Podcasts about salon owners

A salon business partnership usually starts with two hairdressers, a strong friendship and a handshake. It feels like a great way to share the load. Yet most of these partnerships fall apart within a few years, often with money lost and friendships damaged. The key to a successful partnership is all about how you set it up at the beginning. So here's a question worth asking: if you're thinking about a partner, or already have one, how protected is the business when circumstances change?What are the conversations to have before you sign anything, and why giving away ownership is so hard to undo. IN THIS EPISODE:• Why needing business expertise is a poor reason on its own to give away equity in your salon• The questions to answer before you sign anything: ownership, workload, salary, profits and decision-making• What 50/50 really means when you and your partner disagree• Why talking about the end at the start is one of the smartest moves you can makeEPISODE TIMESTAMPS[00:00] Introduction: why so many salon partnerships start with just a handshake[04:37] The first question to ask yourself: why do you actually want a partner?[06:17] Why needing expertise doesn't mean you should give away ownership[08:00] Why shared vision matters as much as complementary skills in a partnership[11:12] Every partnership ends eventually, so why you should plan for it early[12:14] The seven Ds that can derail a salon business partnership[14:20] The conversations to have before you sign a partnership agreement[16:19] What a 50/50 partnership really means when the two of you disagree[17:17] Why you can't outsource understanding your own business as an owner[20:00] The biggest lessons from three very different partnerships[21:23] How Grow My Salon Business can help you build a better businessRESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:The GROW Book Series – four bestselling books on building a successful salon business – Find out moreGrow My Salon Business Online Courses – step-by-step courses on money, management, marketing and your team – Find out more Coaching – one-to-one support to work through the specific challenges in your business – Find out more  

In this episode, Nathan Puksta, Founder & CEO of Filament Sciences, shares how he went from corporate beauty at L'Oréal to becoming a licensed beauty professional, entrepreneur, and product founder building a science-backed haircare brand.Nathan talks about what it really takes to build a product line: understanding the market, solving a real problem, building relationships before you need them, working with chemists and manufacturers, developing a product from scratch, and knowing when an idea has true product-market fit.This conversation breaks down the reality behind beauty entrepreneurship and what it takes to build with strategy, science, and purpose.Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!Key Takeaways:

CHECK OUT THE 25-HOUR SALON OWNER: JUST CLICK HEREMaybe the next stage of your business doesn't require you to work harder.Maybe it requires an IDENTITY SHIFT.In this episode of Salon Conversation, I'm talking about the shift from being the hairdresser, beauty therapist, dermal therapist or technician who does the work to becoming the business owner who LEADS the people doing the work.Because there's a big difference between:“I have to look after my clients.” and: “My job is to make sure my clients are looked after.”That shift changed everything for me. It's also at the heart of my 25-Hour Rule.When you cap your client-facing hours at 25, you create space to develop your team, build leaders, create systems, understand your numbers, market your business and actually run it.We talk about people pleasing, learning to say no, handing clients to your team, workaholism, leadership and why doing less with clients doesn't make you lazy.It makes room for you to do your actual job.One of the questions I want you to take away from this episode is:If you looked at your business from 50,000 feet, what is YOUR job now?Because it probably isn't the same job you had when you first opened your doors.And maybe there's a new identity waiting for you.If this resonates and you'd like to go further, faster, take a look at my 25-Hour Salon Owner 90-Day Program.It's for salon, spa and clinic owners with a team of four or more who understand that the first step towards building a business that needs them less is reducing the time they personally spend servicing clients.25 client-facing hours is the cap.CHECK OUT THE 25-HOUR SALON OWNER: JUST CLICK HEREYour family needs you. Your salon, spa or clinic shouldn't.Lisa x

"Send us a message!"Anyone can call themselves an expert. The harder part is proving it.If you're a hairstylist, barber, nail tech, esthetician, or salon owner, you probably already have knowledge your clients are looking for. The question is whether anyone can find it before they sit in your chair.In this episode, we're breaking down something we're actively building at Hello Hair Co.: turning the knowledge already inside our team into useful resources that help clients solve problems, build trust, and choose the right professional for them.We talk about why a website shouldn't only tell people your hours, prices, services, and how to book; why beautiful hair photos aren't always enough to differentiate you; and why simply calling yourself a blonding expert doesn't establish authority.We also dig into the pressure hair pros feel to constantly post, make Reels, chase trends, gain followers, and become content creators—and why we think there's another path.Instead of constantly starting over with the next post or trend, we're focused on building evergreen assets: useful answers to questions clients are already asking that can continue being discovered long after they're published.And we're already seeing it work.Clients have chosen individual hair pros at Hello after reading their articles. Our team is asking to contribute more. And one recent client drove about 30 minutes to Hello after discovering us online and connecting with our commitment to education. You don't need to become an influencer.You need to give people a reason to trust what you know.The Big IdeaAuthority isn't something you call yourself. It's something you demonstrate.Key TakeawaysTreat your staff like professionals if you want them to begin seeing themselves as professionals.Clients aren't always searching for a generic “salon near me.” They're increasingly looking for someone who understands a specific problem or service.Attention isn't the same thing as trust.Great photos can show your work, but they don't necessarily show how you think.Anyone can call themselves an expert. Authority comes from demonstrating what you know.Teach something, explain it simply, help someone make a decision, or solve part of their problem before they ever pay you.Your website shouldn't only explain how someone can do business with you. It should help explain why they should trust you.Build authority around the individual people inside the company, not only the salon brand.Giving staff opportunities to share their expertise can support client growth, professional development, pride, and contribution.Social media can be useful for attention—but likes and followers aren't necessarily business outcomes.You don't need to become an influencer to build a successful clientele.Use attention to move people somewhere they can learn more about you and your expertise.If you don't know what content to create, start with the questions clients ask you repeatedly.Evergreen content compounds. A useful resource can continue being discovered instead of resetting to zero with every new post.Don't chase every trend. Build a growing library of useful information.Generic content isn't enough. Knowledge, personality, experience, and real stories are what differentiate your expertise.Don't create content about something you don't understand. Stick to what you know—or document what you're genuinely learning.Search platforms and AI need useful information to answer people's questions. The strategy isn't to trick them; it's to provide better answers.Build useful things on platforms you control whenever possible. 264 264 264Time Stamps00:00 — Opening Takes02:30 — Train or Fire06:30 — Why we started building Client Resources09:30 — How clients actually choose a salon or hairstylist11:00 — Why calling yourself an expert isn't enough13:00 — What creates trust before the appointment?14:30 — What clients are really looking for in a consultation16:00 — Experience, confidence, and demonstrating authority18:00 — Give away knowledge before someone pays you20:00 — Your website shouldn't just tell people how to book21:00 — Building the authority of your staff—not just the salon22:00 — Why this creates opportunities for your team25:30 — We're already seeing clients choose people because of the content28:00 — A client trusted us before we'd even met30:00 — You don't have to become an influencer32:00 — Attention is useful. What happens after you get it?34:00 — Don't know what to create? Answer your clients' questions35:30 — Why we're building evergreen assets38:00 — Stop restarting from zero every week39:00 — Search, AI, and becoming a trusted source41:00 — Why generic content won't work44:00 — How to start building authority today45:30 — What we're betting on for the future47:30 — One Last Thing 264 264Question of the week.What question have your clients asked you 100 times that you still haven't answered publicly?Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.Stop telling people you're an expert. Give them something that proves it.Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

54% of salons aren't going to make it to 2030. That's the number Larissa and Joel landed on when they ran the research. In this episode, recorded poolside in Bali during their annual Salon Mastery intensive, they break down exactly why, and what separates the salons that will survive from the ones that won't. Episode Overview: Six years on from COVID, the economics of running a salon have shifted for good. Client spending has changed. The team you can hire has changed. And AI has changed how we show up on our socials. In this episode, Larissa and Joel unpack the three biggest shifts hitting every salon right now, and the one constraint that's quietly deciding who makes it to 2030. Key Topics Covered: Why your salon's real competition isn't the salon down the roadThe "triple constraint" that means no salon gets to be fast, cheap, and high quality all at onceWhy your top-performing team member might be the one most likely to walkThe specific mental narrative running through the head of almost every salon owner right nowThe AI mistake most of the industry has already made, and what to do about it insteadWhat "experience is the new currency" actually means for your pricing and your profit Joel is the Boardroom Coach at Salon Owners Collective, working with SOC's $1M+ salon owners on strategy, leadership, and profitability at the highest level. Resources Mentioned: MySalonCEO™ and Jemima, SOC's AI coach, referenced in the discussion of building an AI that sounds like your salon instead of generic AI. 3 Reasons Why Every Salon Owner Should Listen to This Episode: Discover the one constraint that's quietly deciding whether your salon survives to 2030, and why trying to have it all might be the riskiest move you can make.Find out why your best team member could be the most likely one to leave, and it's not about a pay rise.Learn the exact mistake almost every salon has made with AI, and the shift that makes your brand impossible to copy. Ready to future proof your salon? Book your free Game Plan Call: https://bit.ly/ApplySMRiss

Are trends helping or hurting curls? In this episode of the Hairdresser Strong Show, we spoke with Stacey Prescott, curl scientist, educator, master cosmetologist, salon owner, author, and creator of CURLtelligence™, about science Over trends.Stacey breaks down why curl care cannot only be based on trends, product claims, or one-size-fits-all advice. Her work focuses on understanding how natural curls actually behave, then using that knowledge to create better results, stronger consultations, and more trust with clients.

