Thriving Stylist Podcast

Ever feel like your salon business is more of a "free fall" than a well-oiled machine? Whether you're a fresh beauty school grad or a tenured stylist who's been making money for a decade, have you ever stopped to wonder: is my business actually set up for long-term wealth, or am I just one slow week away from a total collapse? Today, I pull back the curtain on the exact step-by-step checklist I ga...

Are you tired of just worrying about whether you made enough to pay the bills this month? Are you ready to stop operating on gut feelings and start building a genuinely predictable, profitable business? This episode is for the stylist who is serious about scaling their income and finally overcoming the money shame and overwhelm that holds 95 percent of the industry back. Today, I ditch the basic i...

Are you working 60-hour weeks, juggling chair time with a second job, and still feeling like you're just hanging on by a thread? Stylists everywhere are asking if they're the only ones having to pick up a side hustle just to get by, and today, I want to shed light on what's happening right now in our industry and what exactly is going on.  In this episode, we're cutting through the noise and revea...

Are you feeling that exhaustion, that silent virus of burnout and resentment cutting through your salon? Maybe you're wondering why the joy and momentum of the pre-2020 industry seem gone, replaced by a deep, collective craving for the past? If so, then this one is for you. Today, I'm bringing you a slightly "woo-woo" mindset episode, and peeling back the layers on the Achilles heel that's crippli...

Are you maximizing your salon's profit potential, or are you unintentionally leaving thousands on the table? Did you know the retail inventory on your shelves right now could be costing you? I consider this a can't-miss, strategic episode, and one that you just can't afford to skip!  In this episode, I walk you through the critical, step-by-step exercise every single salon owner needs to complete...

Maybe your business is at a 15-year low due to the recent government shutdown, tech layoffs, or the painful "groceries vs. grooming" dilemma clients are facing? Or you may find yourself sacrificing your profit margin by slashing prices just to survive, only to create a "slippery slope" that leads to resentment. The service industry is facing massive uncertainty, and this is leaving many stylists f...

Are you happy with your business right now? I mean, truly happy? Are you making emotional decisions that are costing you real money and growth? If you wait until January to plan your year, you've already lost 20 percent of your earning potential, but it doesn't have to be this way. Today, I cut through the noise and deliver a no-fluff, 8-step framework designed to totally transform your 2026 reven...

Is it really possible to take home six figures, a $100,000 after-tax income, without relying on extensions, hiring an assistant, or the hustle of double booking? Today, we're diving deep into the math and the mindset behind building a streamlined, highly profitable solo stylist business without the "extras!"   When the average family of four needs over $200,000 just to be comfortable in major U.S....

Can a consistent stream of recurring revenue solve your cyclical business struggles? It sounds like the dream: improved client retention, a predictable paycheck, and less worry. But hold up; before you jump on the latest viral trend promising a membership model solution, you need to hear this! Today, I break down the hot topic of Salon Memberships and why most advice you see online (including that...

What if I told you that strategically lowering your prices could be the smartest financial move you make this year? Every stylist comes to me wanting to raise their rates, but the truth is, sometimes you are simply overpriced for your market. If you are experiencing a drop in demand or struggling to keep your long-term clients, you have to diagnose the real issue before making a knee-jerk mistake....

Is your business at a breaking point? Are your top-performing stylists whispering about a walkout in the break room? Like the seasons, there's a change in the air, and you answered 'yes' to these questions, then this episode is a lifeline for you and your business.  The truth is, your stylists don't want to leave, but they can't stay in a model that's stuck in 2010. The industry is deep into "The...

You feel like you're on a hamster wheel, doing everything you can, but your clientele and income aren't growing. But what if the metrics you're tracking, like pre-booking and retail sales, are actually irrelevant to your success?  I am not a fan of coaching systems and coaching models where every stylist needs to reach the same level of metrics in order to be deemed successful. Times are changing...

