The Modern Hairstylist ™ Podcast

My Year in Review: Trips, Lessons, And Growth (Part 1)

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia kicks off a personal Year in Review series by reflecting on the trips he took, the lessons those experiences forced him to learn, and how they shaped the way he thinks about work, life, and success. This is not a highlight reel. It is an honest look at what changed behind the scenes and what it actually took to grow into a new chapter.If you have been craving a reset, questioning your direction, or feeling like you are outgrowing the version of business you built, this episode will help you zoom out. Hunter shares the moments that challenged him, the patterns he noticed in himself, and the mindset shifts that helped him come back clearer, calmer, and more intentional.Key Takeaways:🌍 What travel reveals about your lifeHow getting out of your normal environment can expose what is working, what is not, and what you have been tolerating on autopilot.🧠 Lessons that changed how he shows upThe internal shifts that helped Hunter make better decisions, protect his energy, and stop forcing a version of success that did not feel aligned.📈 Growth that is not just about moneyWhy personal growth and business growth are connected, and how your business changes when you start building a bigger life around it.🧭 The value of reflection as a business toolHow looking back with honesty can help you choose your next moves with clarity instead of pressure.Why You Should Listen:If you want to end the year feeling proud and start the next one feeling grounded, this episode will meet you where you are. It is part storytelling, part reflection, and part real life perspective on growth that actually sticks. Tune in for a refreshing reset that will help you think differently about what you want next and how to build it.Let's connect on Instagram!

Real Stylists And How They're Navigating The Holidays

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia sits down with a panel of real independent stylists to talk about how they are actually navigating the holidays this year. From schedule choices to client gifts to family expectations, this roundtable gives you a behind the scenes look at what other beauty pros are doing in their businesses right now, without pretending there is one perfect way to do it.Whether your books feel lighter than usual, you are completely slammed, or you are somewhere in between, you will hear honest perspectives on setting boundaries, keeping things special for clients, and staying sane through the rush. This episode is here to help you feel less alone and more grounded in the choices you make for your own holiday season.Key Takeaways🎁 Client gifts that do not drain youHow stylists are using simple ideas like scratch off cards, low lift gifts, and service based surprises so clients feel appreciated without wrecking profit or energy.⏰ Extra hours or notWhy some stylists add a single high value day, some stretch a bit for regulars, and others keep their schedule exactly the same, and how each option can work depending on your life season.🎄 Holiday vibes in the studioWays to create a cozy experience with decor, photo shoots, and music, plus how some stylists use intake forms so clients can choose whether they want holiday playlists or not.👨‍👩‍👧 Family and free hairReal stories about family members who expect free services, what changed when stylists started saying no, and clear language you can use the next time someone asks you to “just do it quick” at a gathering.🧠 Permission to do what works for youWhy your demand, your personal life, and your nervous system matter more than what “everyone else” is doing, and how to release guilt around not doing gifts, extended hours, or big promos if they are not aligned.Why You Should ListenIf you have ever wondered how other stylists are handling the holidays or felt pressure to do more than you realistically can, this episode will feel like sitting in on a supportive group chat. You will walk away with practical ideas, stronger language for your boundaries, and the reminder that you are allowed to build a holiday season that works for your clients and for you.Connect with these stylists on Instagram:Jess Ortiz: @FlairedBeauty Kristen Code: @kristencodeBrandy Chavez: @brandythehairstylistMay Luu: @mayidoyourhairLet's connect on Instagram!

How To Create a 2026 Plan That Sticks

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia speaks to independent hairstylists who are tired of creating big New Year goals that fizzle out by February. Instead of another pretty planner that never gets used, Hunter walks you through the exact way he planned his most successful year so far and what needs to change if you want a 2026 plan that actually sticks.Whether you are aiming for more consistent income, a lighter schedule, or finally following through on the projects that have been sitting on your list for years, this conversation will help you create a plan that feels realistic, sustainable, and genuinely supportive of your life behind and beyond the chair.Key Takeaways📌 Create the plan you actually needLearn why most stylists either overshoot with impossible goals or choose what feels comfortable, and how to set targets that match your real numbers, capacity, and business season.📌 Set attainable goals you can work backward fromHear how to choose revenue and project goals that you can reverse engineer with simple math, so you know exactly what needs to happen month by month instead of guessing.📌 Focus on what the business truly needsUnderstand the difference between shiny ideas and the unglamorous projects that actually move the needle for bookings, retention, and profit.📌 Build inspiration and accountability into your yearGet Hunter’s process for pairing discipline with built in motivation, check ins, and community support so you are not relying only on willpower when life gets busy.📌 Recalibrate instead of quitting on your planLearn how to check in on your goals throughout the year, adjust when circumstances change, and tweak your targets without slipping into all or nothing thinking.Why You Should ListenIf you have ever bought a planner, written out beautiful goals, then lost momentum a few weeks later, this episode is for you. Hunter will help you create a 2026 plan that feels doable on your actual schedule, supports both your income and your energy, and gives you clear direction for the entire year instead of another burst of motivation that fades away.Let's connect on Instagram!

