Sh!t I told my Hairdresser

What really happens behind the scenes at beauty schools—and why are so many graduates unprepared for the salon floor? In this episode of Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser , Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg sit down with a former state board examiner who reveals what she witnessed firsthand: failing sanitation standards, missing student hours, weak instructor training, licensing issues, and the costly mi...

The beauty industry is facing one of its biggest educational shakeups in decades. Carla Jones joins us to unpack the facts behind the Do No Harm Bill, Title IV funding, gainful employment requirements, student outcomes, salon culture, and the future of beauty education. This isn't fear-mongering—it's a candid conversation about accountability, opportunity, and what schools, students, and salon own...

Are your clients buying their shampoo, tools, and styling products online instead of from you? In this episode, we sit down with Australian hairstylist and educator Victoria Domazet to uncover how hairdressers can earn commission from the products they already recommend every day. We dive into affiliate marketing for hairstylists, the future of salon retail, QR code selling strategies, Linktree st...

What does it take to go from a small seaside town in England to working alongside fashion legends, celebrity icons, and some of the biggest names in beauty? In this episode, Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg sit down with hair historian, session stylist, educator, and former Vidal Sassoon and Toni & Guy-trained hairdresser Adam Garland. Adam shares his remarkable journey through the worlds of...

Most hairstylists leave beauty school knowing how to pass a state board exam—but not how to build a successful career. In this episode, Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg sit down with educator, salon owner, author, and entrepreneur Amber Hopson to discuss the business skills, marketing strategies, and mindset shifts that separate struggling stylists from thriving salon professionals. Amber shares...

Is beauty school preparing students for real careers—or setting them up to fail? In this episode of Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser , Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg sit down with cosmetology school director Heather Laws , a 20+ year industry veteran who transformed a struggling beauty school from 12 students to over 200 and is now helping shape legislation that could change cosmetology education for...

In this explosive episode of Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser, veteran salon owner and hairstylist Nicole “Super Hairo" Nikki Cestaro joins Jason Townsend and Paula J Dahlberg for a brutally honest conversation about what really happens inside the beauty industry.  From toxic salon culture and sabotaging coworkers to nightmare clients, entitled stylists, burnout, salon ownership struggles, and...

The  Do No Harm Bill  is forcing a long-overdue conversation in the beauty industry—and most people still don’t fully understand what’s at stake. In this episode of  Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser , we break down the real impact of the bill on  beauty schools, student debt, and career outcomes for hairdressers . From rising tuition costs to low post-graduation income, the numbers d...

What do hairstylists  really  think about their clients? In this brutally honest episode, Jason sits down with Rocki Mara to expose the unfiltered truth about life behind the chair—from nightmare clients and bad hygiene to awkward salon moments no one talks about out loud. We’re talking: Clients who don’t know what they want (and never stop talking) Bad breath, worse attitudes, and zero...

Burnout isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a warning sign. In this episode of  Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser , we sit down with a veteran stylist and author to break down the  real causes of burnout in the beauty industry —and why so many hairdressers are trapped in a cycle of overwork, low boundaries, and fake success. We dive into the dangerous myth that  being fully booked equals success ,...

This episode pulls back the curtain on the  hair industry’s biggest lie —that working for a major brand, doing Fashion Week, and chasing influencer fame is the ultimate dream. It’s not. We sit down with a veteran stylist who left behind the corporate beauty world after years of  travel, burnout, toxic contracts, and being treated as disposable talent . From behind-the-scenes chaos at Fas...

What happens when two of the most respected names in beauty—Ted Gibson and Jason Backe—pull back the curtain on an industry built on ego, burnout, and outdated rules? In this raw, unfiltered episode of  Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser , we dive into the real future of the beauty industry—where  wellness, science, AI, and business strategy  are replacing hustle culture and empty...

Think you understand  1099 vs W2 in the salon industry? Think again. In this episode of  Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser , we break down a shocking real-life story from a stylist trapped in a  toxic salon environment —where illegal 1099 practices, manipulation, and straight-up exploitation were the norm. From being  forced to work full-time hours as a “1099 contractor” , to having&n...