Salons professionals span a particularly wide range of ages, from 18 to 60+. That means you probably have three or four generations working together at any given time. Boomers, Gen X, Millenials, and Gen Z each bring something different and valuable to the table -- but we don't always understand each other. Maybe you're a service provider trying to figure out what your Gen X boss wants from you, looking for more clear direction. Or if you're an owner, you're trying to figure out what motivates Gen-Z service providers, or how to grow a Millenial stylist into a leadership role instead of losing them to a suite. Carrie Rutt is here to help. She's a Summit Salon Coach, a guest experience specioalist and a veteran salon owner, and a Gen X'er. Host Blake Reed Evans, co-owner at Shear Art Salon in Tampa, Fl. and a Redken Pro artist and educator, brings us behind the scenes of up-to-the-minute salon leadership decisions, and his own Millenial perspective. Learn more about Carrie and schedule a 20-minute discovery call. Follow Carrie on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com to connect with others in the industry. SUMM IT UP is produced and edited by Andrea Muraskin. The executive producer is Tim Fisk.

You know what you need to do in your beauty business, so why does it still feel so hard to actually do it? In this episode of the Successful Stylist Academy podcast, Ambrosia Carey breaks down three common founder patterns that can keep hairstylists, independent stylists, and salon owners stuck: overthinking decisions, staying busy without creating momentum, and chasing new ideas before giving the current one a real chance. Learn how these patterns can affect your salon marketing, pricing, time management, business growth, confidence, and self-trust, plus practical ways to recognize when an old pattern is quietly making business decisions for you. If you've been struggling with indecision, burnout, shiny object syndrome, or knowing what deserves your attention next, this episode will help you identify the pattern beneath the problem and start moving differently. Be an early adopter. Preorder the Integrated Stylist 90 Day Operating System Now! Take 50% off 2 months of GlossGenius Premium Plan with code SUCCESSFUL Try our FREE Stylist Opportunity Map HERE Key Takeaways 1. Feeling stuck in your business does not always mean you need another strategy. Sometimes an old decision-making pattern is recreating the same problem. 2. The Certainty Pattern shows up as over-researching, reopening decisions, asking for more opinions, and waiting to feel completely confident before taking action.   3. Self-trust is built through evidence. Make a decision, take action, observe what happens, and adjust instead of waiting for certainty before you begin. 4. Specific next actions can improve follow-through more effectively than vague business goals. Replace "I need more visibility" with a clear action, time, and commitment. 5. The Busyness Pattern can make a hairstylist or salon owner feel productive while spending most of the week maintaining the business instead of building future income, capacity, or freedom. 6. Look at your work in three categories: what creates money now, what maintains the business you already have, and what creates future capacity, freedom, or leverage. 7. The Shiny Object Pattern is not simply having lots of ideas. It becomes a problem when a new idea repeatedly replaces the current one as soon as finishing, selling, sharing, or repeating becomes uncomfortable. 8. Instead of asking, "What should I create next?" ask, "What have I already started that deserves a real chance?" 9. A successful beauty business should not depend entirely on the owner's ability to keep pushing, reacting, and carrying every decision alone. 10. Naming the pattern beneath the problem can help hairstylists and salon owners make clearer decisions, build stronger self-trust, and create a business that supports the next stage of their growth. Take 15% off our favorite skincare line, Pharmagel with code SSA15 If you prefer video, find us on YouTube And more information on Instagram & TikTok  

"Send us a message!"“Know your numbers.”Salon owners hear it constantly.Rebooking. Retail percentage. Average ticket. Productivity. Retention. New clients.But knowing your numbers isn't the same thing as understanding your business.In this episode, we're digging into KPIs (key performance indicators) and why blindly tracking the same handful of industry-standard metrics may be giving you an incomplete picture of what's actually happening inside your salon.We talk about why a KPI should start with a question, not a benchmark; how a “good” number can still tell the wrong story; and why sometimes you need to go another layer deeper before deciding what to do.We use real examples from Hello, including declining rebooking while revenue, profit, visit frequency, and retention remained strong; why being 100% booked can actually create problems; how we think about customer acquisition cost and lifetime value of a client; and why we've started creating our own measurements for things like team engagement, growth, culture, and client stability.Because the goal isn't to collect more numbers.It's about understanding what the numbers are telling you—and using them to make better decisions. The Big IdeaDon't start with the KPI. Start with the question you're trying to answer.Key Takeaways “Know your numbers” isn't enough if you don't know what to do with them.  A useful KPI should help you understand what's happening, what's working, what's not working, or what to do next.  Don't automatically adopt someone else's KPIs just because they're considered industry standards.  Start with the problem or question, then decide what you need to measure.  Traditional salon KPIs can still be valuable—but sometimes you need to go another layer deeper.  A low number isn't automatically the problem. Study the people with strong numbers and ask what they're doing well.  Rebooking can tell an incomplete story when clients increasingly prefer online and last-minute booking.  A “good” KPI can even hide a business problem. Being 100% booked isn't necessarily the same thing as maximizing opportunity.  Beware of inherited assumptions—ideas repeated so often that people stop asking why they're true.  Revenue isn't profit, and top-line revenue shouldn't be treated as the final score.  Customer acquisition cost is more useful when you also know where clients come from and what happens after you acquire them.  Lifetime value can change how your team thinks about cancellations and long-term client relationships.  Culture can be measured more intentionally than simply saying, “We have a great culture.”  Custom metrics can help you measure the business you're actually trying to build.  Use industry benchmarks for context and inspiration—not as unquestionable rules.  Before adopting a KPI, ask: Does this apply to my business? What problem does it solve? What information does it give me? What assumptions is it built on? Time Stamps00:00 — Opening Takes 03:00 — Do salon owners actually “know their numbers”? 05:00 — What a KPI is supposed to do 07:00 — Don't start with the KPI—start with the question 09:00 — Are salons measuring the wrong things? 11:00 — Knowing a number vs. knowing what to do with it 13:00 — What can you learn from your most-booked stylist? 17:00 — Why Hello's declining rebooking didn't scare us 20:00 — When rebooking becomes a misleading number 22:00 — How a good KPI can tell the wrong story 25:00 — Inherited assumptions and why we stop asking “why” 26:00 — Are men's haircuts actually less profitable? 31:00 — Measuring culture: Hello's custom KPIs 37:00 — Customer acquisition cost: go another layer deeper 39:00 — Lifetime value and rethinking cancellations 43:00 — Why universal KPI claims can mislead you 44:00 — Revenue isn't profit 45:00 — So which KPIs should you actually track? 48:00 — Check the work + One Last Thing Question of the WeekWhat are you measuring in your business simply because someone told you that you should?That's better than “What's your most important KPI?” because it reinforces the actual challenge you're making in the episode.Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.Learn from other businesses. Use the benchmarks. Check the work. Then build the business that actually works for you.Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