Are you running a hybrid salon model and constantly struggling to find the right balance between your dedicated employees and your independent booth renters? You're not alone! Many salon owners are seeing a massive shift as stylists trade independence for the benefits of employment, but making this model work for everyone is the real challenge, and I want to talk about it here today on the podcast...

Why are so many salon owners adopting the parts and labor pricing model right now, and is it truly the best strategy to future-proof your business? Today, we're tackling this buzzy industry debate - head-on!  This episode was inspired by a specific review asking, "How do we price in 2026 if parts and labor is the model?" I'm sharing my strong (perhaps biased) opinion, but more importantly, I'm giv...

Are you ready for a hard truth that the professional beauty industry doesn't want you to talk about? I'm laying it all out on the table today: I'm predicting the collapse of retail sales in our industry, and I'll show you exactly why it's already happening.  We need to stop blaming diversion and look at the structural changes that have made your favorite professional brands no longer exclusive. Di...

Why do some salon policies feel more like business destroyers than solutions? Today, I'm diving deep into this topic that is causing a major divide in our industry. Is your business model built on long-term solutions for short-term problems? We'll explore how the post-COVID boom led many of us to create strict, complicated policies that are now pushing clients away. You'll hear real-life stories,...

Are you ready to discover what's really coming for the salon industry in 2026? What if everything you've been told about pricing, marketing, and client retention is about to change? Every year, you wait for this episode on The Thriving Stylist Podcast, and this year, it's more crucial than ever. Today, I'm bringing it to you with the help and input of Coaches Nine and Carly!   In this episode, I'm...

What if life was better, or easier? What if you didn't have mom guilt or work guilt? Are you a stylist or salon owner feeling overwhelmed and out of control? Join me on this episode of The Thriving Stylist Podcast as I share how I've transformed my life and business by breaking free from the "hustle culture" mentality. In this episode, I introduce a strategic 30-day challenge that will help you fi...

You know you want to get off the tools, but how do you actually do it without your business running in the red? Do you worry that your team will resent you for not being on the floor, or that your business won't survive without your service revenue? What if I told you that the most successful, profitable salons are led by owners who have the capacity to lead, and that means getting out from behind...

Have you ever looked at other salon owners and wondered, "How is she doing that?" Do you feel like you're grinding every single day, but have nothing to show for it? Today, we're taking a look at a data goldmine I've collected from recent surveys of Thriver Society members, my Instagram and email lists, and my exclusive X Club and Thriving Leadership Boot Camp surveys. The results give us a true c...

Ever feel like you're stuck in the endless cycle of "do it all yourself" as a salon owner? Have you thought about bringing on employees or booth renters but feel overwhelmed by all the legal jargon and don't know where to start? Today, we're diving into the nitty-gritty of hiring in the salon industry, and I'm specifically sharing the 5 things you absolutely need before you hire your very first em...

Are you a stylist who hasn't raised your prices in years, feeling the pinch and wondering where to even begin? Do you suspect you're dramatically below market value, even though your schedule is packed? Today, we tackle a question submitted by a listener just like you: what do you do when the business model for hairstylists has fundamentally changed, and what worked five, seven, or even ten years...

Are you tired of those pesky credit card processing fees eating into your profits? Wondering if passing them on to clients is the right move for your business? This episode was inspired by another question from a listener, and we're diving deep into the hot (and often complex!) topic of credit card surcharges.  Today, we'll explore what clients really think about these fees and whether it's becomi...

As you know, Instagram is always changing, and if you're a stylist or salon owner, you NEED to stay on top of it. Today, I break down the top 5 (okay, maybe 6!) crucial Instagram updates from the last year that are absolutely relevant to our industry right now. These Instagram updates might seem small, but they hold serious power when you know how to use them. Whether you're aiming to refine your...

This week on the podcast, I dive deep into something I know has been on everyone's mind: the "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA). It's a mouthful, but trust me, what's inside this bill, signed into law on July 4, 2025, is going to impact our industry!  I'm not a CPA, but I've been doing my homework, researching, and listening to the experts I trust. My goal is to break down exactly how this mass...