The Modern Hairstylist ™ Podcast

How To Fire A Client Without Backlash

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown talk about the client every stylist knows, the one that makes you dread your schedule before the week even starts. If you have ever felt anxious leading up to an appointment because you already know the client will be unhappy, uncomfortable to be around, or impossible to please, this episode walks you through how to let them go in a way that is firm, professional, and as low drama as possible.Hunter breaks down the real decision filter first, because not every uncomfortable moment means someone needs to be fired. But when a client is impacting your mental health, your confidence, or your ability to provide great service, keeping them is not kind to you or to them. You will learn how to stop people pleasing your way into resentment, how to frame the conversation so it feels like a service to the client, and how to protect your business if you are worried about backlash like angry messages or negative reviews.Key Takeaways:🧠 How to know when it is timeIf you are thinking about the client all week, feeling nervous while you work, or noticing their energy affects your other appointments, that is your sign. When you cannot show up as your best self, you are not serving them well either.🤝 A mindset shift for people pleasersIf guilt is the only thing keeping you from letting them go, Hunter offers a reframe: holding onto a client you cannot confidently serve is a disservice. Someone else can be a better fit, and you do not have to be the martyr.✉️ Why non confrontational communication worksYou are allowed to handle this through a text or email. It helps you say what you mean without shaking through the conversation, and it reduces the chances of the appointment turning into a live conflict.🗣️ Make it about them, not about youThe core script is simple: you do not feel you can serve them at the level they deserve, and you believe someone else will be a better fit. This approach lowers defensiveness and helps the message land without turning them into the villain.📍 How to reduce backlash and leave them supportedOffer referrals, point them to reputable salons, and let them know you are open to sharing notes with their next stylist if needed. The more “set up” they feel, the less likely they are to spiral into revenge mode.⭐ What if they leave a bad review anywayHunter walks through a practical reality check. Even if the worst case happens, your business survives. Most of the time, when you lead with respect and clarity, clients respond better than you expect, and some even thank you.Why You Should Listen:If you are carrying stress because one client keeps draining your energy, this episode gives you the exact perspective and language you need to end the relationship cleanly. You will leave knowing how to decide when it is time, how to communicate it without making it personal, and how to move forward with a lighter schedule, a stronger sense of boundaries, and a business that actually feels good to run.Let's connect on Instagram!

The Most Underrated Salon Policy

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown break down a policy almost no one thinks to write until it is too late: a salon etiquette policy. If you have ever had a client bring negativity, controversial topics, or disrespectful behavior into your chair and you froze because you did not know what to say, this episode gives you a simple way to prevent those situations before they start.Hunter explains why the goal of policies is not punishment. It is prevention. When clients are required to review and sign policies regularly, you reduce the chances of uncomfortable conversations happening in the first place, and you also create a clear foundation if you ever need to enforce a boundary. You will hear what belongs in a salon etiquette policy, how much discretion you can build into it, and how to handle the hard part: addressing behavior in real time without turning the appointment into a confrontation.Key Takeaways:🧾 A salon etiquette policy is a preventative toolPolicies are not just for cancellations and no shows. An etiquette policy helps reduce uncomfortable behavior and gives you backup if you need to enforce boundaries, because the client already agreed to the expectations.✍️ Write it with clear standards and clear discretionHunter talks about the importance of stating that definitions and enforcement are at the stylist or salon’s discretion, so you are not forced into debating whether something “counts” as disrespectful or harmful.🚫 What to include beyond conversation topicsThis episode covers common categories stylists can address upfront, including discrimination and hate speech, politics, children in the salon and behavior expectations, and refusing service for intoxicated or unsafe behavior.🗣️ How to handle it in the moment without escalatingYou will hear a real framework for what to say, starting with a casual redirect, then a direct but kind boundary, and how to give a clear warning when needed.🏢 Why this matters even more in team environmentsIf you run a salon with multiple stylists, etiquette is not only personal. It impacts staff and other clients in the room, which is why this policy should be tied to your core values and communicated before someone joins your team.Why You Should Listen:If you want a calmer chair experience, stronger boundaries, and a salon culture that feels safe for you, your team, and your clients, this episode gives you a practical way to set expectations without sounding harsh. You will leave knowing what to put in a salon etiquette policy, how to roll it out to existing clients, and how to speak up when a conversation or behavior crosses the line.Let's connect on Instagram!

Is Lowering Prices A Good Idea?

