The Hairdresser Strong Show

In this episode, Jozlyn Miller, Manager of Education and Industry Expert at Boulevard, breaks down why retention may be one of the most profitable growth strategies beauty professionals are underusing.She shares how improving the client experience, rebooking conversations, service add-ons, memberships, and client education can help salons and spas increase revenue from existing clients.🚨🎤 Jozlyn will be taking the stage at the 4th annual Beauty Business Brunch on July 19th in Washington, DC, where we’ll go deeper on untapped revenue, elevating the client experience, empowering your team, and the proven retention strategies that help beauty pros stop chasing new clients, drive fierce loyalty, and unlock the profit already sitting in their existing books.👀Learn more and join us: https://www.hairdresserstrong.com/beauty-business-brunchKey Takeaways:🔅Your next revenue opportunity may already be in your client list - Jozlyn explains that current clients, past clients, and loyal repeat clients all create opportunities to increase revenue without only chasing new business.🔅Retention starts with the full client journey - Booking, consultation, service, checkout, rebooking, follow-up, and return visits all shape whether a client comes back.🔅Rebooking needs more intention - Instead of simply asking, “Do you want to rebook?” guide the client toward the timing, reason, and value of their next appointment.🔅Client experience creates word-of-mouth growth - When clients feel valued, cared for, and treated like VIPs, they are more likely to talk about the business and refer people.🔅Your team needs to understand the vision - If owners want a better client experience, the team needs education, language, and tools to deliver it consistently.🔅Add-ons, memberships, and packages can grow revenue - The opportunity is not just offering them, but training the team to communicate their value without sounding salesy.🔅Retention is a revenue strategy - Better communication, education, consistency, trust, loyalty, and referrals all connect back to stronger revenue.🚨🎤 Jozlyn will be taking the stage at the 4th annual Beauty Business Brunch on July 19th in Washington, DC, where we’ll go deeper on untapped revenue, elevating the client experience, empowering your team, and the proven retention strategies that help beauty pros stop chasing new clients, drive fierce loyalty, and unlock the profit already sitting in their existing books.👀Learn more and join us: https://www.hairdresserstrong.com/beauty-business-brunchRELATED LINKS👉Follow Jozlyn on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jozlyn.deshawn/👉Follow Boulevard on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joinblvd/Boulevard is an all-in-one business management and client experience platform purpose-built to streamline daily operations for salons, spas, and independent beauty professionals. It empowers hairdressers by handling online booking, smart calendar scheduling, automated client reminders, marketing, and point-of-sale checkout in one seamless system, allowing you to maximize your revenue and focus on your craft.The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.CONNECT WITH US📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter📸 Connect on Instagram🎵 Connect on TikTok📺 Watch on YouTube📝 Check out our BlogThe views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com

In this episode, Jannay McIver, Owner of Asili Hair Care Center, breaks down what salon owners need to have in place before scaling to multiple locations. From documenting every part of the client experience to knowing your numbers, trusting your team, and building systems that work without everything living in your head, this conversation is a practical look at what it really takes to grow a salon business.🚨🎤Jannay will be joining the Owner’s Panel at our upcoming Conference, Beauty Business Brunch 2026 in DC, where we’ll go deeper on leadership, management, growth, and what it really takes to build a strong beauty business from the inside.👀Learn more and join us: https://www.hairdresserstrong.com/beauty-business-brunchKey Takeaways:🔅Your first location needs to work without you - Before opening another location, your current salon should be profitable without you being the main revenue source.🔅Trust has to be built into the business model - Scaling requires trusting other people with your brand, your standards, and your client experience.🔅Write down the small details - Budgets and handbooks matter, but so do the words used during consultation, checkout, the shampoo bowl, and rebooking.🔅Put systems where people use them - Don’t just leave processes in a Google Drive. Put scripts, checklists, and reminders where the work actually happens.🔅Know your numbers before you grow - Accurate bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, product costs, marketing spend, and staff costs all need to be clear before expansion.🔅Your POS system is part of your growth strategy - Client information, booking, forms, reminders, email marketing, and access permissions should be organized before adding locations.🔅Not every problem is a fire - A bad review, mistake, or hiccup may be a signal that something needs to be clarified, not a reason to take everything back over yourself.🔅Leadership changes when the business grows - At a certain point, everybody cannot be your friend. Standards need to be consistent across locations.🔅Everyone does not want what you want - One of Jannay’s lessons in scaling was realizing not everyone wants to operate like a business owner or professionalize the same way.🔅Rooms like BBB matter because business can feel isolating - Jannay talked about the value of spaces where beauty professionals can talk about money, systems, leadership, marketing, growth, and what actually works.RELATED LINKS👉Follow Jannay on Instagram👉Follow Asili Hair Care Center on Instagram🚨🎤Jannay will be joining the Owner’s Panel at our upcoming Conference, Beauty Business Brunch 2026 in DC, where we’ll go deeper on leadership, management, growth, and what it really takes to build a strong beauty business from the inside.👀Learn more and join us: https://www.hairdresserstrong.com/beauty-business-brunchThe Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.CONNECT WITH US📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter📸 Connect on Instagram🎵 Connect on TikTok📺 Watch on YouTube📝 Check out our BlogThe views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com