What if the most profitable thing you could do in your salon was STOP trying to be everything to everybody?In this episode of Salon Conversation, I sit down with my friend Neel Morley - a hairdresser who built his business by doing exactly that.Neel chose curly hair.He stopped cutting straight hair, went deep into curly-hair education and eventually opened Australia's first curly-hair-only salon in Fitzroy, Melbourne.People told him it wouldn't work.It did.His salon became a destination, with clients travelling significant distances because Neel became known for ONE THING.And that's exactly what I mean by ONE THING FAMOUS.A niche can be an inch wide and a mile deep.Instead of trying to train your team in everything and market every service to everybody, what could happen if you became REALLY bloody good at the thing you love?Neel and I talk about niching, premium pricing, education, social media, creating an unforgettable client experience and why continuing to learn matters even after you've become the expert.It's also perfect timing because ONE THING FAMOUS is one of the five principles I'm teaching in my FREE Socials That Sell masterclass next week.If you own a salon, spa or clinic and want your socials to attract more of the RIGHT clients, come and join me.Register FREE here: JUST CLICK HEREI'll also be launching my complete Socials That Sell program after the masterclass.Lisa xTo Contact Neel: https://www.neellovescurls.com/

In this episode, Ricky Hodge, celebrity hairstylist, educator, content creator, and 19-year industry veteran, shares his perspective on what it really means to stand out as a hairdresser.Ricky talks about stepping out of the box, building a personal brand, curating the right clientele, raising prices with confidence, and understanding that the haircut is only one part of the client experience. He also opens up about starting later in the industry, dealing with salon toxicity, becoming an educator, and using his platform to speak honestly about the profession.For hairstylists, barbers, students, and beauty pros who want to build a career that feels more intentional, this conversation explores the voice of the hairdresser: the ambition, frustration, self-awareness, presentation, relationships, and client standards that shape success behind the chair.Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!Key Takeaways:

Your team won't sell retail. You've tried paying them more and dangling incentives, and the shelves still aren't moving. It's one of the most common frustrations in Australian salons, and it's rarely the team's fault.Tiana Baxter is back with her new company, SELLÁ, and this time she's talking about the thing she knows best. Sales. She has a hard truth for owners too. However you sell is exactly how your team will sell.Sam and Jen talk with Tiana about why selling got such a dirty name and how to recommend product from conviction instead of pressure. It's practical and honest, and it will change the way you walk onto your salon floor.What we coverWhy sales became a dirty word, and why being called a salesgirl is a complimentFrameworks over tactics, and why tactics make selling feel manipulativeWhy owners need to live on the sales floor instead of visiting it when numbers dipThe consult question that hands your client the whole problemAsking better questions so you know exactly what to recommendProduct, people and payoff, plus the three Rs for every clientA simple team training exercise to get retail moving this weekThe payoff of the payoff, and why you're selling confidence, not conditionerWhy the sale starts after the client paysYour money thermostat and why earning more can feel unsafeThe story behind the salesgirl name and building a business on faithSELLÁ® — Home of the Salesgirl™ is a sales education company founded by Tiana Baxter, teaching women how make more money in business without becoming more ‘salesy'.Through sales psychology, communication and self-mastery, SELLÁ teaches women how to get seriously good at selling without pushy tactics or awkward scripts.It's about learning to sell in a way that feels like you, while building a business that makes a lot more money.Find Tiana and the world of SELLÁ on Instagram @tianarose.inc and @sella.incWhy won't my salon team sell retail?Most of the time, your team sells exactly the way you do. If you only step onto the sales floor when numbers dip, they learn that selling is something you visit rather than something you live.What should hairdressers ask instead of "What are we doing today?"Ask what your client is loving and not loving about her hair, and how she's finding it at home. Her answers show you what she wants and give you a real reason to recommend the right product later.How do you recommend retail products without being salesy?Use the three Rs, which are your recommendation, the reason why, and the result she'll get. Talk about the payoff instead of the ingredients, and only recommend products you genuinely use and believe in.Mentioned in this episode:https://www.salonrising.com

"Send us a message!"Five years. 262 episodes. And we haven't missed a Monday.September 13 marks five years since we published the first episode of Hello Hair Pro. And somewhere along the way, talking about business every week started to change the way we thought about it.So for this episode, we're looking back.We talk about how the podcast has changed, how we've changed as leaders, and what five years of consistently sitting down to question our own ideas, share our opinions, and talk through business has taught us about people, growth, resilience, leadership, and ourselves.We get into becoming more open-minded, learning our individual roles as business partners, getting more comfortable giving honest feedback, letting go of the need to save everyone, building a company around people, and realizing that a successful relationship doesn't have to last forever to have been successful.We also look back at the flood that displaced Hello earlier this year, and what watching our team rally together taught us about trust, resilience, and the culture we'd spent years trying to build.Five years later, we definitely don't have everything figured out.But maybe that's one of the biggest things we've learned.Big IdeaGrowth isn't reaching a point where you've figured everything out. It's becoming better at questioning what you think you already know.Key TakeawaysConsistency matters more than the excitement you feel when you start something. Talking about business every week has forced us to question and refine what we actually believe. Open-mindedness doesn't mean abandoning what works—it means recognizing that your way isn't necessarily the only way.Understanding our individual strengths and roles has made us better business partners. You can't want more for an employee than they want for themselves. A relationship doesn't have to last forever to be successful. Honest feedback isn't cruel. Avoiding necessary conversations can actually hurt someone's growth.Your reputation is built by whether you actually do what you say you're going to do. Mission, vision, and core values become valuable when you actually use them to make decisions. Resilience isn't just an owner trait. A strong team can make the entire business more resilient. Growth isn't only revenue. It's also better leadership, stronger people, improved systems, clearer thinking, and better decisions. Success can make complacency especially dangerous. Time Stamps00:00 — Five years of Hello Hair Pro 03:00 — Starting is fun. Staying consistent is harder. 06:00 — Learning to form—and question—our own opinions 09:00 — Overrated or Underrated 12:00 — From “this is the way” to “this is a way” 14:00 — Becoming more comfortable having an opinion 16:00 — How we've changed as leaders and business partners 18:00 — You can't want more for someone than they want for themselves 21:00 — A relationship doesn't have to last forever to be successful 25:00 — What actually builds your reputation 27:00 — Candor, feedback, and helping people grow 31:00 — Actually using your mission, vision, and values 34:00 — The flood, our team, and what resilience really looked like 39:00 — Why success can lead to complacency 42:00 — Overthinking, distillation, and continuing to learn 44:00 — One Last Thing Question of the WeekWhat do you believe about your business today that you didn't believe five years ago?Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.Keep questioning. Keep learning. And don't confuse experience with having everything figured out.Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

We are thrilled to welcome the award-winning colourist and educator Nancy Stripe back again, but this time as our guest host for the How To Cut It podcast! As the owner of Stripe Colour Studio, Nancy is taking the helm for an exciting September residency, where she will be sitting down with a stellar lineup of industry experts. She kicks off her series with an absolute legend: Jack Howard. Jack is an internationally acclaimed colourist, educator, and global L'Oréal Professionnel Ambassador widely credited with bringing the balayage technique to the UK. With over 30 years of professional experience and as the founder of his namesake luxury salon in Georgetown, Jack offers a masterclass in how to stay relevant in a fast-changing market. In this episode, Jack shares his transition from traditional techniques to the modern era of soft, luminous grey blending. He discusses how to adapt teaching styles for stages versus classrooms, and why he prioritises mentorship over industry gatekeeping. They also cover the evolution of social media as a professional storytelling tool and the challenges of leading a team while navigating personal grief and life. Tune in for this inspiring, candid conversation on innovation, resilience, and the future of hairdressing.     CHAPTERS 10:38 Career Turning Points 16:29 Collaboration Over Competition 21:49 Trends, Social Media, and Change 26:45 Grey Blending's Future 34:21 Salon Owner vs Stylist 39:39 Early Influences and Mentors 44:55 Grief and Going Back to Work 54:38 Building a New Circle 59:23 Quickfire Favorites     RESOURCES Connect with Jack Howard on Instagram @jackhowardcolor Jack Howard The Salon click HERE Book courses with Jack Howard HERE Watch  Jacks interview on YouTube HERE Connect with Nancy Stripe on Instagram @nancystripecolour Sign up to the waitlist of Spotd getspotdapp.com Connect with Spotd on Instagram @getspotdapp

Salon owner, what do you actually want your business to give you? That's where Lisa Conway begins Chapters 2 and 3 of The Naked Salon.Because if you don't know where you're going, it's very difficult to work out how to get there.In this episode, Lisa breaks salon business down into three fundamentals:TIME. TEAM. MONEY.She also shares seven common mistakes salon owners make - including being too busy being busy, failing to develop their team, not understanding their numbers and having no clear systems for how things should be done.Then we get to one of Lisa's favourite principles:FIX IT ONCE.If you're constantly answering the same questions, correcting the same mistakes or reminding your team how things should be done, you don't need to become a harder boss.You need a system.Lisa explains how clear systems create consistency across everything from greeting a client and conducting a consultation to rebooking, retail recommendations, leave requests and the delivery of every service.Because your client shouldn't receive a brilliant experience depending on which team member happens to be working that day.EVERY CLIENT. EVERY TIME.And when everyone knows what “the salon way” looks like, the owner no longer needs to sit in the middle of everything.Want to go faster?Get a FREE paperback copy of The Naked Salon - you just pay shipping:https://bit.ly/3UIO0YOFollow Salon Conversation with Lisa Conway as Lisa revisits The Naked Salon chapter by chapter with everything she's learned from more than 15 years mentoring salon owners.

