Getting ghosted sucks — but not because they hurt your feelings. Because you just wasted precious admin time on an inquiry that may have never been a realistic booking in the first place 😅

In this episode of The Bridal Hair Club Podcast, I’m breaking down exactly how I’ve built my bridal inquiry process to help me turn more of the right inquiries into booked weddings — and why my conversion rate is now so high when I’m actually available.

We’re talking about:

• Why I want brides to see my pricing before they inquire

• The questions I ask to figure out how serious someone is about booking

• What information I collect upfront to eliminate unnecessary back-and-forth

• How I use my inquiry form to determine whether I can actually accommodate the wedding

• Why more inquiries isn’t always the goal — better inquiries are

• How to audit your own inquiry-to-booking process and find where potential clients are dropping off

Because sometimes you don’t need more leads. You just need a better path from “Are you available?” → BOOKED.

Want to see exactly how I’ve set mine up?

👉 Take a peek at my Parla Hair Inquiry Form

Then audit your own process: What could your brides know before they inquire that would save you both time later?

In Part 2 of my conversation with Jillian Susten, co-owner of Glossed, we’re talking about what happens when you start thinking beyond just taking more weddings.

We get into building online education and memberships, creating communities people actually want to be part of, finding the balance between client work and growing something new, and the pressure to constantly create more for your members.

We also talk about something I think every stylist needs to hear: not everything you do needs to make you money immediately.

Sometimes bringing in a model, practicing a new technique, creating content, collaborating with another stylist or simply trying something that might completely flop is still moving your business forward.

And because Instagram loves to show us everyone’s most Pinterest-worthy work, we also get into the reality of bridal styling: sometimes you don’t have the perfect hair, extensions, timeline or conditions — and that doesn’t mean you’re a bad stylist.

This one feels like two bridal business friends sitting down, comparing notes and reminding each other that we’re all still figuring it out 🤍

Find Jillian on Instagram @glossedbyjillian

Learn more about The Glossed Society

In Part 1 of my conversation with Jillian Susten, co-owner of Glossed and founder of The Gloss Society, we’re talking about what it actually looks like to build and manage a team in the bridal industry.

Jillian has built a team of 14 hair and makeup artists while personally taking on close to 100 weddings a year — so she knows a thing or two about managing a LOT of moving parts.

We chat about:

• How Jillian grew her bridal team (and whether she’d do it all over again 👀)

• Training stylists to represent your brand, work ethic and standards

• The control-freak struggle of delegating and outsourcing

• Why keeping your team booked, paid and happy has to factor into your business decisions

• Pricing as a team vs. a solo stylist

• Package pricing vs. à la carte — and why there’s no universally “right” answer

• The responsibility that comes with having other artists working under your name

• Balancing weddings, business, motherhood and everything in between

• Why your version of “scaling” doesn’t have to look like someone else’s

Jillian and I have taken two very different approaches to growing our businesses — she’s built a large team, while I’ve intentionally stayed solo and expanded into education instead.

And that’s really the takeaway from this episode: there’s no one right way to build a successful bridal business. You get to create one that works for your goals, your life and the amount of responsibility you actually want to take on.

Connect with Jillian:

Follow Jillian on Instagram: @glossedbyjillian
Learn more about The Gloss Society and join here: https://www.glossedbyjillian.com/plans-pricing

And we’re not done! Jillian will be back next week for Part 2, where we’re talking all about online education, memberships, content creation and what it looks like to build another revenue stream alongside a busy bridal career.

Follow The Bridal Hair Club Podcast so you don’t miss Part 2! 🤍

You can be fully booked, have thousands of dollars coming into your bank account…and still have no idea how your business is actually doing. 😅

In this episode, we’re going on a Money Date — something we’ve recently introduced inside The Bridal Hair Club to help you get to know the financial health of your business without needing to become an accountant.

I’m breaking down the numbers I think every bridal hairstylist and makeup artist should be tracking regularly — not just at tax time when you’re scrambling to remember what happened six months ago.

We’re talking about the money that’s already hit your bank account and the money you can expect to come in over the next few months (or even next year!).

