Client retention is not just about getting clients back in your chair.

It is about education, trust, communication, and building the kind of salon business people want to keep coming back to.

In this episode, Rhino Gaudet joins salonMonster for a thoughtful, practical conversation about life behind the chair, moving from salon ownership into independent work, and what actually helps hairstylists build a steady business over time.

Rhino shares how he first got into hair because he wanted to be a platform artist, then discovered that the real magic was in the service, the technical work, and the relationships with clients. He talks about becoming an independent stylist after years of salon ownership, what closing a salon taught him, and why stepping away from something does not always mean failure.

This conversation also gets into the business side of being a hairstylist: recommending products without feeling “salesy,” why pre-booking is part of client care, how Google reviews and referrals can grow your business, and why your best clients are often the best people to ask for support.

Rhino also shares his take on education for up-and-coming stylists, including why online learning is helpful, but hands-on classes still matter. Because sometimes you need someone in the room to call out the little things you cannot see on your own.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Building client retention through service, not pressure
Why product recommendations are part of full-service care
The shift from salon owner to independent hairstylist
How to ask loyal clients for reviews, referrals, and testimonials
Why closing a salon is not the same as failing
Balancing technical problem-solving with creativity
The value of hands-on education for hairstylists
How reminders, reports, and salon software can make independent work easier

Whether you are a hairstylist, barber, colourist, salon owner, suite renter, or beauty pro thinking about going independent, this episode is full of grounded advice from someone who has seen the industry from a lot of angles.

Learn more about Rhino Gaudet:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhinogaudet/

Follow salonMonster:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/

YouTube Podcast Channel: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0oGUoOz3xLklSzb3IT5YYw/content/podcasts

Start a 14-day trial: https://salonmonster.com/

Chapters

00:00 Meet Rhino Gaudet
01:30 Getting into hair and chasing the “rock star” side
03:10 Building a technical colour career
04:05 From platform work to classroom teaching
05:45 Going independent after salon ownership
07:15 Product recommendations are not “sales”
09:45 Asking loyal clients for reviews and referrals
11:20 Mentorship, business coaching, and Summit Salon Systems
14:00 Why relationships are the best part of hairdressing
15:55 Career turning points: teaching, opening, and closing a salon
19:20 Favourite tools, treatments, and bond builders
21:25 Creativity as technical problem-solving
23:55 How salonMonster helps with reminders and reports
25:35 Running independently with salon software
26:40 Rhino’s advice for trying salonMonster
27:30 Why hands-on education still matters
29:40 Educators Rhino recommends
31:15 Final thoughts

Make haircuts calmer for neurodivergent clients—Henry “Tribes” shares the sensory-friendly tools, setups, and scripts that work.

In this episode, Henry “Tribes” Amoloja—10-year barber and creator of The Weighted Cape—walks through how he rebuilt books in new cities, got Sensory Safe Certified, and designed a neuro-inclusive service that parents trust. You’ll learn simple space tweaks, calming tools, and pre-visit steps that reduce anxiety and make appointments smoother for kids and adults on the spectrum.

We also dig into manufacturing a new product, handling pre-orders/sellouts, and finding mentors who accelerate your roadmap. Henry’s approach is practical, empathetic, and repeatable—ideal for independent stylists and barbers who want to serve more clients, better.

00:00 Intro & why this matters for stylists
00:11 Henry’s path: multi-city rebuilds & suites
07:55 Sensory Safe Certification & first wins
11:11 Launching The Weighted Cape & market feedback
16:09 Pre-orders, inventory, and mentorship lessons
20:52 How to find mentors + cold DMs that work
24:36 Full-time schedule while building a product
28:33 Long-term vision: a neuro-inclusive ecosystem

Try salonMonster free for 14 days → https://salonmonster.com/
Follow salonMonster on IG → https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/
The Weighted Cape IG → https://www.instagram.com/weightedcape/
The Weighted Cape IG (alt handle) → https://www.instagram.com/theweightedcape/
Henry Tribes IG → https://www.instagram.com/henrytribes/
Check out our YouTube Channel for more amazing videos→ https://www.youtube.com/@salonMonster

#SalonBusiness #HairstylistTips #BarberEducation #IndependentStylist #Neuroinclusive #AutismSupport #ClientExperience #SalonMonster

Autism-friendly salon practices that actually help: Tara Abramowicz shares simple, sensory-safe ways to serve neurodivergent clients - without forms or fuss.

