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If your books feel unpredictable busy one month, slow the next it's not because you're doing anything wrong. It's because most stylists were never taught the actual foundations of running a business. 

In this video, I'm breaking down the 5-stage marketing system that separates struggling stylists from consistently booked ones: 

✔️ Awareness — How clients actually find you 

✔️ Consideration — What makes them trust you before they book 

✔️ Conversion — Making it easy to say yes 

✔️ Nurture — Turning one-time guests into long-term clients 

✔️ Advocacy — Getting clients who refer on repeat 

You don't need to be everywhere. You don't need to do all the things. But you DO need a complete funnel. When all 5 stages work together, you stop chasing clients and start attracting them. 

This is the foundation that changed everything for me—and for hundreds of stylists and beauty pros inside Stylist Soul Tribe. 

Ready to implement this in your business? DM me 'SST' on Instagram and let's build your system together.

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Have you ever felt like your business has physically outgrown its location, but your brain hasn't quite caught up to the leap you need to take?

In this episode of Stylist Soul Tribe Conversations, I sit down with Megan Vaughn, a 20-year stylist and 11-year salon owner from the Central Coast of California. Megan’s journey to ownership was completely accidental (think messy partnerships, partners who walked out, and a whole lot of winging it), but her growth over the last 18 months has been anything but.

We dive deep into the moment she realized her 670-square-foot salon was holding her back, the terrifying decision to look for a new space, and the wild way the perfect turnkey location literally fell into her lap after she spoke her vision out loud. Megan gets real about imposter syndrome, the evolution of her vision boards, and how she navigated the fear of "what if it doesn't work out?" only to have the universe prove her wrong.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, scared to level up, or like you’re the only one winging it, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• What it means to be an "accidental" salon owner and how to survive when partnerships fail.
• The signs that your physical space is limiting your growth (even if the business is "working").
• Why speaking your desires out loud specifically "I want a bigger space but I don't have a build-out in me" can open doors you didn't know existed.
• How to navigate the terror of a rent increase and the risk of a team walkout.
• The reality of imposter syndrome: why you can still feel like a "small fish" even after a major upgrade.
• Megan’s vision board evolution: from "safe" to specific, and how she marks things off (including this podcast!).
• The power of community in giving you the confidence to make moves you’ve been marinating on for years.

Connect with Megan Vaughn:

Instagram: @gypsyandoaksalon

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What if the thing you were always good at wasn't meant to stay a hobby, but the foundation of an entirely new business?

In this episode, I'm sitting down with my good friend and repeat guest, Laurel Guaderrama. She's a six-figure stylist turned Instagram marketing coach and founder of a social media management agency for beauty pros. But unlike most marketers, she's still behind the chair using the same strategies her agency executes for other stylists to grow real clientele in real time.

It's been almost exactly two years since her first episode, and if you've ever wondered what it actually looks like to navigate a hard season and come out the other side building something you never planned for, this conversation is for you.

Laurel gets honest about the last two years: the postpartum fog she couldn't shake, the identity hit when the strategies that once worked stopped working, and the radical decision to leave a salon she loved, not because anything was wrong, but because you can't heal in the environment you got sick in.

From there, things shifted. A helpful comment in a Soul Tribe call, "I'll just do all of your guys' social media", turned into a beta test. That beta test turned into nine clients, and the realization that she couldn't do it alone. We talk about what it actually looked like to build a team, hire her first support, and transition from "hairstylist who helps with Instagram" to founder of an agency with systems, packages, and a waitlist.

Laurel also walks us through the "Big Magic" download that became her new prompt subscription, a brainless, fill-in-the-blank content solution born from the realization that she was generating content for nine different accounts, speaking as nine different people, and could turn that skill into something any stylist could use.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why the strategies that worked before stopped working after life threw a curveball
• The difference between actual limitations and the ones we create when we’re stuck in our feelings
• Why changing your environment can be the radical jolt your nervous system needs
• How a casual offer in a group chat turned into a beta test, then a full-blown agency
• The messy reality of scaling too fast and the moment Laurel knew she needed to build a team
• What it looks like to train other people to write like you and speak for your brand
• The “Big Magic” download that became her prompt subscription and why it exists to make content brainless
• What’s working on Instagram right now (and why it’s simpler than you think)

Connect with Laurel 

https://www.looksbylaurel.com/

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What if being “booked and busy” isn’t actually the definition of success we’ve been sold?

