Thriving Stylist Podcast

Are you ready for an episode that's all about YOU? Ever wondered why stylists are leaving salons in droves, or what truly makes them press "apply" on a job listing? This week, we're diving deep into the honest, unfiltered feedback from stylists just like you, revealing what's really happening in our industry. I'm sharing incredible insights gleaned from thousands of responses. We cover everything...

What if everything you've been told about running your business is actually holding you back? In this "spicy" episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on some uncomfortable truths about common salon business strategies, and sharing with you the popular leadership advice I'd NEVER follow!  In this episode, I dive deep into critical topics like understanding commission structures, the real impact of se...

Are you a salon owner constantly feeling that squeeze, wondering why your best stylists might be eyeing the door? Listen, the urgency is here, right now, for salon owners to build phenomenal environments for our teams. That's exactly why, today, we're diving deep into what's really happening in our industry, uncovering the critical shifts you absolutely must make if you want to do more than just s...

Have you ever wondered what really goes on behind the gleaming facade of "successful" salons? Do you sometimes feel like you're the only business owner silently struggling, putting on a brave face for social media? I'm telling you, from coaching 17,000 stylists and salon owners, I've seen it all, and it's given me a unique perspective to answer those exact questions. Today, I'm sharing everything...

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to lead a salon, especially when thrown into the deep end? This is a situation I know all too well from my personal experience, and today I'm going to pull back the curtain and tell you about my rough start becoming a salon leader.  In this episode, I reveal how I started in salon leadership and why I really needed to work hard due to some of the choices...

As you can probably tell from the title of this episode, things are about to get vulnerable here on the podcast today, as I reveal how very recently I almost gave up and completely shut down Thrivers. In this episode, I want to share the untold story behind my darkest leadership low. From chaotic team expansion and communication breakdowns to the silent sabotage of misaligned visions, it all broug...

We're coming to you live from XClub Retreat 2025 in Texas, and bringing you something special today. I'm sitting down with Kaytlin Garland, a salon owner chosen for the "hot seat" with Joey Coleman, an incredible author and renowned retention expert who spoke at the retreat. Kaytlin and I dive deep into this experience and the transformative insights she gained from it, and the entire retreat as a...

Are you a salon owner feeling stuck in old routines, secretly wishing for a breakthrough? Get ready, because I have a full circle moment to share. Almost a year ago now, I released a podcast episode called the #ThrivingStylist60 Experience for Hairstylists & Salon Owners, which was a challenge to stylists on growth. What I was not expecting was the incredible impact it had on my life personally, a...

Have you ever wondered why talented hairstylists are packing up and saying goodbye to established salons? Stylists are leaving mediocre salons for amazing ones, as often happens in an economic downturn, and today, I want to share with you the real reasons why stylists are doing this. Forget the myth that it's all about studio suites and making more money. I want to talk about the underlying issues...

Ever feel like you're throwing darts at a pricing board blindfolded? We need to have a bigger conversation about all the pricing models that are out there, because some of these pricing models or methods can deeply affect your business, for better or for worse. I dove deep into researching this topic, and today, I pull the curtain back on the 7 pricing models that are actually out there and reveal...

Did you just get a surprise tax form you weren't expecting? Are your Venmo, PayPal, or even salon software tips suddenly under the IRS microscope?  If you are a stylist or a salon owner that uses Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, Cash app, Tippy etc. and this has happened, then this episode is one you need to listen to.  Today, I discuss the 1099-K form that a lot of stylists were not expecting when it ca...

Are you trying to make sense of the buzzword "tariffs" and what they could actually mean for your salon or stylist career? So much about the tariffs are changing in real time, and I've only reported on tariffs once in a previous episode of this podcast, but today I dig a little deeper based on information that's now available at the time of recording. These tariffs are a complex issue, and so much...