Educator and stylist Tara Abramowicz joins Liam to unpack inclusive, sensory-friendly salon habits that reduce anxiety, build consent, and make appointments smoother for everyone. From asking, “Do you enjoy a shampoo?” before heading to the sink to narrating each step of the service, Tara demonstrates how small adjustments can create a safer, calmer experience - especially for neurodivergent clients and children.

We also cover tools like weighted capes and Tara’s Client Experience “chatter/chill card, plus why a short conversation can beat long intake forms for accessibility. If you’re building an inclusive salon culture, this episode is packed with practical scripts, accommodations, and mindset shifts you can use today.

-Ask before you shampoo; not everyone enjoys the sink (sensory triggers).

-Narrate the next step (“sportscasting”) to lower uncertainty.

-Prioritize consent—especially with kids; results come second to safety.

-Consider sensory tools (e.g., weighted capes) and visible “talk or chill” signals.

-Replace rigid forms with a brief, welcoming accessibility chat.


Chapters

00:00 – Intro & Tara’s start in hair
02:00 – Discovering autism/ADHD; advocating at work
04:30 – Everyday accommodations & clearer communication
08:45 – Ask about shampoo; sensory considerations
10:15 – Consent-first approach for kids’ haircuts
14:50 – Weighted capes & sensory support
17:15 – “Chatter/Chill” Client Experience Card
19:05 – Advice for new stylists: keep learning
20:15 – Forms vs conversation for accessibility
24:10 – Step-by-step narration to reduce anxiety
27:00 – Where to find Tara

Start your 14-day salonMonster trial → https://salonmonster.com/
Tara IG → https://www.instagram.com/tara_abramowicz/?hl=en
Tara Linktree → https://linkr.bio/Taraabramowicz?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacrO2PzcBcPmzRWuJEXvJEFMUJFDPqc3j15zK9eVirRjN1ybAZrfbUYNrUfWQ_aem_kHSLDffnEGNtQOaZjK9fBw

Mentorship, self-care, and simple systems for working hairstylists—Erica Garza shares 30 years of salon lessons you can apply now: building clients, choosing commission vs. suite, and thriving with boundaries. Designed for pros in the U.S. & Canada who want practical, non-fluffy career advice.

Hailing from Seattle, Erica reflects on working in commission salons, studio rental, and education. Plus, how mentoring, filming your work, and saying “no” help create longevity in your career. As a Brand Sales Manager for KEUNE North America, she breaks down the value of apprenticeships, how to approach mentors (DMs + events), and why mental health matters as much as technical proficiency

• You’ll learn: how to find & approach mentors, set booking and life boundaries, when to choose apprenticeship/commission vs. suite, client-building beyond social posts, and why filming your work accelerates skill growth.

Chapters:

00:00 Erica’s path to Seattle & 30 years in hair
02:00 Early career & retail systems that stick
03:55 Role: Regional Education Manager (Schwarzkopf)
05:26 Community & Hair Nerds
07:47 Self-care, boundaries, ergonomics
16:07 Small studio lessons ($200 rent, luck vs. plan)
18:46 Building clients: from mall cards to social media
21:20 Moving into education & lifelong learning
25:07 Mentors (Linda) & servant leadership
35:08 Industry mentors: Sam Villa, Lori Zabel
37:53 DMing mentors + meeting at events
46:04 Apprenticeship vs. commission vs. suite
54:22 Film your work to improve technique

• Erica Garza IG: https://www.instagram.com/ericagarza_keune/
• salonMonster IG: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/
• Try salonMonster free (14 days): https://salonmonster.com/

Thinking about hybrid staffing or tightening your policies? Liam sits down with hairstylist and salon owner Nikii Beis (Elevated Studio, Squamish, BC) to unpack practical systems that working pros can use right away.