In this episode, I’m joined by Cheri Doren, creator of the Defined Stylist Method, behind-the-chair stylist, salon owner, and educator with nearly four decades in the beauty industry. Cheri shares her honest journey through burnout, people-pleasing, financial pressure, and identity loss, and how those experiences shaped the way she now mentors stylists.

We talk about the realities of hustle culture behind the chair, how early salon environments can either build or break confidence, and why so many stylists end up trapped in careers that look successful on the outside but feel unsustainable on the inside.

This conversation is reflective, grounding, and deeply validating for any stylist who has ever felt exhausted, overwhelmed, or unsure if this pace is really what they signed up for.

In this episode, we cover:

Why “booked and busy” isn’t the same as fulfilled or sustainable

How toxic or unstructured salon environments impact confidence and longevity

The moment burnout becomes impossible to ignore

When client relationships cross into identity and emotional exhaustion

Why curating your clientele can be an act of self-respect

The role mentorship plays in preventing burnout before it starts

Cheri’s concept of “personal culture” and intentional career design

Redefining success in a way that actually supports your life

Whether you’re early in your career and want to avoid burnout altogether, or deep in it and craving a way out, this episode offers perspective, permission, and a reminder that there is another way.

Connect with Cheri Doren:

Website: https://www.thedefinedstylistmethod.com

Cheri also shares long-form education, storytelling, and burnout recovery content on Instagram and YouTube, all linked through her website.

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Retail used to feel simple. You trusted your brands, your clients trusted you, and selling products was part of the relationship—not a battle against the internet.

For many stylists today, that’s no longer the case.

In this episode of Stylist Soul Tribe Conversations, Lisa sits down with longtime Soul Tribe member Amanda Tustin to talk about what happens when retail starts to feel broken—and what it actually takes to rebuild it in today’s industry.

Amanda shares her honest journey of nearly walking away from retail after years of frustration with minimum buy-ins, lack of support, inconsistent product performance, and competing with Amazon and big-box retailers. She opens up about the emotional and financial exhaustion of trying line after line—and why loving your product is non-negotiable if you expect clients to buy it.

Together, they unpack:

• Why so many stylists feel disconnected from retail right now
• What’s changed in brand–stylist relationships over the last decade
• How to evaluate brands beyond trends and “clean” marketing
• How Amanda brought clients along for a retail transition without pressure
• Why retail is about trust, not just profit margins

This conversation isn’t about pushing a product—it’s about naming an industry shift and giving stylists permission to rethink retail in a way that actually feels aligned.

If you’ve ever thought “retail just isn’t worth it anymore,” this episode is for you.

Episode Resources

• Seven Haircare (use code AMANDA50 for 50% off your first order): https://www.7haircare.com
  
  
• Connect with Amanda: https://www.instagram.com/amandatustinhair
  
  
• Learn more about Stylist Soul Tribe: https://www.stylistsoultribe.com

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Burnout isn’t a badge of honor, and inconsistent income doesn’t have to be part of the job.

In this episode, Lisa sits down with business coach and industry educator Mandy Zehnder to talk about the systems that create real stability behind the chair: budgeting your business, setting aside taxes, paying yourself consistently, building cushion, and pricing with intention so your schedule can actually support your life.

Mandy also shares her story of leaving the industry during a hard season, coming back with a “failure isn’t an option” mindset, and how running her business on a budget ultimately protected her family when life threw a major curveball.

If you want more income, more freedom, and a schedule that doesn’t require nights, weekends, or constant hustle, this conversation will shift how you think about your business.

Episode Links:

• https://www.mandyzehnder.com/
  
  
• https://www.instagram.com/mandyzehnder_edu/
  
  
• https://www.stylistsoultribe.com/
  
  

 #hairstylist #salonbusiness #stylistlife #boothrenter #salonsuite #pricingstrategy #stylistburnout #beautybusiness

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This is Day 2 of the Vision Casting Workshop 2026 replay, originally hosted live inside Stylist Soul Tribe.

Day 2 is where vision turns into structure. We move from reflection and big-picture dreaming into practical planning, focusing on the 12-Month Blueprint, quarterly themes, and 12-Week Roadmaps that actually support real life.

This session is conversational, emotional, and deeply grounding. We talk through resistance, imposter syndrome, contentment, celebration, and what it really looks like to grow without chaos. You’ll hear live coaching, honest reflections from members, and examples of how to turn clarity into momentum.