Cody Evans is the co-founder or Colour Collective Salon in Mobile, Alabama, and a L'Oréal Professionnel artist.In this episode, Blake sits down with Cody Evans to get real about what it looks like to juggle salon ownership, brand artistry, education, and still have a life. Cody opens up about the journey from behind the chair to business owner, the persistence it took to become a L'Oréal Professionnel artist, and the less-glamorous side of flying home at midnight only to be back behind the chair at 8 AM the next morning.Topics covered:The leap from commission stylist to salon ownerBecoming a brand artist — the Ambassador Network, immersion program, and why persistence pays off"Work-work-life balance" — why perfect balance is a mythGiving up Saturdays and why clients magically figure it outBurnout while opening a salon and traveling to teach — and how reconnecting with your "why" helpsSelf-care that actually counts: massages, chiropractic care, therapy, and Head Up Keys (mental health resource from L'Oréal Professionnel)Advice for first-time salon owners: set firm timelines with contractors and be tough — you're the client Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com to connect with others in the industry. SUMM IT UP is produced and edited by Andrea Muraskin. The executive producer is Tim Fisk.

DM me "AUDIT" to connect to learn how together we can increase your leads, revenue, and confidence in your salon business.  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram.com/jenniferjadealvarez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GRAB YOUR FREE FREEDOM CALCULATOR™ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jenniferjadealvarez.myflodesk.com/freedom-calculator⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The #1 tool to help you plan to work less BTC and into Salon CEOMindset, Belief, and Delegation for Salon OwnersJennifer Alvarez opens with a personal reset and uses it to make a bigger point: business growth is often limited less by strategy and more by mindset. In this solo episode, she walks through how salon owners can get clear on their vision, make faster decisions, and stop letting temporary problems dictate long-term direction.She also shares practical ways to free up time through delegation, virtual assistants, AI, and automation, while stressing that your words and beliefs shape the decisions you make next.Key topicsJennifer frames the episode around a rough morning that pushed her into a spiral, then uses that moment to talk honestly about emotional resilience in entrepreneurship.She argues that clarity beats vague goals, saying business owners need specific numbers, dates, and outcomes rather than broad wishes like “grow revenue” or “hire more staff.”She discusses the idea of writing a 12-month vision board with concrete targets for revenue, profit, services, and lifestyle goals.She connects indecision to exhaustion, explaining that unmade decisions around pricing, hiring, firing, and service changes can become a heavy mental burden.She shares a belief-based approach influenced by Napoleon Hill and Brian Tracy, emphasizing that the words owners speak about their business can reinforce either confidence or fear.She highlights one of her own business expansions, cranial prosthetics, as an example of making a bold, belief-driven investment in education and service growth.She uses the “law of three” to encourage owners to identify the three highest-value things they do in the business and delegate the rest.She breaks down how virtual assistants can support admin, marketing, reporting, follow-up, and operations, especially for salon owners who are overloaded.She explains how AI and automation can reduce repetitive work through graphics, summaries, auto responses, appointment reminders, rebooking reminders, nurture sequences, and more.She closes by challenging listeners to separate leader tasks, VA tasks, AI tasks, and automation tasks over the next seven days and to build from the future backward instead of reacting only to today's problems.Action itemsWrite down exactly what you want your business to look like in 12 months.Add numbers and dates to your goals, not just general intentions.Identify the three highest-value things you do in the business.Make one decision you have been delaying around pricing, hiring, firing, or services.List what a virtual assistant could take off your plate.List what AI and automation could handle for you.Stop speaking about your business in ways that reinforce fear or scarcity.

Get your FREE paperback copy of The Naked Salon you just pay shipping. Grab your free copy hereThe Naked Salon is back - but Lisa Conway isn't the same woman who wrote it.In this special introduction to a brand-new Salon Conversation series, Lisa revisits her very first book, The Naked Salon, with more than 15 years of salon mentoring - and quite a lot of life behind her.Lisa shares openly about becoming the “octopus” in the middle of her own salon, losing some of the joy she once had, burnout, mental health, learning to ask for help and eventually discovering a very different definition of success.She also introduces the idea at the heart of her work with salon owners today:Your family needs you. Your salon shouldn't.If you've built a successful salon but still feel as though everything depends on you, this series is for you.Over the coming weeks, Lisa will revisit The Naked Salon chapter by chapter, adding everything she's learned since she originally wrote it.Want to go faster?Get a FREE paperback copy of The Naked Salon and read along with Lisa. You just pay shipping.Grab your free copy here#TheNakedSalon, #SalonOwner, #SalonBusiness, #SalonLeadership, #SalonCoach

I hired someone, trained her, sat across from her mid-shift, and watched her decide to walk out. Not dramatic, not a blow-up, just a quiet "I'm not sure" that turned into a goodbye. Someone I trust told me beforehand they didn't see it working out. I disagreed, went with my gut anyway, and my gut was wrong. This episode isn't a framework or a three-step plan. It's me, mid-defining-moment, being honest about what CEO-style salon ownership actually looks like right now. Hiring, a software transition, and a deep dive into salon SEO, all happening at once.In this episode:The real story of hiring and losing a new assistant in the same week, and what it taught me about trusting my gut even when it's wrongWhy I believe the right people always stay, and the ones who aren't a fit self-select out, even when that's a hard thing to watch happenWhat's actually going on behind the scenes as I switch salon software, including the hybrid-model headaches that made the old system unworkableWhy I've been going deep on my own salon's SEO, and the gap I found even after years of doing this workThe mindset shift I keep coming back to: the longer you're in business, the closer your highs and lows get, and why that's actually the goalSwitching to Mangomint:I finally made the switch after years of jimmy-rigging Zapier and Square to work for a hybrid salon. If you're curious whether it'd work better for your salon, grab your first month free with my link: https://www.mangomint.com/referral/lexi/The Monday Club:Business education, community, and tools to build a salon that runs like a real business, including the full salon visibility work that gets you found by Google and known by AI. Learn more: https://www.lexilomax.com/monday-club

"Send us a message!"You don't have to like AI. You don't have to use ChatGPT. And you definitely don't have to like AI-generated content.But if we're going to criticize a technology, we should probably understand what we're actually criticizing.In this episode, we dig into some of the arguments surrounding AI, data centers, water consumption, and the environmental impact of modern technology. We talk about how deeply AI is already embedded in everyday life, from social media and Google searches to fraud detection, GPS, streaming, shopping, and delivery apps, and why the statement “I won't support companies that use AI” quickly becomes complicated.We also look at data centers: what they actually do, why they existed long before the current generative-AI boom, why they use water, the difference between water withdrawal and consumption, and why enormous numbers need context before they're useful.Then we bring the conversation back to business. Todd explains how he actually uses AI at Hello and on this podcast, why AI should amplify your thinking rather than replace it, and why the amount of verification you do should increase with the consequences of getting something wrong. Big IdeaYou don't need to support every new technology. But skepticism is more useful when it's built on understanding instead of assumptions.Key Takeaways AI is much broader than ChatGPT, image generators, and generative video.  AI is already embedded in many everyday technologies and services.  Saying “don't use AI, use Canva” ignores Canva's own investment in AI.  Data centers existed long before the current generative-AI boom.  Modern banking, streaming, shopping, logistics, cloud services, maps, and countless other systems rely on data-center infrastructure.  Large numbers without context can make it difficult to understand relative scale.  Water withdrawal and water consumption are different concepts.  Water use can create legitimate local challenges even if the broader issue isn't simply “the water disappears.”  New infrastructure creates costs, tradeoffs, and potential economic benefits.  AI can be extremely useful for brainstorming, organizing, editing, learning, and building workflows.  The higher the consequence of being wrong, the higher your standard for verification should be.  AI slop and misinformation are legitimate problems and examples of what happens when people outsource judgment rather than using the tool thoughtfully.  You don't have to like AI, but at least know why you don't like it. ReflectionWhat opinion have you formed because you've actually looked into something, and what opinion have you formed because you've heard the same argument repeated enough times?You don't have to change your mind.But it's worth knowing why you believe what you believe.Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.Stay curious enough to question your own assumptions, too.Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