You’ll learn:
How Elevated Studio blends hourly, commission, and chair rental to keep flexibility and retention high.
Clear expectations & mentorship for juniors (show up early, prep the station, greet well) and why it speeds growth.
Cancellation policy tactics: set a card on file, require deposits for long services, and tailor notice periods to appointment length.
Tools that help: online booking, confirmations, rebooking, and formula notes to streamline the client journey.
Small-space design choices (four chairs, mixed schedules) that support privacy, collaboration, and client experience.

00:00 Intro — Nikii Beis & Elevated Studio (Squamish, BC)
00:50 Four chairs, five stylists — team scheduling
02:11 Getting started — first salon break & apprenticeship
12:36 Deciding to open a salon — timelines & first steps
14:29 Build-out — walls, electrical, plumbing & design
16:41 Layout & workflow — privacy; renters + commission
32:17 Education mindset — keep learning, stay humble
34:55 Setting client expectations (IG to in-chair)
39:55 Digital tools — booking that fits hair services
41:00 Formulas, cancellation policy & cards on file
44:22 No-shows — when to enforce & how to say it
45:34 Bringing on juniors — training & feedback
48:26 Wrap-up — where to find Nikii

Nikii IG: https://www.instagram.com/nikii.stroodle/
Elevated Studio Hair IG: https://www.instagram.com/elevatedstudio.hair/
salonMonster IG: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/
salonMonster 14-day free trial: https://salonmonster.com/

If you’re searching for commission vs chair rental, salon cancellation policy, opening a salon, or online booking for salons, this episode has field-tested tips from behind the chair.

How a 22-year pro teaches textured hair through a fabric lens — and why apprenticeships beat solo suites for new stylists.

Alyssia Dotson @maneseamstress shares how she built Mane Seamstress Education, why cosmetology school ≠ real-world salon learning, the gap in textured-hair education she saw on set, and how clear consultations + consent (“earn the right to touch someone’s hair”) change outcomes behind the chair. We also discuss apprenticeships (she started at Tony and Guy), building safe spaces, and practical ways to teach texture by comparing hair to various fabrics, such as silk and cotton.

Key takeaways

1. Texture taught through a fabric framework makes techniques click faster (silk vs. cotton behavior, heat/product choices).
2. Cosmetology school helps you pass tests; an apprenticeship teaches you to do hair.
3. Do a real consultation every visit; lifestyles change — so should the plan.
4. Consent matters: “earn the right to touch someone’s hair.”
5. New stylists: start in a busy salon (learn from many minds) before a suite.

Chapters
00:00 – Intro & the fabric approach to hair
01:38 – 22 years in hair; traveling educator life
03:22 – From stage fright to educator (why teach)
07:48 – School vs. real-world learning; early mentors
11:26 – Apprenticeship at Tony and Guy; finding your tribe
15:11 – The texture-education gap & creating safe spaces
31:24 – Consultations that earn consent
41:36 – Advice to new stylists: salon is greater than suite
51:34 – Where to find Alyssia / @maneseamstress

Guest IG: https://www.instagram.com/maneseamstress/
Guest links: https://beacons.ai/maneseamstress
SalonMonster IG: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/
More episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@salonMonster
Try SalonMonster free for 14 days: https://salonmonster.com/

#hairstylist #haireducation #texturedhair #salonbusiness #behindthechair #consultation #apprenticeship

Going independent can give you more freedom, but without clear systems, it can also blur every boundary you have.

