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Hiring a stylist is hard. Retaining one is harder. Training them from scratch? That’s where most salon owners throw in the towel. 

Todd and Jen believe that’s exactly where the opportunity lies.

In this episode, they break down their education funnel—the system they’ve built to train new hires (especially those straight out of cosmetology school) into fully booked, confident, high-performing stylists. 

From blow-dry assessments to client-ready test-outs, you’ll hear exactly how they do it, how long it takes, and how it leads to stronger retention, higher performance, and long-term growth.

Whether you’re thinking about training your first stylist or looking to improve the education model inside your salon, this episode will help you build a path that scales with your business and supports your team.

Key Topics Covered:

[00:00] Stop Waiting for the “Unicorn” Hire
[00:02] Jen’s Story: Learning the Hard Way at Her First Salon
[00:04] Daydreaming Won’t Save Your Business—Systems Will
[00:05] Todd’s Opening Rant: $80 Haircuts, Facebook Negativity, and a Dying Industry Mindset
[00:12] Stop Asking Facebook What a Lawyer or Accountant Should Answer
[00:14] Building an Education Funnel
[00:16] Going Wider Reduces Risk and Builds Retention
[00:17] Why We Focus on Hiring Stylists Out of School
[00:19] How a True Apprenticeship Works (And What States Offer It)
[00:20] Are You a “Push Forward” or “Hold Back” Type Leader?
[00:22] Our Step-by-Step Training System (From Model to Client-Ready)
[00:27] The Blow-Dry Test: A Crucial First Win
[00:30] Why Clients Are Paying During Training—and Why That’s a Win
[00:32] Adding Services One by One = Confidence + Clarity
[00:34] Transparency Builds Trust: Don’t Hide the Training
[00:36] Matching Clients and Stylists Without Compromising Standards
[00:39] Transitioning From Friends/Family to Real Clients
[00:41] Ongoing Training, Redos, and Leadership Conversations
[00:44] Education Never Ends—Even for Experienced Stylists
[00:46] Paying Stylists and Educators During Training
[00:47] What If You Don’t Have Time to Train?
[00:49] Be Willing to Let People Go—If They’re Not Growing, You’re Shrinking
[00:51] The Term “Apprenticeship”
[00:52] Get on the Email List

Key Takeaways:

• Unicorn hires don’t build sustainable businesses. Systems do.
• Stop outsourcing business decisions to Facebook. Talk to professionals.
• Create wins early and often. 
• Your education system should evolve. What worked 5 years ago won’t work now.
• Train transparently. Clients will respect your honesty if you lead with integrity.
• Hire slow, fire fast. Don’t hold onto the wrong person just because training takes time.
• Education never ends. Even senior stylists should be reassessed regularly.

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