In this episode:

• Why tracking your revenue isn’t enough — and why profit is the number I really care about
• The income categories you should be tracking so you know where your money is actually coming from
• Why retainers and final wedding payments need to be tracked separately
• How to forecast future income and spot those dreaded slow-season cash flow gaps before they happen
• The expenses you should be keeping an eye on (including those sneaky little subscriptions 👀)
• Why your available vs. unavailable inquiries matter
• How to calculate and understand your booking/conversion rate
• Why your average booking value can help you grow your revenue without necessarily booking more weddings
• How to use your numbers to decide what actually deserves more of your time and energy
• My simple Money Date routine you can do every week, every two weeks or — at minimum — once a month

Because the goal isn’t to track numbers just for the sake of tracking them.

It’s to be able to look at your business and answer:

What’s coming in? What’s going out? What’s left? What’s coming next? And am I on track for where I want this business to go?

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Deep Focus Playlist
My go-to background music when I need to sit down, focus and get some admin done.
Listen on Spotify

Try The Bridal Hair Club FREE for 7 Days
Want to take a peek inside the Club? The Business Tracker isn't included in the free pass, but you will get access to the Express Pricing Calculator, Pricing Deep Dive Seminar, Email Template Suite, styling education, the discussion board and more — plus you’ll be able to see all of the resources waiting for you when you become a member.

No credit card. No strings attached. Come poke around and see if the Club is for you!

Get Your Free 7-Day Club Pass →

Keep making moves — but keep having fun while you’re doing it. 🤍

If you've ever spent the week before a wedding answering the same questions over and over again, showing up to a dark hotel room with no outlet, or finding yourself hunched over styling hair on a dining room chair... this episode is for you.

In this episode, I'm sharing one of the biggest time-saving systems in my bridal business: my Wedding Prep Email Template.

This simple email goes out before every wedding and answers your bride's questions before she even has to ask them. It sets expectations, prevents common wedding morning headaches, and helps create a smoother, more organized experience for everyone involved.

We'll walk through exactly what I include, why each section matters, and how one email can reduce stress for both you and your bride.

In this episode:

• Why every bridal hairstylist needs a wedding prep email.
• How to cut down on repetitive emails from brides.
• The room setup that makes styling easier (and saves your back).
• The hair prep instructions every bride should receive before the wedding.
• How clear expectations lead to smoother wedding mornings.
• The small details that prevent big problems on the day.
• Why systems like this make you look more professional while saving you time.

Resources Mentioned:

✨ Download the FREE Wedding Prep Email Template and customize it for your own bridal business.

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be so grateful if you followed the podcast and left a review. It helps more bridal hairstylists discover the show and build businesses that feel organized, profitable, and a whole lot less stressful 🤍

If I could go back and give my younger self one piece of advice as a brand-new bridal hairstylist… okay, maybe ten 😅

In this episode, I'm sharing the biggest lessons I've learned after years in the bridal industry—from the mistakes that cost me money, to the decisions that completely changed my business.

We'll talk about why learning the admin side of your business is just as important as learning new hairstyles, why watching tutorials isn't enough (you actually have to practice!), when it's worth investing in branding, why undercharging is practically a rite of passage, and the mindset shifts that helped me grow into the stylist and business owner I am today.

Whether you're in your first wedding season or you've been styling for years, I hope this episode helps you avoid a few headaches—and reminds you that every successful stylist started exactly where you are.

If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to follow the podcast and leave a review. It helps more bridal hairstylists discover the show! 🤍

Have you ever looked at a booking and thought…

"I'm giving up my entire long weekend for the exact same amount of money?"

Or found yourself setting an alarm for 3:00am because a bride wanted an extra-early start… only to earn exactly what you would have made for a regular 7:30am booking?

If so, this episode is for you.

Today I'm sharing the three pricing add-ons that have made the biggest impact in my bridal business—not just by increasing my average booking value, but by helping me create healthier boundaries and actually enjoy wedding season more.

Inside this episode, we'll cover:

• ​Why every bridal hairstylist should have an Early Start Fee (and how to choose your cutoff time).
• ​Why I charge a Holiday Weekend Surcharge—and why I believe every day of a long weekend counts.
• ​The invisible 1–2 hours of admin work you need to include when calculating your bridal pricing.