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia breaks down a question that comes up fast when bookings feel inconsistent: is lowering prices actually a smart move, or is it a distraction from what really needs attention? Using a real coaching call as the backdrop, Hunter walks through why price is often the first thing we blame, but why a price drop can backfire if you have not fully exhausted your marketing fundamentals and perceived value first.You will hear exactly when a price reduction might be worth considering, what needs to be true for it to work, and how to test changes without creating chaos for your current clients. Hunter also shares why tiny price drops rarely move the needle, how discounting can attract the wrong kind of clientele, and the mindset shift that helps you stop panicking over schedule gaps and start looking at your bottom line.Key Takeaways:💡 Lowering prices is a last resort, not a first moveBefore you touch your numbers, you need to be honest about whether you are actually showing up consistently and using a strategy that matches the clients you want to attract. If you lower prices without changing anything else, you often just make less money with the same level of demand.📣 Perceived value beats price objectionsClients compare price, but they stay for clarity, trust, and the feeling that you are the obvious expert. This comes from strong fundamentals like consistent marketing, clear positioning, and messaging that makes your ideal client feel understood.📉 A small discount rarely creates a big resultDropping a service by a small amount usually does not create the volume you would need to justify it. And if more clients do not come in as a direct result of the new price, you are simply reducing income with no upside.🧪 If you test a price change, test it intentionallyInstead of permanently changing your menu and confusing existing clients, consider a structured test like a new client offer or a limited promotion, then measure results over a real window of time. If nothing changes after a few months, price was not the problem.🧠 Stop letting schedule gaps trigger youIf you are charging more per appointment, you may see more space on the calendar even while earning more overall. The goal is not always a packed schedule. The goal is profitability, stability, and a business that gives you room to breathe.Why You Should Listen:If you have been tempted to lower your prices because inquiries feel slow or your calendar has gaps, this episode will help you make a decision without panic. You will leave with a clear framework to determine whether price is truly the issue, what to fix first, and how to protect your business long term instead of chasing a quick fix.Let's connect on Instagram!

The RIGHT Way To Ask Clients To Take Photos Of Them

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia breaks down the real reason most stylists avoid taking client photos and how to fix it without making things awkward. If you know you should be capturing more before and after content but you keep skipping it because it feels weird, this episode gives you a simple approach that protects the client experience while still getting the shots you need.You will learn how to ask in a way that feels confident and normal, how to remove the common objections before they even come up, and how to build photos into your service flow so it stops feeling like an extra task. This is about making client photos easier for you and more comfortable for them, while turning your work into marketing that actually brings bookings.Key Takeaways:📸 The mindset shift that changes everythingStop treating photos like a favor a client gives you. Learn how to position it as part of your professional process and the experience you provide.🗣 What to say and when to say itGet clear on the timing and the exact way to ask so it feels natural, not random at the end of the appointment.✅ How to remove client hesitationLearn how to address privacy, insecurity, and the fear of being posted, without pressuring anyone or making it a big deal.🧠 Make it normal instead of awkwardSimple ways to make photos a routine part of your appointment so clients expect it and you feel more confident every time.📈 Why this impacts bookings and referralsClient photos create trust fast. The more consistently you capture results, the easier it is for new clients to choose you.Why You Should Listen:If you keep telling yourself you will start taking more photos next week, this episode is the push and the plan. You will leave knowing how to ask confidently, how to make clients feel safe, and how to turn photos into a consistent habit that supports your marketing without slowing you down.Let's connect on Instagram!

My Year in Review: What This Year Taught Me About Capacity (Part 2)

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hunter Donia continues his Year in Review series with Part 2, and this one is all about capacity. Not time on the calendar, but the actual energy it takes to keep saying yes, keep moving, and keep chasing the next experience. Hunter breaks down what happened after a season of constant travel, tour dates, and personal plans stacked back to back, and the moment he realized that being grateful and being burned out can exist at the exact same time.If you have ever wondered why you can technically “fit it in” but still feel like you are running on fumes, this conversation will hit. Hunter shares how he is learning to make decisions from a place of self respect, plan ahead with intention, and build a life where fulfillment is not only reserved for the biggest trips or the biggest moments.Key Takeaways:🧠 Capacity Is Not The Same As Time: Why having an open day does not automatically mean you should say yes, and how to tell when your energy is tapped out.🧳 The Hidden Cost Of “Chasing It All”: What it looks like when your schedule gets so packed that even the best things start to feel heavy.🌿 Recovering From Burnout Without Running Away: How Hunter found relief by creating smaller adventures closer to home, instead of relying on big trips to feel alive again.🗓 Planning Ahead As Self Protection: The shift from last minute chaos to intentionally budgeting time, money, and space so life feels sustainable.✨ Choosing Joy In The Small Stuff: Why fulfillment is often hiding in your everyday life, and how to stop overlooking it while you wait for the next big thing.Why You Should Listen:If you are a high performer who keeps pushing, keeps stacking goals, and keeps thinking you will rest later, this episode is your permission slip to zoom out and tell the truth about what your pace is costing you. You will walk away with a new way to think about capacity, a more grounded approach to planning, and a simple challenge to reflect on what this year actually held, before you sprint into the next one.Let's connect on Instagram!