In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown unpack a hot topic in the beauty industry: Are your salon policies actually hurting your client experience? If you’ve ever struggled with enforcing cancellation fees, setting boundaries around no-shows, or wondering whether your policies are driving clients away—this conversation is for you.

Hunter dives into the delicate balance between protecting your time as a business owner and providing a client experience that builds trust and long-term loyalty. You’ll hear real talk about how boundaries and policies can either elevate or damage your reputation—and what modern, sustainable solutions actually work for independent hairstylists in 2025.

Key Takeaways:

🧠 Healthy Boundaries vs. Bad Business: Why strict cancellation policies might be costing you more in long-term growth than they’re saving you in lost income.

📉 How to Reduce No-Shows Without the Backlash: Smart, system-based strategies to reduce last-minute cancellations without alienating your dream clients.

💳 When to Enforce Your Policies (and When Not To): How to assess whether charging a fee is worth the risk to your client relationship—and the surprising truth about ghosting.

✨ Creating a Can’t-Miss Client Experience: How making your appointments feel more like a “win” than a chore can protect your time better than any policy ever could.

🧭 The Real Risk? Damaging Client Trust: Hunter explains the hidden cost of going public with policy frustrations—and how to keep your operations department from bleeding into your marketing strategy.

Why You Should Listen:

As an independent hairstylist, setting boundaries is essential—but are your policies building connection or pushing clients away? If you’re navigating burnout, inconsistent bookings, or rising no-show rates, it’s time to rethink how your systems and client experience actually work together. Tune in to learn how to protect your peace without compromising your professionalism or profitability.

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