The debate is back—and it’s louder than ever. After a viral episode on trauma dumping in the salon, we dive into  Part 2  with therapist insights, real client comments, and the backlash that shook the industry. Some hairdressers say it’s part of the job. Others say it’s emotional burnout disguised as “being nice.” So what’s the truth? In this episode, we break down: Why clients treat hai...

Hiring in the hair industry has officially gone off the rails. In this episode of  Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser , we sit down with veteran stylist and educator  Emily Bloom  to break down what’s really happening behind the chair—and why finding good talent feels nearly impossible in today’s salon world. From a stylist who tried to  take over the salon within 48 hours  to sho...

What happens when you give your entire identity to hairdressing… and it gives nothing back? In this brutally honest episode of  Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser , we sit down with UK stylist Luke to expose the reality behind the salon chair—burnout, toxic work environments, low pay, client trauma dumping, and the mental toll no one prepares you for. From being threatened with non-competes to needin...

Hairdressers hear everything—but sometimes the stories clients tell in the salon chair are almost too crazy to believe. In this episode of  Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser , Jason, Lauren, and guest hairstylist Joti dive into the uncomfortable reality of what beauty professionals deal with behind the chair. From shocking client confessions to suspicious tragedies, we explore the growing trend of&n...

In this episode of  Shit I Told My Hairdresser , we break down one of the most confusing — and often abusive — pay structures in the beauty industry:  the 1099 commission hairstylist. If you’re a hairstylist, barber, or cosmetology student who has ever wondered: • Should I be paid  1099 or W-2 in a salon? • Why does my salon take  50% commission but still call me self-employed?...

In this legendary episode of  Shit I Told My Hairdresser , we sit down with Allen Edwards — the celebrity hairstylist who created the iconic Farrah Fawcett haircut for  Charlie’s Angels  and changed hair history forever  From Beverly Hills salon rivalries to cutting Marcia Clark’s hair during the OJ trial, Allen breaks down the real stories behind the fame, the PR machine, and...

In this brutally honest episode of  Shit I Told My Hairdresser , we expose the dark side of the beauty industry — from predatory cosmetology school loans to sliding scale commission traps inside corporate salons. Kelly shares her real journey through $20,000 beauty school tuition, unpaid assistant labor, booth rent disasters, and commission structures designed to keep stylists broke. We break...

In this wild episode of  Shit I Told My Hairdresser , we break down one of the craziest salon horror stories we’ve ever experienced — including the infamous  foot fetish client from Philly  and a toxic salon client meltdown during a real-life medical emergency. From entitled holiday clients who think their haircut matters more than a collapsing lung, to a grown man attempting to lic...

In this episode of  Shit I Told My Hairdresser , Jason and Jack break down the  most exhausting clients in the salon industry  — the ones who cancel last minute, abuse the front desk, try to intimidate stylists, and pull the classic line:  “I know the owner.” From a returning “Daddy” client who screamed at staff and learned the hard way about cancellation policies, to price-sho...

What really happens behind the chair isn’t glamorous—and it’s definitely not professional. In this episode, we break down real salon horror stories including coworkers stealing supplies, toxic behavior in high-end salons, and clients who cross boundaries in ways most people wouldn’t believe. From stolen developer and quiet revenge, to creepy shampoo-bowl behavior, inappropriate oversharing, and po...

Anya joins Jack and Jason for a no-filter episode of  Shit I Told My Hairdresser  that hits everything from  fake hair products and shady beauty education  to the real reality of working behind the chair with a  speech impediment . They talk stuttering in the salon, how clients and strangers react, and why confidence matters more than “perfect” speech—especially in an indu...

What happens when clients cross the line—and expect you to stay quiet because they’re “paying”? In this episode, we break down the  real reasons hairstylists fire clients  and why bad behavior in the salon is no longer tolerated. From clients blasting phone calls on speaker, to entitlement, false accusations, boundary violations, and emotional manipulation, this conversation exposes the&...