#414 - 8 Annual Planning Mistakes Stylists & Salons Should Avoid This Year
Release Date: 12/01/2025
#425 - DMs to Booking: The Pipeline to Increased Demand
Thriving Stylist Podcast
I’ve noticed a dangerous trend lately where stylists and salon owners are treating DMs as a burden instead of a gift. We’re shutting them off, ignoring them (or even worse) hiding behind auto-responders that act as total lead killers. I get it; DMs can feel time-consuming. But in a world where AI is rapidly disrupting the workforce, human connection is the one thing we need to cling to, and that’s what this episode is all about. Today, I reveal why the Instagram "like and follow" game of 2015 is dead and what the algorithm is actually looking for today (spoiler: DMs are your #1...
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#424 - Why Retail Programs Are Failing Hard And Fast
Thriving Stylist Podcast
For years, I’ve been one of the biggest proponents of salon retail. I’ve taught the programs, I’ve shared the scripts, and I’ve preached that retail equals retention. But I’ve hit a point where I can no longer be complicit in a system that I’m watching settle like a lead weight on the books of salons across the industry, and that’s what today’s show is all about. In this episode, I address the dramatic shifts we’re seeing to retail programs in 2026. I reveal the uncomfortable reality of competing for sales against the very brands that are supposed to be our partners, why the...
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#423 - The 9-Factors of Pricing! We Changed Our Pricing Method!
Thriving Stylist Podcast
Are you still pricing yourself based on what the salon down the street charges, or maybe a "gut feeling" that you’re worth more? Do you actually know if your current rates are protecting your profit, or are you accidentally losing money in the tiny gaps of your workday? In this episode, I’m finally sharing a MASSIVE update that’s been months in the making. We have officially evolved from our classic 7 factors to the brand-new 9- Factor Method. While the old way served 20,000 stylists for a decade, the 2026 market is different, and your business needs to be more precise to stay...
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#422 - Money & Tax Stuff You Should Know as a Stylist
Thriving Stylist Podcast
Why do we all get into this industry to make money, yet feel so uncomfortable actually managing it? Is your "dream career" turning into a self-sacrificing cycle because you’re making emotional financial decisions instead of logical ones? If you’re still praying for a big tax refund or keeping a pile of receipts in your center console, it’s time for a serious financial intervention, and today I bring you what you need to know. In this one I’m getting into the messy, unsexy details of the "money stuff" we usually avoid. We’re breaking down the brutal reality of revenue versus...
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#421 - 8 Ways to Market Yourself as a Hair Stylist in This Economy
Thriving Stylist Podcast
Is your business actually feeling the "crunch" of this 2026 economy, or are you just stuck on the wrong side of the Great Divide? If that effortless "glory season" of building a clientele feels like a distant memory, you aren't imagining it. The industry has shifted from a quantity game to a quality game, and honestly? Your marketing has to evolve or it's going to get left behind. Today, I’m getting real about the 8 specific ways you need to be marketing yourself as a stylist right now. We’re moving past the "post and pray" method and getting intentional. I’m walking you through how to...
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#420 - Checklist for Stylists Getting Started or Getting Organized
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 gave my own daughter when she transitioned to booth rental. We’re moving past the "money in, money out" trap and diving into the structural essentials that 70 percent of stylists (yes, 70...
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#419 - 7 Numbers Most Stylists Aren't Tracking But Should Be
Thriving Stylist Podcast
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 industry garbage metrics and unveil the 7 specific numbers most stylists aren't tracking…but should be! We’re talking real, tactical targets here, like how to calculate your true pre-tax...
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#418 - The Second Job You Need If Clientele Is Building Slowly....
Thriving Stylist Podcast
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 revealing the single most profitable "second job" available to every stylist, and hint, it’s a fully flexible, work-from-your-phone role that promises to double your income without requiring...
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#417 - The #1 Shift That Is Crippling Stylists & Owners
Thriving Stylist Podcast
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 crippling growth: our deep aversion to change. In this episode, I reveal a profound insight I had during my own reflection time, a real breakthrough moment for me, and I think it will be for you too....
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#416 - End Of Year Retail Strategy Every Salon Should Be Using
Thriving Stylist Podcast
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 before the year ends. This isn't just about counting bottles; this strategy will dramatically boost your tax savings, reveal the true health of your retail program, and instantly show you which...
info_outlineAre 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 revenue, because business, and life as a whole, shouldn’t be just about surviving.
So, let's make the tactical moves right now to create your most successful, efficient, and thriving year yet. If you’ve never done annual planning before this episode is a great place to start, and make sure to download the free PDF support tool at www.thrivingstylist.com/eightsteps to follow along and help guide you towards your brand-new year!
If you need a tool to keep your numbers (and business!) organized, you’ll want to check out our Wealthiest Year Yet Planner. Get yours now at www.thrivingstylist.com/wealthiestyearyet/.
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/.
Thriving Leadership Method hands salon owners a step-by-step strategy to implement an irresistible culture and create a powerful growth path…all while setting themselves up for structure and profit, and you can join the waitlist NOW at www.thrivingstylist.com/thrivingleadershipmethod/!
With Grow My Clientele Calculator, you’ll get instant clarity on how many new clients you’ll need to hit your 2025 financial goals! Enter just four numbers, and this tool will show you exactly how many new guests you need monthly and yearly to reach your target income. No guesswork or complicated math required, and you can get it now at www.thrivingstylist.com/growmyclientele/.
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/