised her about its weight and finish.
First Time Trying Magic Drip — Live
In real time, Tina experiences Jadu Beauty's Magic Drip scalp treatment for the first time. She applies the water-based, coffee-scented formula in circular motions directly at the root and shares her immediate reaction. The tingle, the scent, and why it fits seamlessly into a routine that includes extensions.
Products Tina Tried on This Episode
Tina is a self-described product enthusiast who tests everything herself before she recommends it. These are the two Jadu Beauty formulas that made it into her routine and onto this episode.
Split Ends Care
"I applied it on freshly trimmed ends to give myself a healthy baseline. I've been impressed by how lightweight my hair feels when I wake up."
Tina discovered Jadu's Split Ends Care oil through Instagram and was drawn to the fact it was created by a fellow woman founder. True to her rule, she tested it on herself first, applying it after a trim to start with clean, healthy ends. The result? A featherlight formula that nourishes overnight without greasiness, buildup, or disruption to her curl pattern or color.
Shop Split Ends CareMagic Drip
"There's a pleasant tingle on my scalp. I'm excited to add this to my routine and it works without disrupting extensions."
Tina experienced Magic Drip live on this episode for the first time. The water-based scalp treatment is designed to be massaged directly at the root in circular motions to support fuller, healthier-looking hair. Tina noted the pleasant scalp tingle, the coffee scent, and the fact that it layers seamlessly over extensions, making it a practical daily ritual for clients and stylists alike.
Shop Magic Drip SerumListen on
Join the Conversation
Now we want to hear from you. What did you enjoy most from the podcast, and what inspiration are you taking from this conversation? Do you have a tip to share about hair, health, or wellness? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at Support@JaduBeauty.com and you could be our next guest in our Manhattan office or join us virtually.
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