This ones a short and sweet one!I'm hearing so many salon owners who don't have the time to work on their business and constantly feel like they're trying to catch up, while also doing hair, managing staff and everything in between. So in this episode, I'm sharing everything I'm investing in right now that is helping me save time, and pour more energy into the things that matter, my team. I'd love for you to share in the comments or send me a DM something you're investing in right now!Give me a follow on IG: @hairbysamlacoste 

"Send us a message!"Every salon says it's a great place to work. But what does that actually mean?Supportive. Growth-focused. Great culture. Flexible scheduling. Education. Opportunity.Those words show up in almost every salon hiring post, but they don't tell a stylist very much about what working there will actually be like.In this episode, we break down what we think actually makes a salon a great workplace. We talk about understanding what employees really want, building individual growth paths, defining flexibility, having honest conversations about money, creating security and stability, recognizing people, and giving employees opportunities they may not have seen for themselves.We also get into the responsibilities on both sides. A salon owner must provide leadership, systems, opportunities, marketing, stability, and an environment where people can succeed. But employees have responsibilities too, including trust, effort, buy-in, and actually giving a shit about where they want their career to go.And even if you build a great workplace, people will still leave sometimes.That doesn't automatically mean you failed.The Big IdeaA great workplace isn't defined by a list of benefits. It's a place where the right people can see a future for themselves, and where both the business and the employee are willing to invest in getting there.Key Takeaways Before calling your salon a great place to work, ask: great for who? Build an employee avatar just as intentionally as you'd build a client avatar.  “Education,” “growth,” “flexibility,” and “good money” mean different things to different people.  Flexible scheduling works best when freedom comes with expectations and accountability.  Recognition can be as simple—and meaningful—as telling someone you're proud of their growth.  Security and stability aren't necessarily the same thing.  Security is about how someone feels at work; stability is about trusting the business and its leadership.  Great leaders sometimes see potential in people before those people see it in themselves.  In a commission salon, marketing and creating opportunity are the owner's responsibility.  Employees also have responsibilities: effort, trust, buy-in, teamwork, and ownership of their own growth.  Don't just say you develop careers. Build an environment where you can prove it.  Someone eventually leaving your company doesn't automatically make their time with you a retention failure.  Both sides have to care. As we say at Hello: you can't teach people to give a shit. ReflectionWould the kind of stylist you want to hire actually want to work at the business you've built?Don't answer with a list of benefits.Think about what that person wants from their career, what kind of leader they need, what kind of environment they thrive in, and whether your business can genuinely help them get where they want to go.Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.And a great workplace isn't about being great for everyone. It's about building the right place for the right people.Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

In this episode, Elizabeth Faye, shares how she went from finding her way into the beauty industry as a teenager to building community, education, and wellness platforms for beauty professionals.Elizabeth talks about the experiences that shaped her career, from working behind the chair and owning a salon to building Hair Love retreats, serving schools and salons through The Vitality Project, and developing wellness technology for the industry.For beauty pros, educators, salon owners, and entrepreneurs who care about mental health, community, innovation, and the future of the industry, this conversation explores what it takes to build something meaningful without losing the heart behind it.Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!Key Takeaways:

If you're a newbie or baby stylist or a salon owner looking to grow and retain new stylists, this episode is for you. Guest Lisa Giles is a digital creator and educator who specialiizes in working with stylists brand new to the industry, or as she likes to call them "guppies." She runs the education and mentoring platform Straight Out of Cosmo, where she teaches classes including "Make Box Color Your Bitch" and "The Bull Sh*t Behind the Business." She's a hair stylist and a Paul Mitchell Pro partner, based in Orange County, California. In this episode, Lisa and Blake cover: Understanding market rates and charging a rate that's fair to yourself, even when you're new Creating customized incentives for new stylists, especially for retail sales Building a clientelle through guest education Goal and budget-setting Skills not always taught in cosmetology school, like client experience and working with box-dyed hair And more. Follow Lisa Giles on Instagram @LifeofLisaG. This episode was originally published in May 2025 Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com to connect with others in the industry. SUMM IT UP is produced and edited by Andrea Muraskin. The executive producer is Tim Fisk.

I've spent a good chunk of 2026 on the road, and between filming After the Last Client, attending speaking engagements, and sitting across from some of the most successful stylists and salon owners in this industry, I started noticing something. There's a common thread running through every single one of these people and it has nothing to do with double booking or raising prices! In this episode, I'm sharing the patterns I observed from the most successful stylists and salon owners I've been around this year: the ones living balanced, wealthy, family-first lives that most people in this industry don't even know exist.  If something feels off in your business and you can't put your finger on what it is, this one might be exactly what you need to hear. The first eight episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season. The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/. Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!  If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this. Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/ 

"Send us a message!"Salon owners ask us two questions constantly:How do I find more clients?How do I find good staff?They're legitimate problems. But before you start looking for another marketing strategy, hiring system, coach, or quick fix, there's a more important question:Is that actually your problem?In this episode, we talk about diagnosing what's happening inside your business before throwing solutions at symptoms. Maybe you don't need more clients. Maybe your retention isn't strong enough to keep the ones you're already getting. Maybe you don't need better recruiting. Maybe people are finding your salon but don't see a reason to work there, or they're joining and leaving.We get into foundations, client acquisition, retention, marketing, recruiting, employee development, and what it actually looks like to put sustained effort behind a strategy, rather than trying something once and declaring it doesn't work.And eventually, we get to one of the harder realities of owning a business:"Nobody cares. You still have to figure it out."That doesn't mean everything is your fault. It doesn't mean every problem is fair. And it definitely doesn't mean you'll always know what to do.It means that when you choose to own a business, solving the problem becomes your responsibility.The Big IdeaBefore looking for another answer, make sure you're solving the right problem. Then put yourself in the best possible position to succeed.Key Takeaways"I need more clients" and "I can't find good staff" may be symptoms rather than the actual problem.Try something, measure it, learn from it, adjust, and try again.Your mission, vision, and core values should actually influence how you run the business.More clients won't fix weak retention, poor systems, or a bad client experience.Your existing clients may represent more opportunity than constantly chasing new ones.If you genuinely need new clients, you need to understand why someone should choose your salon.Marketing isn't about likes and comments. It's about reaching the right people and earning their trust.Trying something once isn't a strategy.Recruiting won't solve a workplace people don't want to join—or stay at.Career growth, leadership, autonomy, stability, support, opportunity, recognition, and belonging are meaningful reasons for someone to choose a salon.Don't just say you develop people. Show evidence that you've actually done it.Business problems aren't always fair, but they're still yours to solve.Failure, mistakes, and losing are part of ownership. What matters is what you do next.What Would You Do?Your highest-producing stylist is becoming your biggest cultural problem.They're regularly late, ignore policies, and other staff members are beginning to notice that they get away with things nobody else does, but they're also responsible for a significant amount of revenue.What would you do?ReflectionWhat problem are you blaming on clients, employees, the economy, or the industry that might actually require a change inside your business?You don't need to pretend the problem doesn't suck. You don't need to pretend everything is fair.But eventually, you have to decide what you're going to do next.Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.Whatever happened, put yourself in the best possible position to succeed.Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

This one is a little different, and honestly, it's been a long time coming. Every time we post that we're looking for new coaches, the questions flood in: What does the hiring process look like? What are you actually looking for? How do you even become a Thrivers Society coach? So today I'm sharing all of it. I'm going through how our coaching model has evolved over the years, the mistakes I made early on, why we moved away from contractors entirely, and what the hiring and training process looks like now.  If you've ever thought about applying, or you're just someone who loves a good behind-the-scenes look at how we run things, this one is going to give you a real, honest picture of what it takes and what to expect!  The first six episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season. The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/. Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!  If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this.   Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/ 