Kara Field, an independent hairdresser based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, joins salonMonster for a thoughtful conversation about building a home-based salon business that feels professional, sustainable, and deeply personal.

Kara shares how she uses online booking, new client intake forms, service categories, cancellation policies, and client reminders to create a smoother experience before anyone even sits in her chair. She also talks about why boundaries are part of good customer service, especially when you are running your own business, managing your own schedule, and trying not to live inside your inbox.

This conversation also gets into the human side of independent beauty work: how to make new clients feel safe, how Google reviews help build trust, how service descriptions can shape the guest experience, and why consultation questions matter so much when someone is ready for a big hair change.

Kara and Liam also talk about social media pressure, using AI as a creative tool without losing your voice, the value of mentorship and continuing education, and what newer stylists should think about before jumping from commission to chair rental or independent work.

If you are a hairstylist, salon owner, suite renter, barber, nail artist, lash tech, or beauty pro building your own thing, this episode is a grounded reminder that the right systems can protect your time, improve the client experience, and help you keep loving the work.

Topics covered include:

Independent hairstylist boundaries
Home salon systems
Online booking for beauty pros
Client intake forms and policies
Consultation questions for hairstylists
Google reviews and client trust
Service descriptions and seasonal offerings
Using AI for salon marketing
Client retention for independent stylists
Advice for going independent behind the chair

Connect with Kara Field:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karapaintshair/
Website: https://www.karapaintshair.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kara.A.Field

Connect with salonMonster:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/
More podcast episodes: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0oGUoOz3xLklSzb3IT5YYw/content/podcasts
Start a 14-day trial: https://salonmonster.com/

Chapters

00:00 Meet Kara Field and her home salon setup
03:03 How SalonMonster became Kara’s “front desk”
04:16 New client intake forms, booking links, and policies
08:14 Service adjustments and building client trust
09:43 Seasonal offerings and better service descriptions
12:46 Using AI without losing your human voice
16:03 Social media pressure, inspiration, and burnout
18:29 Why Google reviews matter for new clients
21:50 Kara’s path through hair school and commission salons
28:28 Opening a salon, then choosing a home studio
31:51 Commission vs. chair rent for newer stylists
34:45 Mentorship, education, and online community
38:26 Consultation questions that prevent regret cuts
46:15 Advice for stylists who want to go independent
54:01 Online booking, boundaries, and avoiding burnout

What if filming your haircuts was not just for Instagram, but for becoming a better hairdresser?

Douglas McCoy brings a rare mix of hairdressing, photography, filmmaking, education, razor cutting, and salon leadership to this conversation. He talks about the mentors who shaped him, the value of starting over even after decades in the industry, and why stylists should use photo and video as more than just content.

This episode is especially useful for hairstylists, salon owners, educators, and independent beauty pros who want to keep growing without losing the creative spark that brought them into the industry in the first place.

Douglas shares how his early apprenticeships shaped the way he sees hair, why modern razor cutting became such a major part of his work, and how the creative energy around Bumble and Bumble, fashion week, photography, and music videos influenced his approach behind the chair.

You’ll also hear practical advice on:

Finding mentorship at any stage of your career
Using Instagram as your modern lookbook
Filming your haircuts to study your body position, shape, balance, and styling choices
Asking clients for permission to take photos or videos
Building a salon culture where feedback actually helps people grow
Why education, community, and honest critique matter for long-term creative growth
How Douglas thinks about razor cutting, favorite tools, and the creative process

This is a conversation about craft, career growth, and staying curious long after you already know what you’re doing.

Because behind the chair, the work gets better when you’re willing to watch, learn, adjust, and keep going.

