Thriving Stylist Podcast

Are you a salon owner who dreams of stepping away from the chair and focusing on growing your business?  If you did this, what would you spend your time doing?  Following an Instagram post I recently shared, I saw that stylists out there really want to learn how to go from being a stylist to a leader of the salon, which is what I cover here today. In this episode, I reveal why you would want to co...

As we all know, the economy is a little bit shaky right now, and desperate times call for desperate measures. Sometimes this leads to good people doing things they wouldn't normally do, and today we are talking about credit card charge-backs. In this episode, I share how these charge-backs work, the way that they are processed, and how to protect yourself if you find yourself in this situation.  A...

Are you still relying on old social media strategies to grow your salon business? Think Instagram is the key to success? Think again...  In this episode, I reveal a major shift in how clients find and choose salons, and you'll discover how online reviews have become the queen of social media. I share how focusing on them in 2019 and 2020 has set some stylists up for massive success today, and I wa...

Have you ever wondered how much your salon is really worth? I know there are a lot of salon owners out there who are looking to sell their salon in the future, so today I want to cover how to calculate your salon's value and position yourself for a lucrative sale.  In this episode, I share the factors that influence a salon's worth, from its clientele base to its reputation, and reveal how to buil...

As we are right in the midst of the busy holiday season, the Thrivers team and I are releasing the second of two "Best of" episodes rather than our usual fresh content to wrap up 2024. Today, we're replaying a popular episode we first brought you in June of 2024, where I shared a classic marketing concept that can help you attract more clients FAST in today's economy, and also keeps them coming ba...

As we are right in the midst of the busy holiday season, the Thrivers team and I are releasing two "Best of" episodes rather than our usual fresh content to wrap up 2024. Today, we're replaying a popular episode we first brought you in April of 2024, where I talked more about "The Great Divide" and the pricing crisis we've found ourselves in, along with the important things to keep in mind as we o...

The IRS is now using AI to search tax records and open audits, but what exactly does this mean for stylists and salon owners? Today, I want to talk about how this latest news from the IRS could significantly impact your business, and I break down the key areas where the IRS's AI is likely to focus, while sharing strategies to help mitigate risks and ensure your tax filings are accurate. Whether yo...

It's important to normalize the reality that not everything is always perfect, and it's just a fact that there are a number of unexpected challenges that studio suite owners often face.  Recently, I put up a question box to ask about the biggest struggles you have when building your business as a studio suite owner, and today we're going to talk about those issues and find solutions for you so tha...

As we step into a new presidential term in 2025, uncertainty looms large. How will these shifts impact our daily lives? From healthcare and taxes to retirement and social security, the implications are far-reaching. A lot of this is speculative, but today I wanted to dive into the facts and figures of how this administration could impact us. I realize that these are the issues that matter most to...

If you've been listening to the podcast for awhile now, you've heard me talk about the great divide that's happening in our industry. In fact, the industry is splitting in a way that I've never seen before, and we are seeing clients push back. In this episode, I reveal the reasons why your business may have gotten complacent, and I share actionable strategies you use if you find that your business...

"Shrinkflation" isn't a new phenomenon, and you're most likely experiencing it right now in your day-to-day experiences as a consumer. We are in a tight economic spot at the moment and service-based industries have had many challenges in the economic downturn, so I believe this is a relevant conversation to be having right now for stylists.  In this episode, I reveal the good, the bad and the ugly...

The hair extension industry has seen a meteoric rise in popularity, driven by social media and influencer culture. While early adopters reaped the rewards of high demand and low competition, the market has since become saturated with stylists. This has led to concerns about quality and customer satisfaction. So, is the extensions bubble about to burst or not?  If you currently offer hair extension...

I absolutely love reading the ratings and reviews we get on Apple Podcasts, and I read them every single week. In fact, a lot of the questions that get asked there I use for my podcast episode ideas, but I can't always get to all of them or some I can't make an entire podcast episode on. In today's episode, I thought it would be fun to try something different and turn some of those questions into...

Social media marketing, business growth, economics and consumer behavior are things that I am deeply interested in and obsess over, and this episode touches on all these topics as I talk about building a thriving social media presence. Today, you'll hear exactly what I did to grow an Instagram account completely outside of our industry by 800 followers - in just 8 months! When the opportunity came...

Small Business Saturday is fast-approaching, and it's a fantastic opportunity to make a lasting impact on your community while boosting your business. That's why for this episode, I want to give you actionable strategies to maximize your participation and build strong relationships with both current and potential customers. In our industry, it is very much about reciprocity as we are in the relati...

When we talk about scalability in business, the big question is can we grow without burning ourselves out or working more hours? The answer is YES, it's absolutely possible, and I know this because we did it this year! In this episode, I'm sharing exactly how I revamped my business in 2024 to achieve more while working less. It wasn't easy, but it was so worth it. If you're looking to level up you...

Recently, there's been a surge in viral TikTok videos and Instagram Reels where clients are speaking out against the beauty industry, particularly targeting hair stylists. In this episode, I take a closer look at one TikTok user's perspective and how (and why) her content is resonating with both clients and stylists alike. Instead of getting defensive, it's crucial to understand that these opinion...

Have you implemented a gratuity free pricing model but found that it's not working as you had hoped? If so, you're not alone because I've been receiving messages from stylists recently who are asking how to effectively transition back to accepting gratuities, which is why I wanted to record this episode for you today.   Yes, there is a way for you to carefully work it backwards and get back to bei...

If you've listened to the podcast for a while now, you know that I've released past episodes with my predictions for the upcoming year. Historically, my predictions have been spot on, and in this episode, I'm bringing you my 2025 predictions.  My main goal of sharing these predictions with you is to get the conversation started on what's coming in 2025, and this one is coming to you earlier than u...

In a time where the cost of living is steadily increasing, salon owners face the challenging decision of whether to absorb rising expenses or pass them on to their booth renters. In this episode, we take a deep dive into a DM I received from a booth renter salon owner, as I break down her current pricing model and analyze whether raising the rent is the right move or if it's time to consider a new...

This episode is a bit more of a vulnerable one that I'm a bit nervous, and excited, to bring to you today. I'm revealing how I personally overcame burnout, as well as what I learned from researching the key symptoms of burnout, and the profound changes I have made in my health, family, and professional life.  As you'll hear, I truly feel like I am still achieving everything that I want to achieve,...

As salon owners, it's crucial to ensure that our businesses are sustainable for ourselves, our stylists, and our overall growth. But when we talk about being "fair," what does that really mean in the context of payroll? In this episode, I tackle the age-old question: "Can a salon afford to pay 45%+ commissions?, while diving deep into the numbers and exploring the significant impact payroll has on...

As a service-based industry, it is really easy to focus on the feels and the vibes because we are in this pressure cooker of an economy, and we start to make emotional decisions that are not good for business. I sat down to record this episode in urgency, because I want everyone to take a step back and really check the math on a piece of advice that has been going around Instagram about using a lo...

Today's episode is inspired by a message I received from an incredible Thriving Stylist podcast listener who is asking for guidance on how to build and grow her career as a commission-based stylist, while not having complete control over her career.  As a stylist, I know that you want to grow, and you need to be in an environment where growth is supported. When you're in this type of environment y...

Recently an Instagram post came across my feed that I have not been able to stop thinking about since seeing it, so I want to share this clip with you today so you can hear the powerful message around perceived value in our industry.  In this episode, we are going to dig into the fatal flaws of how you are talking about price and cost and give you the new approach to talking price with clients!  T...