In this replay, we cover:

• Creating a 12-month vision that feels supportive, not overwhelming
• Choosing a yearly theme and anchor goals
• Breaking the year into quarters (and when it’s okay to only plan Q1)
• How to define “needle movers” instead of vague goals
• Building realistic 12-week roadmaps (with real examples)
• When to DIY your roadmap vs. when deeper support matters
• Celebrating wins, practicing contentment, and navigating imposter syndrome
• Systems, delegation, and support that reduce burnout
• An overview of the SST Marketplace and how members can get support without doing everything alone

Workbook download

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Happy 2026. This episode is a replay of Vision Casting Workshop 2026, Day 1 (originally hosted live at the end of 2025).

If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been, what’s been shifting inside Stylist Soul Tribe, and what I’m building next, this is the clearest “big picture” update I’ve shared in one place. We spend the first half casting the vision and guiding you through reflection and vision board prep, and then I pull back the curtain on the Stylist Soul Tribe ecosystem and what’s evolving going into 2026.

In this replay, we cover:

Why I love vision casting in the “week that doesn’t feel real” between Christmas + New Year’s

Reflection prompts that actually create clarity (camera roll, benchmarks, lessons)

Vision board mindset (specificity + detachment: “this or something better”)

Bucket list items, mantras/word of the year, and “possible failures” (big bold goals)

A full update on the SST ecosystem: Jumpstart, Mastermind, Community, Intensives, Retreats, BOS, and Marketplace

What I’m prioritizing in 2026, and why “Together We Rise” is the theme

Download the workbook here

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What if the only thing standing between you and true financial freedom wasn’t your talent—but your understanding of the numbers behind your business?

In this episode of Stylist Soul Tribe Conversations, Lisa sits down with Jolene and Kristi from The Summa Collective—two powerhouse financial experts with over 30 years of combined experience helping beauty professionals grow smarter, stronger, and more sustainably.

Together, they break down why only 5% of salons are profitable, what’s keeping stylists stuck in financial overwhelm, and the exact mindset and systems shifts that can help you finally take control of your money.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• The shocking statistic about salon profitability—and how to change it
• How to actually read your Profit & Loss statement (without feeling intimidated)
• The biggest financial mistakes beauty pros make (and how to fix them fast)
• What it really means to pay yourself like a CEO
• Why mindset and money confidence are the secret to long-term success
• How The Summa Collective helps stylists and salon owners make accounting approachable and empowering

🔗 Connect with Summa Collective

Follow on Instagram → @thesummacollective

Learn more + book a consultation → https://www.thesummacollective.com/contact

🎧 Want to Go Deeper?

This conversation is the prequel to the live Financial Masterclass inside the Stylist Soul Tribe Mastermind on November 18th—where we’ll dive into your own profit and loss numbers, learn how to find your break-even point, and map your path to sustainable profit.

💬 Let’s Connect

If something from this episode clicked for you, send Lisa a DM on Instagram → @stylistsoultribe

We love hearing your “aha” moments and stories of transformation!

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Feeling burned out as a hairstylist? You’re not alone.

In this episode, I’m sharing exactly how I built my dream beauty business without constantly hustling—using my signature method, the Cycle of Success.

This is the 7-step framework I used to rebuild my business from burnout to aligned freedom… and the same system I’ve now guided hundreds of stylists through inside Stylist Soul Tribe.

If you’ve ever felt fully booked but secretly exhausted, this video will show you a new way forward.

✨ In this video, you’ll learn:
• Why the traditional salon “success model” is broken.
• The 7 steps inside my Cycle of Success (mindset, vision, schedule, clientele, income, whitespace, and big magic).
• How to restructure your schedule for freedom—without losing income.
• How to raise your salon prices strategically using data, not emotion.
• How Soul Tribe stylists are breaking free from burnout and building businesses they love.

This is for you if you’re…
• Booked out 8–12 weeks but still feeling drained.
• Wondering when (or how) to raise your prices again.
• Dreaming of more life outside the salon—without giving up your career.

👉 Ready to create your own dream beauty business?
DM me “SST” on Instagram   / lisahuffhair 
and I’ll share how you can apply the Cycle of Success to build a business that truly supports your life.

Being “in demand” should feel exciting, not exhausting. Let’s rewrite what success looks like—on your terms.

See you inside,
Lisa 💫

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