"Send us a message!"Salon owners have a habit of making business more complicated than it needs to be.We chase industry standards. We add policies because one client did something annoying. We build enormous service menus, obsess over retail percentages, force rebooking, complicate hiring, and try to manufacture culture with perks, outings, and branding days.But does any of that actually make the business better?In this episode, we bounce through four conversations that all come back to a similar idea: build the business you actually need instead of blindly following what the industry tells you a salon is supposed to look like.We talk about what actually makes a salon a great place to work, how to know when something needs more time versus when it's time to make a change, the parts of business owners tend to overcomplicate, and some of the salon-industry "rules" that deserve a simple question:Who told you that?The Big IdeaA better business doesn't have to be a more complicated business. Know what you're trying to accomplish, build systems that support it, and stop assuming someone else's rules have to become yours.Key TakeawaysStrong leadership, opportunity, stability, accountability, and growth matter more to employees than superficial perks.A useful question for every owner is: Would you want to work at your own business?Some business decisions need patience and data; others need immediate action.Patience can become complacency, just as decisiveness can become an emotional reaction.Pricing should account for your time, costs, and profit, not somebody else's preferred pricing model.Policies should solve actual business problems, not individual annoyances.Marketing gets simpler when you know exactly who you're trying to attract.Service menus should make booking easier for clients, not showcase everything you're capable of.Culture isn't created by mandatory outings, perks, or branding shoots."Industry standard" doesn't automatically mean it's right for your business.KPIs only matter when they help you understand what's actually happening in your business.Timestamps00:00 — Opening takes: the bus test & the industry's obsession with retail04:00 — What actually makes a salon a great place to work?06:00 — Leadership, opportunity & meaningful growth07:00 — Standards, accountability & stability09:00 — Autonomy, challenge & being part of something bigger11:00 — Would you want to work at your own salon?12:00 — When should you actually change something?13:00 — What requires patience: marketing, staff development & culture15:00 — Making decisions instead of looking for a cosign16:00 — What needs to be fixed quickly18:00 — Data, intuition & knowing when you've waited long enough19:00 — When patience becomes complacency20:00 — The power of pausing before you react21:00 — When immediate action really is necessary24:00 — What salon owners make way too complicated24:00 — Pricing25:00 — Policies & cancellations27:00 — Marketing & attracting the right clients29:00 — Retail31:00 — Service menus33:00 — Culture & forced team building36:00 — Hiring37:00 — "Who told you that?"38:00 — Retail percentages & 50% commission39:00 — "Everyone wants to rent" & "clients won't pay that here"40:00 — Questioning traditional salon KPIs42:00 — Why rebooking doesn't tell the whole storyReflection: What part of your business have you made more complicated simply because someone told you that's how it's supposed to be done?Before adding another policy, system, benchmark, perk, or strategy, ask whether it actually solves a problem in your business.Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.And sometimes making your business better doesn't require adding another thing. It requires the courage to question what you're already doing.Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

In this episode, Demetrios Bafitis, stylist, barber, and multi-location salon owner of Bella Bethesda and Jordan Thomas Salon & Spa, shares how he went from working seven days a week behind the chair to running his salons remotely while spending much of his time in Greece.Demetrios talks about what it really takes to step away from behind the chair and work on the business, not just in it: building a leadership team, creating systems, letting go of control, offering flexibility and benefits, reinvesting in the team, and making the salon about more than the owner.For salon owners who feel stretched thin or are trying to pivot, this conversation breaks down the mindset, structure, and team development needed to build a business that can run without everything depending on you.Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!Key Takeaways:

No frameworks, no metrics, no strategies today. This one is heart to heart. If you're a salon owner who's exhausted, who feels like every decision backfires, who has given everything to this business and genuinely has nothing left, I want you to hear this. What you're feeling is real. The last five years have been brutal and I'm not going to minimize that for a second. I've been there too, in ways that might surprise you. But here's what I need you to understand. What you're experiencing is not a capacity problem. It's a clarity problem. And those are two very different things. One means you're broken. The other means you're blindfolded. You are not broken. In this episode, I'm getting honest about what's really behind the exhaustion so many salon owners are carrying right now, why the industry is in the state it's in, and what it actually takes to get back to feeling inspired, confident, and like a leader your team wants to follow. The first six episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season. The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/. Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!  If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this. Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/ 

"Send us a message!"Salon owners are constantly looking for answers.What product line sells best? Should I add a head spa? Are Google Ads worth it? What software should I use? Should I expand?Those sound like reasonable business questions. But what if the answer has nothing to do with the actual problem you're trying to solve?In this episode, we talk about learning to diagnose a business problem before jumping to a solution. We use examples from retail, marketing, new services, hiring, profitability, and some of our own mistakes at Hello Hair Co. to show why copying someone else's answer rarely fixes what's happening inside your business.We also get into something we believe strongly: business is its own skill. Being great at hair doesn't automatically teach you finance, leadership, marketing, hiring, systems, operations, or strategy. Those skills have to be learned just like anything else.If you constantly find yourself looking for the next product, service, strategy, coach, system, or quick fix, this episode is about slowing down long enough to figure out what question you should actually be asking. The Big Idea: Better business decisions don't start with better answers. They start with understanding the problem you're actually trying to solve.Key TakeawaysThe question you're asking may not reflect the problem you actually have. New products and services won't fix weaknesses in the underlying business. Marketing can't solve poor retention, bad pricing, or an unprofitable business model. Being good at hair and being good at business require completely different skill sets. Coaches, books, podcasts, and systems should support your thinking—not replace it. You can't want success more than an employee wants it for themselves. Holding onto the wrong people can damage the team you're trying to protect. Sometimes improving your business means removing something instead of adding something. Mission, vision, and core values can serve as practical filters for business decisions. Every yes consumes bandwidth and may prevent you from pursuing a better opportunity. Timestamps00:00 — Opening takes: lifelong education & positioning 04:00 — Are salon owners asking the wrong questions? 05:00 — The three layers behind every business problem 08:00 — Why changing product lines may solve nothing 10:00 — Amazon isn't your salon's competition 11:00 — The danger of shiny new solutions 14:00 — Head spas, permanent jewelry & adding new services 15:00 — Marketing can't fix every business problem 17:00 — Business is its own skill 21:00 — Coaches, systems & outsourcing your thinking 24:00 — What our biggest mistakes taught us 25:00 — You can't want success more than your employees do 27:00 — Protecting your team and culture 29:00 — The team that gets you from 1 to 10 31:00 — Sometimes the answer is removing something 32:00 — A simple filter for making business decisions 34:00 — Pause before looking for the answer Reflection: What problem are you actually trying to solve?Before you add something, buy something, hire someone, change systems, or ask another owner what worked for them, spend some time figuring out whether you're solving the actual problem—or just treating the symptom.Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.And better business decisions don't always come from finding better answers. Sometimes they come from asking better questions.Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

Something interesting keeps coming up when I talk to salon owners about hiring. Half of them are telling me the quality of applicants has dropped, people aren't as driven, and it's harder than it's ever been to find great new talent. The other half are saying they can barely keep up with the volume of incredible applicants coming through their doors.  The only conclusion I can draw from hearing both sides of that story is that assistants have gotten pickier about where they'll go. And honestly, good for them! Because if you want to attract the most driven, talented new stylists in your market, your program has to give them a reason to choose you over everyone else. In this episode, I'm breaking down what a modern, motivating assistant training program actually looks like, what's missing from most of the programs I see salons running today, and how to build something so irresistible that your best people never want to leave. The first six episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season. The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/. Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!  If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this. Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/ 

Success in business isn't just about better systems, stronger marketing, or hiring the right people. More often than not, the biggest barriers to growth are the beliefs, fears, and emotional patterns we carry with us every day. In this powerful episode of The Elevate Podcast, I sit down with my personal coach, Jeffrey Combs, owner of Mastermind Seminars, to explore the inner work that every salon owner needs to do if they truly want to build a thriving business and a fulfilling life. Jeffrey has spent decades helping entrepreneurs identify the unconscious patterns that keep them stuck. Together, we discuss how anxiety, self esteem, fear of rejection, codependency, people pleasing, and limiting beliefs influence leadership, pricing, hiring, team culture, sales, and decision making. Whether you're struggling to grow your salon, constantly feeling overwhelmed, or simply know you're capable of more, this conversation will challenge you to look beyond the surface and begin transforming from the inside out. If you're ready to stop repeating the same cycles and start leading with confidence and clarity, this is an episode you won't want to miss. https://goldenmastermind.com/

