the Hello Hair Pro podcast

• What Salon Owners Should Be Working On (When They’re Not Behind the Chair) [EP:222]

  Send us a textWe hear it all the time: “Stop working in your business and start working on it.” The problem? Almost no one explains what that actually means.In this episode, we break down what salon owners should really be working on when they’re not behind the chair and why so many owners step back only to feel stuck, unproductive, or pulled right back into old habits.We talk about why cleaning, hovering, answering phones, and “being available” aren’t owner work; how avoiding leadership decisions keeps businesses from growing; and why simply changing your location in the salon doesn’t change your role.We explain the four buckets that owners are soley responsible for — money, people, growth, and systems — and how to structure your time so that the work you’re doing compounds, removes friction, and creates long-term stability.Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others, and that starts with stepping into the work only you can do as an owner.Key TakeawaysStepping away from the chair without redefining your role can lead to stagnation.Cleaning, answering phones, and hovering are not owner work.Owners avoid leadership decisions by defaulting to “busy” tasks.Pricing must be rooted in math, not emotion or staff opinion.Owners are responsible for money, people, growth, and systems — no one else.Support without direction creates dependency, not growth.Marketing only when slow guarantees continued slow seasons.Systems create freedom, consistency, and trust.Owner work should compound, remove friction, and create clarity.Fifteen focused minutes a day beats zero intentional effort.Timestamps00:00 — Why “working on the business” is rarely explained 02:00 — Opening takes: decision fatigue, snowstorms, and perspective 05:00 — Why pricing must be math-based, not emotional 07:00 — The mistake owners make after stepping away from the chair 09:00 — Changing your role vs changing your location 11:00 — Low-level work vs owner-level work 14:00 — Owner Bucket #1: Money (P&L, break-even, pricing, allocation) 18:00 — Why owners must own pricing decisions 20:00 — Owner Bucket #2: People (hiring, onboarding, training) 23:00 — Apprenticeships, assistants, and development pipelines 26:00 — Support without direction creates dependency 28:00 — Owner Bucket #3: Growth (marketing, branding, partnerships) 31:00 — Why marketing only when slow keeps you slow 33:00 — Owner Bucket #4: Systems and direction 36:00 — SOPs, standards, and consistency 38:00 — Hovering, over-availability, and lack of trust 40:00 — Owner self-development and mentorship 42:00 — How to audit your work: compounding, clarity, friction 44:00 — Weekly action steps + closing thoughtsLiving the Dream with CurveballOn the living the dream with curveball podcast I interview guests that inspire.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

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• Lead When Others Pause [EP:221]

  Send us a textSlow seasons have a way of making people freeze. Owners hesitate. Teams lose momentum. Decisions get postponed while everyone waits to “see what happens.” But the truth is simple: nothing changes when you pause; everything changes when you lead.In this episode, we talk about how to stay in motion when business feels slow. We break down why slow periods are often misdiagnosed, how mindset and leadership energy impact your team more than you realize, and why this time of year can actually be one of the most valuable windows for growth if you use it intentionally.We also talk about knowing your numbers, using downtime to train and systemize, creating momentum instead of waiting for it, and why busy weeks are not a reason to take your foot off the gas. This conversation is about shifting from reaction to leadership, even (and especially) when things feel uncertain.Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others. Leadership doesn’t show up when things are easy — it shows up when it would be easier to wait.Key TakeawaysSlow seasons don’t hurt businesses — inaction does.Leadership energy matters more than words during downtime.Shiny new ideas won’t solve foundational business problems.Knowing your numbers reduces stress and clarifies decisions.Downtime is the best time for training, systems, and planning.Busy weeks still require marketing, content, and follow-through.Repeating “this month is always slow” guarantees it stays that way.Momentum comes from small, intentional actions — not waiting.Mentorship and outside perspective help you regain focus.Progress doesn’t require perfect conditions, just movement.Time Stamps00:00 — Welcome + why this episode is intentionally relaxed 01:00 — Jen’s opening take: self-care, sustainability, and planning ahead 04:00 — Todd’s opening take: shiny objects don’t fix real problems 07:00 — Why pausing during slow seasons makes things worse 10:00 — Leadership during downtime: keeping teams in motion 13:00 — Training, laundry, content, and creating positive momentum 16:00 — Why blaming the economy doesn’t help your business 18:00 — Knowing your numbers changes everything 21:00 — Reading your P&L and removing financial anxiety 23:00 — Busy weeks vs slow weeks — both require leadership 26:00 — Marketing, content, and staying visible year-round 29:00 — Fixing “October is always slow” thinking 32:00 — Automation, systems, and building stability 34:00 — When you feel stuck: get outside your echo chamber 36:00 — Mentorship, focus, and staying in forward motion 39:00 — Final thoughts + holiday resetLiving the Dream with CurveballOn the living the dream with curveball podcast I interview guests that inspire.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