In this episode, Ash Fortis, owner of XO Hair Lab and Director of Education at Sharkfin Shears, breaks down what it actually takes to build and retain a strong salon team.From recruitment and assistant training to leadership, communication, boundaries, and retention, Ash shares how structure, support, and clear expectations create a salon culture where people can grow and stay.🚨🎤Ash will be joining the Owner’s Panel at our upcoming Conference, Beauty Business Brunch 2026 in DC, where we’ll go deeper on leadership, management, growth, and what it really takes to build a strong beauty business from the inside.👀Learn more and join us: https://www.hairdresserstrong.com/beauty-business-brunchKey Takeaways:🔅Recruitment cannot be reactive - If you wait until you desperately need someone, you are already behind. Strong owners build applicant flow and relationships before there is an emergency.🔅Hire for self-motivation and reliability - Ash names self-motivation and reliability as two of the top traits she looks for when building a team, no matter the role.🔅Create the environment for people to thrive - New talent needs clear expectations, support, education, and structure if they are going to succeed inside the business.🔅Give people systems before judging their performance - Handbooks, service lists, double-booking systems, downtime expectations, and clear salon policies help people understand how to meet the standard.🔅Assistants should feel utilized, not used - A strong assistant program includes mentorship, education, hands-on learning, and a visible growth pathway.🔅Growth timelines should be individualized - Some assistants may be ready in six months, others may need a year or two, depending on skill, timing, professionalism, and readiness.🔅Leadership is service, not control - Ash frames leadership as servitude, empathy, support, and helping people succeed while still upholding what the business needs.🔅Retention depends on communication - Regular check-ins, honest conversations, goal-setting, and listening help owners understand where team members are and what support they need.🔅Boundaries protect the culture - Heart-led leadership still requires clear lines, especially when personal relationships, loyalty, and team dynamics start to blur.🔅You have to make the right calls for the culture - Even talented people can damage the environment if they ignore standards or undermine the team. Culture requires protection.RELATED LINKS📸Follow Ash on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/xostylistxo/📸Follow XO Hair Lab on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/xohairlab/🌱Check out Ash's book "Hair to Dye for" - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Hair-to-Dye-For/Ash-Fortis/9781681885049🚨🎤Ash will be joining the Owner’s Panel at our upcoming Conference, Beauty Business Brunch 2026 in DC, where we’ll go deeper on leadership, management, growth, and what it really takes to build a strong beauty business from the inside.👀Learn more and join us: https://www.hairdresserstrong.com/beauty-business-brunch🔑BBB is a full-day conference for stylists, barbers, owners, educators, and students who want more than just being busy. We're talking sustainability, money, professionalism, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.CONNECT WITH US📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter📸 Connect on Instagram🎵 Connect on TikTok📺 Watch on YouTube📝 Check out our BlogThe views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com