Running a salon while still taking clients? Whew… it's A LOT. Between answering DMs, managing your team, placing color orders, handling client schedules, folding towels, and somehow remembering to eat lunch… it's no wonder your brain feels like it has 462 tabs open.In this episode, I'm sharing the exact time management systems, habits, and boundaries that completely changed the way I run my business… and honestly, my life. These are the strategies that helped me stop feeling reactive, protect my time, and create more freedom without stepping away from the chair.In this episode, we'll cover:✨ Why your time management is directly connected to your salon's success✨ The mindset shift that changed everything for me (and my family)✨ The 3 non-negotiables I live by every single day✨ How to build your Ideal Week without chasing perfection✨ Why the Daily Big 3 will help you stop feeling overwhelmed✨ My Workday Startup & Shutdown Rituals for more focus and less stress✨ Simple productivity hacks that save hours every single weekResources Mentioned:

In this episode, Mike Gilman, CEO & Founder of Grooming Lounge, shares the story behind building one of the early men's grooming destinations and sustaining the brand for more than two decades. Mike talks about growing up around the beauty industry, spotting an opportunity in men's grooming before it became mainstream, launching an e-commerce site from his basement, and eventually opening a physical Grooming Lounge location at a time when landlords still questioned whether men would pay for grooming services.He also breaks down what it really takes to stay in business long term: hiring the right people, building a team around strong standards, focusing on what you do best, knowing when to stop what isn't working, and creating a service experience strong enough to become a destination.Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!Key Takeaways:

The way hairdressing education is delivered has changed dramatically since I started in this industry, and it will continue to evolve as new technology emerges. In this episode, I talk about those changes and the impact it has on salons, trainees, standards and productivity. And I ask the question I think salon owners are wondering: “What does the future of education look like and how will it impact the way I run my business?I explain why information has become cheap while experience has become more valuable than ever, and why that changes what you should actually be looking for in education. I also share seven practical lessons on building a culture of learning, why you need to be training apprentices who contribute quickly, and staying ahead as the industry keeps moving.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:Why information has become cheap while real experience has never been more valuableThe real reason AI won't replace great educators, and how it exposes the poor onesWhy your apprentices should be productive within six months, not left to find their feet for yearsThe difference between being a great hairdresser and being a great teacherWhy you can't rely on colleges or government training programs to finish the job for youSeven practical lessons on education every salon owner needs to hearIN THIS EPISODE:[00:00] Introduction [02:19] Antony asks the big question: where is salon education heading next [03:15] How live seminars and academies defined the early years of education [04:00] The internet and social media put educators in everyone's pocket [05:07] The moment Antony realised business education mattered more than technical skill [06:23] Why salon owners started asking about branding and leadership, not just hair [07:41] How COVID forced the whole industry to learn online almost overnight [09:00] What actually separates a genuinely good coach from a mediocre one [10:36] Why online retail during COVID changed manufacturers for good [13:05] How artificial intelligence is reshaping salon education right now [14:04] Why information is cheap but real experience is priceless [17:29] Antony's seven practical lessons every salon owner needs on education [21:12] The one thing that never changes no matter how the industry evolvesWant MORE to help you GROW?

This episode is different from anything I've shared on salon marketing before, and that's intentional. The foundation of what I'm about to share isn't based on gut feelings or personal opinion. I analyzed the social media activity of salons I know for a fact are scaling financially, growing their teams effortlessly, and turning real profit margins. And then I looked at the salons where the following is big but the revenue isn't moving. The contrast is striking. For the first time on this podcast, I'm speaking directly to salon owners about marketing, not just stylists. Because the strategy looks completely different when you're building a team, filling multiple chairs, and trying to attract the caliber of stylist who actually moves the needle. What's working in 2026 is not what worked three years ago, and the salons that haven't caught up yet are feeling it. If you want to know what the fastest growing salons are actually doing on social media right now, this episode is your blueprint!  The first four episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season. The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/. Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!  If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this. Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/ 

"Send us a message!"Most business owners don't fail because they take too many risks–they fail because they avoid them.In this episode, we examine the hidden costs of playing it safe—from avoiding difficult conversations and delaying price increases to protecting underperforming employees and making decisions based on comfort rather than conviction.We also share real stories from our own businesses, including some of our biggest leadership mistakes, how those mistakes nearly cost us everything, and what finally changed our perspective.If you've ever delayed a difficult decision because it felt uncomfortable, this episode is for you.Key TakeawaysPlaying it safe often creates bigger risks than taking action.Avoiding difficult conversations hurts your team more than having them. Your mission, vision, and core values should guide difficult decisions. Growth requires discomfort. Great leaders challenge people because they care about them. Stop reacting emotionally and start responding intentionally. Build systems around your future—not your fears. Business never gets easier; your ability to solve problems improves.Time Stamps00:00 — Opening takes: why snacks don't retain staff03:00 — Why you should already be planning for December05:00 — What "playing it safe" actually looks like07:00 — Difficult conversations every owner must have10:00 — The hidden cost of avoiding discomfort13:00 — How playing it safe hurts your culture16:00 — Using your mission and core values to make decisions18:00 — Why saying "no" often grows your business20:00 — The Evo product story and finding the right fit29:00 — Leadership requires uncomfortable conversations34:00 — Todd's gym leadership mistakes36:00 — Jen's biggest leadership lessons40:00 — The price increase that changed Hello Hair Co.45:00 — Reacting vs. responding as a business owner48:00 — Building a team instead of protecting one person50:00 — Why business never gets easierReflection: What's one decision you've been avoiding because it feels uncomfortable? What would change if you addressed it this week?Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.And sometimes the greatest risk isn't making the wrong decision—it's avoiding the right one because it feels uncomfortable.Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

In this episode, Filipe Santos (@chop_safil), CEO of Chop Enterprises, shares how he went from tattoo artist and union carpenter to building a multi-location salon company with nine salons across New York, New Jersey, and Miami.Filipe breaks down the growth, leadership, and execution behind scaling from one salon to nine, including how he built leaders, created systems, recruited talent, used marketing, acquired salons, negotiated owner financing, and developed a shared services platform to support growth.This conversation is for salon owners, beauty pros, and hairpreneurs who know that talent is only one part of building a real business.Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!Key Takeaways:

Last week we talked about why the systems still running most employee-based salons today are quietly failing, and how that failure is landing on owners as a people problem when it's really a structure problem. This week, we're getting into the actual framework. The four levers I'm covering in this episode are the same ones I use when I walk into a salon, pull back the curtain, and start rebuilding from the ground up!  So, if you've been wondering what it actually looks like to run your salon like a real business, this episode is a great place to start. The first four episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season. The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/. Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!  If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this. Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/ 

"Send us a message!"What if the biggest business advantage isn't talent, experience, or even hard work?What if it's curiosity?In this episode, we explore why the best salon owners aren't the ones who blindly copy trends or follow outdated advice; they're the ones willing to ask better questions.We talk about challenging industry assumptions, learning from other businesses, embracing new technology, building original systems, and why curiosity has been one of the biggest competitive advantages in growing Hello Hair Co.From Google Ads and AI to hiring, apprenticeships, pricing, and marketing, we share why asking why has consistently led us toward better answers than simply asking how.Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.And the future belongs to the owners willing to think for themselves.Key TakeawaysCuriosity is one of the greatest competitive advantages in business.Copying outcomes is not the same as understanding why they worked. Better questions lead to better decisions. Innovation begins with curiosity, not certainty. Build systems that fit your business—not someone else's. Patience requires engagement, not passivity. Long-term thinking beats quick fixes. New technology rewards curious business owners. Your ideas are worth exploring, even if they don't all succeed. Learn from others without outsourcing your own thinking.Time Stamps00:00 — Opening takes: stop criticizing the next generation 03:00 — Why the past shouldn't dictate the future 05:00 — The salon industry's copycat problem 06:30 — Copying outcomes vs. understanding causes 08:00 — Asking better questions in business 09:00 — Why profitable salons think differently 10:00 — Assigned stations, apprenticeships, and challenging tradition 12:00 — Hiring with curiosity instead of fear 14:00 — Why change feels uncomfortable 16:00 — Curiosity built Hello Hair Co. 18:00 — Google, SEO, and long-term thinking 20:00 — The Five Whys and deeper questions 22:00 — Why stylists choose some salons over others 24:00 — Patience vs. complacency 26:00 — Building business frameworks that last 28:00 — Turning frustrations into better systems 30:00 — Build your future instead of inheriting it 31:00 — AI, technology, and curiosity 34:00 — Your ideas are worth exploring 36:00 — Don't outsource your thinking 38:00 — Final thoughts: think for yourselfLinks and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