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• 2026 Salon Predictions Pt3: Culture, Leadership & Mentorship [EP:220]

  Send us a textIn Part 3 of our 2026 Salon Industry Predictions series, we’re breaking down the areas that will matter most for long-term success: culture, branding, leadership, and mentorship. The truth is simple: you can have education, technology, beautiful décor, and the best skill in town, but without strong culture and leadership, none of it creates a sustainable business.In this episode, we talk about why culture must become a system, not a vibe; why clients are drawn to salons where they feel seen and valued; why décor means nothing without energy; and why your branding is no longer aesthetic, it’s emotional identity shaped by your clients’ experiences.We also dive deep into modern leadership: growing people, building opportunities, hiring for alignment (not desperation), and understanding that everything in your business is your responsibility. We cover how mentorship will reshape the industry, how “copy-and-paste leadership” will collapse, and why legacy will matter more than ego in 2026.If you want your salon to move from the B-tier to the A-tier, you must change how you lead, hire, and support the people in your business. This episode gives you the blueprint.Key TakeawaysCulture must move from “vibe” to a measurable system.Weak cultures will collapse under their own weight.Clients choose salons where they feel safe, seen, and valued.Branding becomes emotional identity, not visuals.Atmosphere is created by energy, not interior design.Hiring must shift from desperation to alignment.Leadership is about growing people, not being the best technician.Mentorship becomes the engine of career & business development.Copy-and-paste leadership collapses — identity matters.Legacy > ego; real leadership is measured by the lives you change.Everything in your business is your responsibility.Time Stamps00:00 — Welcome + Part 3 focus (culture, branding, leadership, mentorship) 01:00 — Why culture + leadership outweigh education, skill, or décor 02:00 — Opening Takes: New hires, feedback, modern KPIs 06:00 — Culture as a system, not personality 08:00 — Weak cultures collapsing; client distrust; salons closing 10:00 — Clients want to feel seen, valued, and understood 12:00 — Branding shifts from aesthetics → emotional identity 15:00 — Energy > décor; how real atmosphere is created 17:00 — Hiring for value alignment, not desperation 19:00 — Client avatars, ideal clients, and retention 20:00 — Leadership: imitation collapses; identity matters 23:00 — Growing people as the core leadership function 26:00 — Owners must shift from technician → architect 29:00 — Mentorship becomes essential for progress 33:00 — Industry coaching problems + needed evolution 35:00 — Lone wolf leadership collapses; collaboration wins 38:00 Living the Dream with CurveballOn the living the dream with curveball podcast I interview guests that inspire.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

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• 2026 Salon Predictions Pt2: Employment Models, Operations & Profitability [EP:219]