In this episode, Ash Fortis, owner of XO Hair Lab and Director of Education at Sharkfin Shears, shares how health challenges, financial pressure, sweat equity, and major business setbacks shaped the leader she became.From navigating a team walkout during COVID to rebuilding stronger, Ash breaks down the hard side of heart-led leadership: protecting the culture, making difficult decisions, and creating a salon team that can actually last.🚨🎤Ash will be joining the Owner’s Panel at our upcoming Conference, Beauty Business Brunch 2026 in DC, where we’ll go deeper on leadership, management, growth, and what it really takes to build a strong beauty business from the inside.👀Learn more and join us: https://www.hairdresserstrong.com/beauty-business-brunchKey Takeaways:🔅Build proof before you ask for opportunity - Ash used a portfolio, before-and-afters, and professionalism early in her career to show salons what she could do before she had years of experience.🔅Sweat equity is part of building something real - Ash’s experience with education, brand building, and ownership shows that many opportunities require time, investment, and unpaid effort before the payoff comes.🔅Leadership requires hard decisions - Heart-led owners still have to protect the business, the brand, and the team, even when the decision is emotionally difficult.🔅Culture cannot survive constant exceptions - If one person is repeatedly violating the standards, it affects the rest of the team and weakens the trust in leadership.🔅Being respected matters more than being liked - Ash talks about having to shift away from needing validation and into stronger leadership, especially when making decisions that protect the salon.🔅Know your numbers before generosity breaks the business - Supporting your team matters, but Ash also had to adjust commissions, pricing, and financial systems so the salon could remain sustainable.🔅Recruitment should never stop - Strong owners are always building relationships, hosting education, creating visibility, and staying connected to people who may align with the brand later.RELATED LINKS📸Follow Ash on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/xostylistxo/📸Follow XO Hair Lab on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/xohairlab/🌱Check out Ash's book "Hair to Dye for" - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Hair-to-Dye-For/Ash-Fortis/9781681885049🚨🎤Ash will be joining the Owner’s Panel at our upcoming Conference, Beauty Business Brunch 2026 in DC, where we’ll go deeper on leadership, management, growth, and what it really takes to build a strong beauty business from the inside.👀Learn more and join us: https://www.hairdresserstrong.com/beauty-business-brunch🔑BBB is a full-day conference for stylists, barbers, owners, educators, and students who want more than just being busy. We're talking sustainability, money, professionalism, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.CONNECT WITH US📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter📸 Connect on Instagram🎵 Connect on TikTok📺 Watch on YouTube📝 Check out our BlogThe views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com

In this episode, Yene Damtew shares her journey from early curiosity about hair to becoming the founder of Aesthetics Salon, and why education, fundamentals, and business awareness matter at every stage of a beauty career.This conversation is about longevity, ownership mindset, and building something sustainable beyond trends or titles.Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!📺Watch this episode on YouTube📺Key Takeaways:🔅Curiosity is the starting point of a lasting career – Yene’s early fascination with hair turned into a lifelong commitment to learning, proving that curiosity is the fuel for long-term growth.🔅Trade careers require courage, not fallback thinking – Choosing cosmetology meant pushing against cultural expectations, but trades demand discipline, resilience, and entrepreneurial thinking.🔅Fundamentals protect you when trends change – Mastering core techniques allows stylists to adapt as trends cycle instead of starting over every few years.🔅Even employees must think like owners – Your book of business, relationships, money, and reputation are still your responsibility no matter how you are paid.🔅Education is not optional at higher levels – Continued learning in both craft and business is what allows careers and salons to scale.🔅Relationships are the real asset – Strong client connections protect income, create loyalty, and sustain careers during industry disruptions.🔅Long-term planning creates freedom – Thinking about savings, injury, family leave, and retirement early allows stylists to build careers that survive life changes.🔅Community and mentorship prevent burnout – No one builds alone, and seeking guidance is a strength, not a weakness.📺Watch this episode on YouTube📺RELATED LINKS📸Follow Yene on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yenedamtew/📸Follow Aesthetics Salon on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aesthetics.salon/👉Check out Yene’s Linktr.ee for classes, tools, and more - https://linktr.ee/yenedamtewThe Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.CONNECT WITH US📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter📸 Connect on Instagram🎵 Connect on TikTok📺 Watch on YouTube📝 Check out our BlogThe views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com