The truth is, not every wedding asks the same amount from you. Some bookings require bigger sacrifices, more planning, and more inconvenience—and your pricing should reflect that.

🎁 Free Download

I've created a free guide with my favourite bridal add-on charges, suggested fee ranges, and examples of exactly how I write these charges into my contract so clients know what to expect from day one.

Download it here

If this episode helped you, I'd be so grateful if you left a rating or review—it helps more bridal hairstylists discover the podcast and build businesses that feel profitable, sustainable, and enjoyable.

See you next week! 🤍

After a four-month break, Kira is back with a deep dive into extension rentals — one of the most profitable, client-loved add-ons a bridal stylist can offer. In this episode, she covers why rentals elevate a bride's look (fuller, longer-lasting styles with more versatility), how to start small and build inventory gradually, which suppliers to trust, how to price rentals for real profit, and the legal boxes to check before you launch.

Whether you're brand new to extensions or looking to refine your current offering, this episode gives you a clear roadmap to turn rentals into a reliable revenue stream.

In this episode:

• Why extension rentals boost bride confidence and satisfaction
• How to start small and scale your inventory without overspending
• Pricing rentals for profitability
• Trusted suppliers and must-have shades to stock first
• Legal considerations before offering rentals

Resources mentioned:
@bfbhair
@bombayhair
@saltandpinehairextensions
@philocalyhair

TRY THE CLUB FOR 7 DAYS FREE! Sign up here: https://www.thebridalhairclub.com/the-bridal-hair-club-7-day-free-pass

Connect with Kira + The Bridal Hair Club on Instagram:
@parla.hair and @thebridalhairclub

Sorry for keeping you hanging the last couple weeks 😅 — but this one’s worth the wait.

In this episode, we’re talking about imposter syndrome. The kind that shows up right before a wedding morning. The kind that whispers you’re not good enough… that you’re doing something wrong… that everyone else has it figured out except you.

Because the goal isn’t to never feel it again.

The goal is to recognize it faster… protect your peace… and snap yourself out of the spiral before it starts running the show.

Inside this episode, we cover:

• How to recognize when imposter syndrome is creeping in (and where it’s usually coming from — chances are, it’s social media 👀)
• How to check in with where you actually are mentally when those thoughts show up
• Simple boundaries that protect your confidence and your energy
• What to do in the moment so you can shift out of the spiral faster

Because once you can spot it, it stops feeling so personal… and starts feeling manageable.

We’re going deeper into practical strategies inside this month’s Club Call in The Bridal Hair Club. If you want more confidence behind the chair and more clarity in your business decisions, this is exactly where we’re continuing the conversation.

Join here:https://www.thebridalhairclub.com/

BONUS: Sign up for an annual membership before May 4 and you’ll get access to the final class of the Totally Average Hair Tour Virtual Class included for free (a $197 value) 🎉

Everyone sees the wedding mornings, the reels, and the finished styles… but none of that works without what’s happening behind the scenes. And spoiler alert: NO ONE HAS IT ALL FIGURED OUT!

In this episode, I’m opening up the full operations side of my business — both my bridal hairstyling company and my education platform — and walking you through the exact systems, programs, and support that keep everything from completely falling apart.

If you’ve ever thought:
“HOW are people running weddings and an online business at the same time?”
…this is the episode.

You don’t need to be more talented.
You need better infrastructure.

Inside, I break down:

• the CRM that runs my inquiries, invoices, and contracts

• how I manage client communication without constant back-and-forth emails

• the platform I use to host my membership and online education

• what support roles actually changed my stress levels

• the systems that let me step away from my phone without panicking

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Get 20% off your first month or year of Dubsado:
https://dubsado.com/?c=parla20
Use code PARLA20 at checkout

Thinking about hosting your own online education? Start with Kajabi:
https://app.kajabi.com/r/H6CmW62c

And if you want to learn my styling workflow in real life, tickets for the Totally Average Hair Tour are still available (including the virtual option):
https://www.thebridalhairclub.com/the-totally-average-hair-tour

I hope this episode gives you relief — because the goal isn’t to work harder.
It’s to stop relying on memory and start relying on systems.