#429 - What is Working on Instagram Marketing Right Now
Release Date: 03/16/2026
#437 - Private Beauty School Profits + Why Loans Are Being Defunded
Thriving Stylist Podcast
Have you ever looked at a viral post and felt like something was missing? This week, a social media campaign from a collection of private beauty schools has been making the rounds, warning that the industry is at risk of collapse due to federal loan defunding. On its face, it sounds terrifying, but once you peel back the layers, you realize the situation is much more complex than just "saving" the industry. I was asked about my opinion on the post and situation, so I wanted to do an investigative-style episode that digs into the financial mechanics of for-profit beauty schools and the reality...
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#436 - Paid Marketing Scams, Strategies and Budgets for Stylists and Salon Owners
Thriving Stylist Podcast
Are you ready to stop spending every waking hour on Instagram and finally just cut the check? There’s a massive misunderstanding about what paid marketing actually is, and if you’re not careful, you can easily fall for expensive scams and guaranteed leads that never turn into a booking. In this episode, we’re exploring the luxury of trading money for time. I’m walking you through the predatory all-in-one marketing traps to avoid and why flashy SEO promises are often just golden handcuffs. I also break down the only three platforms delivering high-quality guests in 2026, including the...
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#435 - Low Demand and Empty Books Troubleshooting Guide
Thriving Stylist Podcast
Are your books feeling a little “gappier” than you’d like, or those new guest requests have started to slow down? If so, I want you to take a deep breath because I’ve got you covered! We aren’t going to buy into the industry noise that "nobody is getting their hair done anymore", because the truth is, a huge portion of the industry is growing faster right now than I’ve ever seen before. In this episode, I’m walking you through a total business self-audit. I’m sharing exactly what I look for when I’m coaching one-on-one to help you find where you might be accidentally scaring...
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#434 - Salon Photoshoot Tips and Strategies
Thriving Stylist Podcast
Does your online presence actually match the level of talent you bring to the chair? For most stylists, there’s a massive gap between their actual skill and the "DIY" brand they’re showing the world, and that disconnect is costing you thousands in high-end bookings. That’s going to change, as today, I show you why playing it safe with phone photos is acting as a ceiling on your income! I’m giving you the exact checklist to fill your marketing calendar for the next 6 months and the strategy to turn a single photoshoot into a "rising tide" for your entire team, and much more. Ready...
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#433 - The Failed Payment Trend and How to Fix It
Thriving Stylist Podcast
Have you ever had a client sit through a three-hour service, love their hair, and then suddenly realize they "forgot" their wallet? It’s uncomfortable, it’s awkward, and without a system in place, it costs you hundreds in lost revenue and hours spent playing debt collector. In this episode, I’m breaking down the "Failed Payment Trend" I’m seeing across the industry right now. I’m sharing the exact strategy I gave my daughter when she faced her first non-paying guest, including the photo ID process that protects your business legally without making you look like the bad guy. We’re...
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#432 - Systems That Hurt New-Talent Stylists & Team Retention
Thriving Stylist Podcast
For most salon owners, the dream is simple: hire a stylist, keep them happy, and watch them stay with the team forever. But let’s be real. That "forever" goal is incredibly rare, and more often than not, the systems we have in place are the very things driving new talent right out the door. Today I shed some light on why the industry’s "normal" way of training is actually hurting your chances of keeping a team. I’m looking at the scary job titles we put on new stylists, the lack of representation on your website, and why "slow and steady" graduation requirements are actually a financial...
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#431 - Money-Making Scheduling Strategies
Thriving Stylist Podcast
Are you making multiple 6-figures but your back hurts, you’re missing dinner with your family, and your mental health is in the trash? If so, you haven’t won and in fact, you’ve just lost the plot and I’m going to share why in this episode. We’ve been sold a lie that "working smarter" means double-booking your life away and that being booked out for six months is a "flex." In reality? It’s a financial and lifestyle liability. Today, we’re talking about the money-making scheduling strategies that actually allow you to have it all. And yes, we’re going to be greedy. We’re going...
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#430 - Strategies We Used to Coach to and Don't Coach to Anymore
Thriving Stylist Podcast
How often do you audit the strategies you use in your business? If you’re still relying on "tried and true" methods from 5 or 10 years ago, you might actually be working against the modern consumer. Today, I take a candid, transparent look at the strategies that were once staples of the Thriving Stylist Method, but have since been phased out entirely. Whether you’re a returning Thriver or a new member, this is your permission slip to stop doing what’s "always been done" and start doing what actually moves the needle right now in 2026. Ready to go? Let’s modernize your business...
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#429 - What is Working on Instagram Marketing Right Now
Thriving Stylist Podcast
For over a year, we haven't checked in on the state of Instagram marketing, but the game has changed - A LOT. If your Instagram is gaining followers but your bank account isn’t growing, something is broken. Today, I reveal what it actually takes to turn a profile into a profit-generating machine. We’re moving away from the "dopamine hit" of likes and comments and focusing on the only metric that matters: butts in chairs. I’m sharing insights from my recent 2026 bootcamp and analyzing why so many stylists are spinning their wheels on complicated content while their chairs stay empty....
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#428 - Scaling as a Cutting Specialist or Barber
Thriving Stylist Podcast
For decades, the industry standard was that a successful stylist had to be a "jack of all trades," but that old-school way of thinking is officially holding your bank account back. In a world where consumers are looking for experts, not generalists, choosing to niche down is the fastest way to increase your demand and your income, and I’m showing you exactly how to do it in this episode. Today we look at why cutting specialists and barbers often have higher profit margins than colorists, why the "Handyman vs. Surgeon" comparison is the ultimate reality check for your pricing, and the reasons...
info_outlineFor over a year, we haven't checked in on the state of Instagram marketing, but the game has changed - A LOT. If your Instagram is gaining followers but your bank account isn’t growing, something is broken. Today, I reveal what it actually takes to turn a profile into a profit-generating machine. We’re moving away from the "dopamine hit" of likes and comments and focusing on the only metric that matters: butts in chairs.
I’m sharing insights from my recent 2026 bootcamp and analyzing why so many stylists are spinning their wheels on complicated content while their chairs stay empty. We’ll talk about the Hairstylist Marketing Funnel, why your feed is for new guests (not your current ones), and how the "boring" consistency you’re avoiding is actually the secret to becoming a wealthy stylist.
Let’s stop playing the role of an influencer and start using these strategies to build a lucrative business that funds the life you love.
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/