Feeling the pressure of a shifting economy with more client cancellations and stretched-out appointments, many stylists have been tempted to lean on discounts and loyalty programs to keep their chair full. Are these the right strategies to be using, or are they just surface-level solutions? Today, I break it all down and work the math to show how using these types of things really play out for you...

Have you ever felt the sting of a competitor trying to snatch your hard-earned clients? Are you battling the creeping fear of what I refer to as "Ninja Turtle" stylists who undercut your prices and poach your loyal clientele? Even if it's something that you may not have experienced yet I want to talk about it, because it is becoming a very real trend in this industry.  In this episode, I break it...

Are you feeling the shift? Is "charging your worth" leaving you and your clients feeling...unfulfilled? What if the key isn't about emotional pricing, but about genuine perceived value? Today we go deep into the "worth it" era, and look at how the rising cost of living and changing client expectations are reshaping the salon industry as we know it.  In this episode, I share how people are still sp...

Are your Instagram autoresponders secretly sabotaging your business growth? You set them up to save time, but are they actually pushing potential clients away? Today, I reveal my thoughts on if Instagram auto responders are still a good idea for us to use in 2025, and the advice that I give in this episode is going to be for those of you who want to grow your business over the next 18 months to tw...

Are you struggling to fill your chair as a stylist? What if the client surge you once enjoyed has vanished, and the old tactics just aren't cutting it? Today, I want to share some high-level tips and tricks from the hundreds of stylists that attended our 10 New Clients Every Month Bootcamp of March 2025.  In this episode, you'll hear what I have learned from our students who went through our progr...

Ever feel like your salon's commission structure is holding your best stylists back? Are you trapped in a cycle of high turnover and struggling to keep top talent engaged? In the last couple of months, there have been a few conversations where I have had to address this topic of overpaying people and we have had to take a deep dive into the compensation model. In this episode, I share what overcom...

Are your salon prices keeping pace with reality, or are you unknowingly sabotaging your business? Today I dive deep into the crucial topic of winning pricing strategies for 2025, challenging the common myths that are holding stylists back at this time.  If you've felt the sting of rising costs both personally and professionally (and who hasn't?), yet hesitated to adjust your fees or you're clingin...

Have you noticed clients becoming more hesitant, even flaky? Are no-shows and last-minute cancellations eating into your profits and patience? Times have changed, things are different, and the "Great Divide" that I was speaking of in 2022 has indeed happened. In this episode, I dive deep into a brand-new level of the marketing funnel that's changing everything: trust. You'll hear why the old ways...

Are you feeling lost in the ever-shifting sands of social media? Does it feel like the strategies that once worked are now falling flat? We are at this crossroads where some stylists and salons are about to be busier and more successful than they have ever been before, and some are going to start to feel like they're sliding backwards and crashing. Today, I break it all down as we look at the soci...

Are stylists truly getting what they deserve, and are owners protecting their bottom line? Compensation is always a hot topic, but right now especially everyone wants to make sure that they are getting what is appropriate. Today, we're diving deep into the often-murky waters of salon profit margins and stylist compensation and I tackle the tough questions: Is your current compensation model actual...

Are clients spending less, or demanding more? For years, you've heard me talk about the "Great Divide" that's impacting our industry. Stylists and salon owners are asking: What's really happening? How are things shifting? How do we navigate this?  In this episode, I provide you with the answers, so hold on tight as we dive deep into the seismic changes shaking our industry.  Remember, this isn't j...

Are you setting revenue targets without a solid plan to achieve your financial goals this year? If so, I've got you covered! Today, we're diving deep into a game-changing tool, The Grow My Clientele Calculator, and I am so excited to be sharing more about it with you here on the podcast.  In this episode, I break down why simply setting a yearly income goal just isn't enough and I reveal the commo...

Have you ever felt like you were just going through the motions, despite working hard? Are you holding onto relationships or situations that are no longer serving you? Are you ready to let go of the armor and embrace your true self? A very short time ago I would have answered a big "YES" to each of these questions, and I just knew that things needed to change in my life in order to get realigned a...