DM me "AUDIT" to connect to learn how together we can increase your leads, revenue, and confidence in your salon business.  ⁠⁠Instagram.com/jenniferjadealvarez⁠GRAB YOUR FREE FREEDOM CALCULATOR™ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jenniferjadealvarez.myflodesk.com/freedom-calculator⁠⁠⁠The #1 tool to help you plan to work less BTC and into Salon CEOIn this episode of Beauty Business Game Changer, Jennifer Alvarez breaks down why salon owners and beauty entrepreneurs should stop trying to do everything themselves and start delegating strategically. She explains how hiring a virtual assistant can help you protect your time, improve your guest experience, and create a more sustainable business model.Jennifer shares the mindset shift that helped her grow since 2016: moving from being the person who answers every DM, call, and email to becoming the visionary who leads the business. She walks listeners through a simple exercise to identify every task they currently do, evaluate which ones truly require their time, and decide what can be delegated to someone else at a lower cost.She also explains the difference between high-level work and low-task work, encouraging owners to focus on the activities only they can do—like leadership, planning, training, and growth—while handing off repetitive or time-consuming tasks like cleaning, booking, inbox management, reports, and customer communication.A major takeaway from this episode is that delegation only works when there is a clear system in place. Jennifer emphasizes the importance of documenting processes, setting expectations, sharing examples, and communicating clearly so a virtual assistant can succeed without creating more work for the owner.She also discusses how AI can now support some of the simpler tasks, making virtual assistants even more valuable for communication, client care, and operational support. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or a growing salon team, this episode will help you rethink what should stay on your plate and what should be handed off so you can stay in your zone of genius.Want to learn more about working with a virtual assistant? DM Jennifer on Instagram at @jenniferjadealvarez for more information and resources.

A few weeks ago, my team posted something on Instagram that we could not have predicted would take off the way it did. The graphic said uncapped commissions will be the salon standard within three years, and the response was unlike anything we've seen. 260 shares, 461 comments, hundreds of DMs and emails from salon owners who were equal parts excited and scared. So we made this bonus episode to answer your questions directly! This week you're not just hearing from me. You're hearing audio clips from real Thriving Leadership members who have implemented our profit priority compensation method and are sharing exactly what it's looked like for their businesses. You're also getting a clip from our bootcamp that breaks down the logic behind why we built this method in the first place. If you still have questions after the uncapped commissions episode from a few weeks back, this one is going to fill in a lot of gaps. The first four episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season. The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/. Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!  If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this. Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/ 

Picture two stylists. One is a money machine, hitting every metric, booked solid, making multiple 6-figures. The other is producing 30% of that revenue but mentoring newer team members, showing up on time, taking great photos, and supporting the salon's culture in every way possible. Now ask yourself honestly: who is your current system set up to reward? If your salon's promotional path is built primarily around revenue-based KPIs, chances are stylist number one wins every time, no matter how much damage they're doing to your culture. And that model, which worked just fine 10 and 20 years ago, is collapsing fast right now. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly why the traditional salon promotion structure is broken, the specific flaws in the old model that are quietly costing you your best people, and what we do differently in Thriving Leadership to fix it for good. Ready to see exactly how this works for your salon? I'm hosting a free 3-day training starting July 13th where we dig into all of it. Head to www.thrivingstylist.com/nextlevelsalon to register. Spots are not held, so make sure you sign up before the 13th to get access! The first four episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season. The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/. Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!  If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this. Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/ 

Something is happening in our industry right now that we just need to talk about. Salon closures are happening at scale, coast to coast, and I've personally saved over 60 closure announcements on Instagram just since the start of 2026. This is not normal, and pretending it isn't happening isn't going to help anyone. In this episode, I break down exactly what's driving these salon closures right now, the specific mistakes that are quietly working against so many owners, and what the salons that are winning are doing differently.  The industry is not broken. It's evolving fast, and there is still so much opportunity on the other side of a change in plan!  Ready to see exactly how this works for your salon? I'm hosting a free 3-day training starting July 13th where we dig into all of it. Head to www.thrivingstylist.com/nextlevelsalon to register. Spots are not held, so make sure you sign up before the 13th to get access! The first four episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season. The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/. Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!  If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this. Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/ 

If you've been in the salon industry for any length of time, you already know the traditional commission model is broken. Stylists feel cheated, salon owners feel cheated, and somehow, we've all just accepted that this is "the way it's done." But what if there was a model where everybody wins, profit is protected, and your top performers actually want to stay? That's exactly what uncapped commissions deliver, and I genuinely believe that by 2030, this will be the standard of pay across our industry. In this episode, I share exactly how uncapped commissions work, why the traditional model keeps everyone stuck, and how we build a compensation structure that puts profit first without sacrificing your team.  This is the future of salon compensation, and understanding it now is what separates the salons that thrive from the ones that struggle to compete!  Ready to see exactly how this works for your salon? I'm hosting a free 3-day training starting July 13th where we dig into all of it. Head to www.thrivingstylist.com/nextlevelsalon to register. Spots are not held, so make sure you sign up before the 13th to get access! The first four episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season. The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/. Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!  If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this. Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/ 

It's no secret that the digital landscape is shifting FAST, and a lot of stylists and salon owners are feeling completely exhausted by the constant updates, the algorithms, and the tech overload. I know it's tempting to want to unplug and just focus on the creative side of what we do, but the reality is that our industry is becoming more connected to the digital world, not less. The good news? Our service-based, local businesses are incredibly safe from AI disruption, but if we don't get smart about optimizing our own digital footprints first, we're handing a competitive edge to anyone else who does. We are officially stepping into a brand-new era of local search, driven by massive new integrations between your social media platforms and Google's autonomous AI agents. Today, I'm breaking down exactly what these game-changing updates mean for your business, how to set up your digital presence defensively, and the specific, tactical steps you can take right now to prep your profiles before the scale tips. If you're serious about finding out exactly how to stay ahead of the curve and play the modern business game better, then press "Play" now!  The first four episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season. The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/. Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!  If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this. Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/ 

Let's be honest: one of the biggest challenges salon owners are hitting right now is figuring out how to actually attract, motivate, and retain the modern generation of talent. You've heard me say it many times, but if you want a team of self-motivated, hungry stylists, your brand positioning, your backend education system, and your own digital footprint have to be completely aligned. I'm sorry, but you can't fix your team until you look at how you're presenting your business to the world, and I'm diving deep into the data here to help you do it.  It doesn't matter if you're an established owner struggling to fill empty chairs, a leader trying to transition from a cozy "shadowing" model to a highly profitable, structured education system, or an entrepreneur who needs to optimize your digital footprint to fuel consistent growth behind the chair. This episode is exactly what you need to start shifting your business into its next phase of growth!  The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/. Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!  If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this. Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/ 

How would you like to hear the real talk about the massive amount of misinformation, manipulative jargon, and false narratives that float around our industry? We've all seen it and we've all experienced it: the secrecy around how someone actually built their business, or the people who look amazing on social media while we both know the back end tells a very different story.  I've wondered for a long time: what do we do to quit the secrecy in this industry? We talk a good game about community over competition, but then we gatekeep the business part…  Well, that's changing, and it all starts today!  I'm in my transparency era. I'm done with playing small and being secretive, so I'm starting something completely new. Born out of seven months of design and production is After The Last Client, the newest media platform in the beauty industry. These aren't just "feel-good" interviews; they are long-form, deep dives into the real strategies and step-by-step financial breakdowns of the industry's biggest voices. If you weren't in the room for these conversations, consider this your seat at the table! The first four episodes drop today, June 8, 2026. Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season. The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/. Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!  If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this. Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/