💬 This isn’t just another podcast...we’re releasing our 11/13/25 Community Conversation from Instagram Live with Adria Marshall, Founder + CEO of Ecoslay.In this Community Conversation, Adria Marshall, breaks down what clean beauty really means beyond marketing labels. She shares how to read ingredient lists, why scanning apps can mislead consumers, and how stylists can build trust by educating clients with clarity instead of fear.Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!Key Takeaways:🔅Clean beauty has no universal definition – What’s considered “clean” varies by person, brand, and values, making education more important than labels.🔅Ingredient order tells the real story – Ingredients are listed by volume, so the first five ingredients make up most of the product and deserve the most attention.🔅Scanning apps can mislead more than they help – Ingredient apps often oversimplify complex science and can give conflicting results for the same product.🔅Natural doesn’t automatically mean safer – Some synthetic ingredients are more stable and less irritating than natural alternatives, especially for sensitive clients.🔅Moisture is the foundation of curly hair care – Healthy curls rely on proper hydration first, supported by protein balance and regular clarifying.🔅Sustainability goes beyond ingredients – Packaging, sourcing, and manufacturing practices play a major role in a brand’s environmental impact.🔅Education builds stronger client trust – Stylists who confidently explain ingredients help clients feel informed instead of fearful.🔅The best conversations start with listening – Asking clients what matters to them creates better recommendations and stronger relationships.RELATED LINKS👉Follow Adria on Instagram👉Follow + learn about Ecoslay's products on InstagramThe Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.CONNECT WITH US📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter📸 Connect on Instagram🎵 Connect on TikTok📺 Watch on YouTube📝 Check out our BlogThe views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com

In this episode, salon owner and color specialist Kimberly Christoph shares her 22-year journey from behind the chair to opening her own salon (Mane Street Georgetown) in DC. She speaks honestly about financial risk, long-term planning, continuous education, and how building with purpose shaped the kind of salon, culture, and experience she wanted to create.Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!Key Takeaways:🔅Ownership doesn’t have to be rushed – Kimberly waited until she felt grounded in her craft, finances, and life before opening, proving that timing matters more than speed.🔅Experience is preparation, not delay – The years she spent behind the chair gave her clarity, confidence, and perspective that made ownership feel intentional instead of overwhelming.🔅Education supports long-term confidence – Continuous learning helped Kimberly stay relevant and prepared to lead, not just perform services.🔅Clear goals guide big decisions – Setting intentional goals helped her recognize when it was the right moment to move forward with ownership.🔅Financial readiness creates peace – Honest financial planning allowed Kimberly to take calculated risks instead of reactive ones.🔅Sacrifice is part of building on purpose – Liquidating personal assets was not easy, but it aligned with her long-term vision and commitment.🔅Environment reflects values – Kimberly focused on creating a welcoming, calm space that matched how she wanted clients and staff to feel, not just how it looked.🔅Team culture grows from care – Investing in staff benefits and support reinforced loyalty and created a workplace people wanted to be part of.RELATED LINKS👉Follow Mane Street Georgetown on Instagram👉See what opportunities are available at Mane Street Georgetown HEREThe Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.CONNECT WITH US📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter📸 Connect on Instagram🎵 Connect on TikTok📺 Watch on YouTube📝 Check out our BlogThe views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com

In this episode, Avery Wilder shares what it's really like to move from cosmetology school into the salon world, from confusing interviews to finding the right culture and education. This is an honest look at the lessons every new stylist learns in their first years behind the chair.Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!Key Takeaways:🔅 Pay attention to what clicks – Avery didn't start school knowing her path, but a layered haircut demo helped her realize cutting was where she thrived. Those moments matter.🔅 Ask questions before you accept a role – Titles like “assistant” can mean very different things. Avery learned the importance of asking what daily responsibilities, education, and growth actually look like.🔅 Understand how you’re paid – When commission numbers didn’t add up, it exposed deeper issues. New stylists should track their numbers early and ask questions when something feels off.🔅 Don't rush independence – Avery chose a salon environment over a suite because she didn't yet have the skill set, client base, or support system.🔅 Advocate for your growth – Speaking up, asking for education, and choosing environments aligned with learning shaped her career path.🔅 Education retains talent – A lack of structured learning was a major reason Avery left previous salons. Growth opportunities directly impact whether new talent stays.🔅Customer service and first impressions matter – Being remembered by the front desk, welcomed & acknowledged, made Avery feel confident in her choice of salon. Customer experience starts long before the chair.RELATED LINKS👉Connect with Avery on Instagram👉Check out Sadona Salon + Spa, where Avery currently works The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won't stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.CONNECT WITH US📬 Subscribe to our free newsletter📸 Connect on Instagram🎵 Connect on TikTok📺 Watch on YouTube📝 Check out our BlogThe views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.