  Send us a textThe salon industry is shifting faster than most owners realize. In Part 1 of our 2026 Predictions series, we talked about education, AI, and client expectations. In Part 2, we’re diving into the structural issues shaping the next chapter of our industry: employment models, salon operations, and profitability.This episode explores why certain business models will struggle, why others will grow, and what forward-thinking salon owners must build now to remain relevant and profitable.We break down the rental bubble, the future of commission salons, the implosion of hybrid models, the comeback of apprenticeships, the KPIs that finally matter, and why pricing must shift from emotion to math.If you’re a salon owner, renter, future owner, or someone watching the industry and wondering where you fit in — this episode will help you see the landscape clearly and prepare your business for what’s coming.Your business should serve you so that you can serve others — but that requires purpose, structure, and leadership. Let’s build the future intentionally.Key TakeawaysGreat stylists are built through consultation, listening, and consistency — not just skill.Big salon problems are almost always a stack of small problems that went unaddressed.The rental bubble is correcting — not because rentals are bad, but because renters aren’t equipped.Commission salons without innovation, systems, or leadership will continue to fail.Hybrid models will implode as states tighten enforcement and salon culture fractures.Apprenticeships will surge — they produce stronger stylists, culture buy-in, and retention.Licensure does not guarantee professionalism; businesses create standards, not boards.Culture and stability become major differentiators for stylists seeking long-term homes.Pricing must shift from emotion → math + cost-to-deliver + profit margins.Leadership — communication, feedback, coaching — becomes the salon owner’s most valuable skill.Purpose drives performance: clarity → trust → buy-in → growth.Time Stamps00:00 — Welcome + Part 2 focus (models, operations, profit) 01:00 — Preview of Part 3 02:00 — Opening Takes (good stylists, stacked problems) 05:30 — Why “everyone wants to rent” is a symptom 07:00 — Rental bubble reality + why many renters struggle 10:00 — Commission salons: why they fail + what must change 13:00 — Hybrid model collapse (culture, operations, compliance) 16:00 — Apprenticeships return + why they outperform school 19:00 — Licensure misconceptions + professionalism gaps 21:00 — Culture + stability become key differentiators 23:00 — Why people really leave salons (not money) 24:00 — Profitability + flexibility can coexist 26:00 — Foundations: mission, vision, values 29:00 — Systems replace guesswork 30:00 — KPIs matLiving the Dream with CurveballOn the living the dream with curveball podcast I interview guests that inspire.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

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• 2026 Salon Industry Predictions Pt1: Education & Technology [EP:218]

  Send us a textThe salon industry is changing fast. From how stylists learn, to how salons use technology, to what clients expect from their experience, there’s a major shift underway. In the first part of our 2026 Salon Predictions series, Todd and Jen break down the changes already happening in education, AI and salon tech, and client behavior, and why salons that move now will have a serious advantage.This episode isn’t about fear or hype; it’s about understanding the direction the industry is actually going, so you can plan ahead instead of reacting later.Whether you’re a commission salon owner, a suite renter, or someone planning to open a salon in the next couple of years, this episode will help you see what’s coming and how to position yourself to win the long game.Key TakeawaysA lot of “education” is entertainment. Growth happens in small, focused, actionable sessions.Micro-education and mentorship will outperform large-stage education events.Salons that practice inside the salon outperform salons that “wait to find the time.”Technology is no longer optional; online booking, automation, and AI are becoming client expectations.GPTs and AR consultations will change how salons communicate, book, and guide clients.Hospitality is the new luxury: clients want to feel cared for, not impressed.Younger clients choose salons for vibe, fun, shareability, and convenience.Clients leave because of complacency, not pricing.Episode Timestamps00:00 | Welcome + Why we re-recorded this series01:00 | Structure of the 3-part predictions series02:00 | Opening Take (Jen): Unlearning beliefs about pricing and worth03:30 | Opening Take (Todd): Humans already work like LLMs + misunderstandings about AI06:00 | Prediction #1: Education splits into entertainment vs education08:00 | Challenge: Use large events as team culture, not skill development09:00 | Prediction #2: Rise of Micro-Education + skill-specific training11:30 | Challenge: Find educators who teach exactly what you need12:30 | Prediction #3: Stylists begin seeing education as an investment, not an expense14:30 | Challenge: Ask for pricing, stop assuming you can’t afford it15:30 | Prediction #4: Salons that integrate education into workflow will win17:00 | Challenge: Schedule internal education now, don’t “hope it happens”18:00 | Technology Prediction #1: The “Digitally Resistant” salons get left behind19:00 | Why convenience + frictionless booking matters more than ever21:00 | AI becomes your operational silent partner23:00 | Real example: Losing a client → AI brought her back two years later24:00 | GPT Agents on salon websites: what’s coming next27:00 | AR Consultations: visualizing outcomes before services begin29:30 | Prediction: Data becomes the new scissors32:00 | Prediction: “Good Enough” collapses skill is not differentiation34:00 | Client Trends: Hospitality > Luxury36:00 | Businesses > Individuals. Clients want reliable teams38:00 | Frictionless service = non-negotiable40:00 | Brand Identity is emotional, not aesthetic43:00 | Influencer culture declines, authenticity wins45:00 | What younger clients really want: fun, vibe, shareability48:00 | Why clients leave,Links and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

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