Send us a text

The 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 Takeaways

• Great 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 Stamps

00:00 — 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 mature: beyond rebooking/retail
33:00 — Pricing becomes math, not emotion
37:00 — Specialists outperform generalists
40:00 — Leadership becomes the owner’s highest-value skill
45:00 — Purpose drives performance + closing

Links and Stuff:
Our Newsletter
Mentoring Inquiries

Find more of our things:
Instagram
Hello Hair Pro Website