How To Reconnect With Your Purpose When You Feel Disconnected (for High Achievers)

Listen to "Real Stories of 10k Months, Big Growth & Bigger Confidence — Mastermind Roundtable" HEREIn this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia opens up about what happens after you hit your goals and still feel weirdly disconnected from your work. If your books are full, your revenue is steady, and you are technically “successful” but you feel numb, restless, or unsure what is next, this conversation is for you. Hunter and Jodie Brown talk honestly about using work as your only source of fulfillment, what happens when that rush wears off, and how to reconnect with your purpose without burning everything down.Whether you are tempted to blow up your business, keep overworking just to feel productive, or you simply feel off and cannot explain why, this episode will help you see what is really going on underneath. You will learn how to shift your focus toward a life that feels good outside of the salon, while still protecting and growing the business you worked so hard to build.Key Takeaways:💬 When success stops feeling excitingWhy the early stages of growth feel so addictive, what changes once your income is stable, and why slow steady growth can feel disappointing even when it is exactly what you need. 🏠 Building a life outside of your businessHow Hunter realized he was using work to avoid his personal life, the shifts he made in therapy, and why your hobbies, relationships, and environment matter just as much as your booking rate.⏰ Trading revenue goals for time goalsWhat to focus on once you have moved past “I do not know how I will pay this bill” and into sustained success, including how to think about getting your time back instead of only chasing higher numbers.🧱 Doing the boring work that actually scalesReal examples of unsexy projects like tracking pre booking data over months, why these experiments feel dull in the moment, and how they quietly transform your long term sustainability. 🧠 Noticing self sabotage and disconnectionHow high achieving stylists unconsciously create chaos to feel something again, and what it looks like instead to make aligned decisions that support both your business and your personal life.Why You Should Listen:If your business looks good on paper but you do not feel how you thought you would feel at this stage, you are not alone. This episode gives language to that foggy disconnected season and offers a calmer path forward. You will walk away with a clearer picture of what you actually want next, how your business can support that vision, and small grounded changes that help you reconnect with your purpose again.Let's connect on Instagram!

Advanced Strategies To Grow Clientele and Un-Cap Your Income

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown share advanced marketing moves for stylists who are already booked and want to keep growing. If you feel like you have hit a glass ceiling with pricing and demand, this conversation shows the next level strategies that help you attract higher ticket clients and earn more without adding more days behind the chair. Whether you are ready to build an email list, test video consultations, or put a small budget behind ads, you will learn how to layer new systems onto what already works so your growth is not capped by the algorithm or your calendar. Key Takeaways:📚 Lead magnets that capture the right clientsOffer a simple guide that solves a real problem for your ideal client, collect the email, and use that owned channel to nurture interest until they are ready to book. Include affiliate links when it makes sense for added revenue. 🎥 Video consultations that closeTreat video consults like a true sales call that builds trust and helps clients commit to higher ticket services. Test paid versus free to see what brings the best leads for your market. ✉️ Email nurture that does the follow up for youBuild a short automated sequence that addresses pain points, answers objections, and shows next steps so clients move from curious to confident without extra manual work. 💳 Paid ads when the organic ceiling hitsUse a small geo targeted budget to promote your best-performing content or lead magnet so you reach more of the exact people who are likely to book with you. 🧪 Test then scaleYou already have proof that your core marketing works. Add one advanced lever at a time, measure results, and scale the winners so your time and money go further. Why You Should Listen:If you are booked yet want more freedom and higher earnings, this episode gives you a practical path to grow beyond the chair hours you have now. You will leave knowing which advanced strategy to try first and how to set it up quickly using the momentum you already have. Let's connect on Instagram!