Follow Douglas McCoy:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/douglasmccoyofficial/

Follow salonMonster:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/

YouTube Podcast Channel: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0oGUoOz3xLklSzb3IT5YYw/content/podcasts

Start a 14-day trial: https://salonmonster.com/

Chapters

00:00 Intro and meet Douglas McCoy
02:27 How Douglas got into hair
06:10 Three apprenticeships and choosing mentors
10:31 Going all in early in your career
12:14 Modern razor cutting and the Bumble era
15:12 The creative hotbed that shaped his video work
19:13 Why stylists should film their work
20:42 Education, inspiration, and teaching by accident
22:20 Moving to Spokane and finding a new path
24:20 Building House of Pop
27:36 How stylists can find real mentorship
31:36 Why going back to basics still matters
33:37 Building the House of Pop brand before the salon
35:19 Feedback, friends, and honest creative community
38:33 Instagram as your modern lookbook
41:17 Asking clients for photos and video
44:43 Favorite tools, razors, and the white cape hack
48:19 The creative process behind the chair
51:35 Finding inspiration outside your usual bubble
54:24 What’s next for Douglas
57:47 Closing thoughts and working with good people

Home salon tips for independent stylists: Annilee Armstrong shares the practical systems that helped her grow a thriving home-based business—without burnout. In this warm, candid chat with Stephen from salonMonster, Annilee covers what actually works day-to-day: from referral programs and pre-booking to no-show policies, boundaries, and choosing tools that save time.

You’ll learn:

1. How to set up a simple referral program that snowballs
2. Pre-booking habits and reminders that keep your calendar full
3. Clear, fair policies for late arrivals and no-shows (that clients respect)
4. What to research before opening at home (licensing, inspections, etc.)

Why a bookkeeper + straightforward reporting can be game-changer

Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Annilee’s path
03:04 Why go independent & home-salon setup
08:08 Referral programs & pre-booking
09:52 Boundaries: late/no-show & communication
26:09 Why Annilee chose SalonMonster

Enjoyed it? Subscribe for more conversations that help independent beauty pros grow—without the hype.
Try SalonMonster free (14 days) → https://salonmonster.com/
Annilee IG → https://www.instagram.com/redschair/
More episodes → https://www.youtube.com/@salonMonster

Getting clients after hair school is the part nobody romanticizes. Brit Otto shares what actually helped her go from cutting hair in her kitchen during COVID to building a clear brand, finding models, and turning early hustle into repeat clientele.

This conversation is packed with practical advice for new hairstylists, barbers, and beauty pros trying to grow from the ground up. Brit talks about choosing a hair school, the reality of apprenticeships, why service experience matters behind the chair, and how branding shaped the kind of clients she attracted from the start.

You’ll also hear how she used model calls, posters, QR codes, Instagram ads, Google Business, neighborhood groups, and word of mouth to get more people in the chair. She breaks down why good graphic design was worth the investment, how mentors and supply reps helped her improve faster, and why front-loading education can save you time later.

They also get into something a lot of newer stylists need to hear: you do not have to copy everyone else. Finding your niche, staying authentic, and raising prices as your speed and skill improve can build a career that actually fits you.

If you are figuring out how to build clientele as a new hairstylist, market yourself without feeling fake, and grow with intention, this episode has a lot to take from.

Connect with Brit Otto:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supra.ultra.hair/?hl=en

Website: https://www.supra-ultra.ca

Follow salonMonster:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salonmonster/

More podcast episodes: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC0oGUoOz3xLklSzb3IT5YYw/content/podcasts

Start your 14-day trial: https://salonmonster.com/

Chapters

00:00 From a first COVID haircut to hair school
01:55 Choosing a school and the apprenticeship reality
04:20 Why service skills matter behind the chair
06:39 Building a brand and visual identity early
10:23 The fear of starting out partly self-employed
12:00 Flyers, posters, QR codes, and model calls
15:15 Google Business, neighborhood groups, and word of mouth
17:37 Why good branding and design were worth it
20:32 Mentors, supply reps, and front-loading education
24:44 Mindset, no gossip, and finding your niche
27:09 Brit’s advice for brand-new hairstylists
28:37 When to raise your prices