Picture two stylists. One is a money machine, hitting every metric, booked solid, making multiple 6-figures. The other is producing 30% of that revenue but mentoring newer team members, showing up on time, taking great photos, and supporting the salon's culture in every way possible.

Now ask yourself honestly: who is your current system set up to reward?

If your salon's promotional path is built primarily around revenue-based KPIs, chances are stylist number one wins every time, no matter how much damage they're doing to your culture. And that model, which worked just fine 10 and 20 years ago, is collapsing fast right now. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly why the traditional salon promotion structure is broken, the specific flaws in the old model that are quietly costing you your best people, and what we do differently in Thriving Leadership to fix it for good.

Ready to see exactly how this works for your salon? I'm hosting a free 3-day training starting July 13th where we dig into all of it. Head to www.thrivingstylist.com/nextlevelsalon to register. Spots are not held, so make sure you sign up before the 13th to get access!

The first four episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season.

The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/.

Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!

If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this.

Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/

Something is happening in our industry right now that we just need to talk about. Salon closures are happening at scale, coast to coast, and I've personally saved over 60 closure announcements on Instagram just since the start of 2026. This is not normal, and pretending it isn't happening isn't going to help anyone.

In this episode, I break down exactly what's driving these salon closures right now, the specific mistakes that are quietly working against so many owners, and what the salons that are winning are doing differently.

The industry is not broken. It's evolving fast, and there is still so much opportunity on the other side of a change in plan!

Ready to see exactly how this works for your salon? I'm hosting a free 3-day training starting July 13th where we dig into all of it. Head to www.thrivingstylist.com/nextlevelsalon to register. Spots are not held, so make sure you sign up before the 13th to get access!

The first four episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season.

The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/.

Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!

If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this.

Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/

If you've been in the salon industry for any length of time, you already know the traditional commission model is broken. Stylists feel cheated, salon owners feel cheated, and somehow, we've all just accepted that this is "the way it's done." But what if there was a model where everybody wins, profit is protected, and your top performers actually want to stay?

That's exactly what uncapped commissions deliver, and I genuinely believe that by 2030, this will be the standard of pay across our industry. In this episode, I share exactly how uncapped commissions work, why the traditional model keeps everyone stuck, and how we build a compensation structure that puts profit first without sacrificing your team.

This is the future of salon compensation, and understanding it now is what separates the salons that thrive from the ones that struggle to compete!

Ready to see exactly how this works for your salon? I'm hosting a free 3-day training starting July 13th where we dig into all of it. Head to www.thrivingstylist.com/nextlevelsalon to register. Spots are not held, so make sure you sign up before the 13th to get access!

The first four episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season.

The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/.

Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!

If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this.

Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/

It's no secret that the digital landscape is shifting FAST, and a lot of stylists and salon owners are feeling completely exhausted by the constant updates, the algorithms, and the tech overload. I know it's tempting to want to unplug and just focus on the creative side of what we do, but the reality is that our industry is becoming more connected to the digital world, not less. The good news? Our service-based, local businesses are incredibly safe from AI disruption, but if we don't get smart about optimizing our own digital footprints first, we're handing a competitive edge to anyone else who does.

We are officially stepping into a brand-new era of local search, driven by massive new integrations between your social media platforms and Google's autonomous AI agents. Today, I'm breaking down exactly what these game-changing updates mean for your business, how to set up your digital presence defensively, and the specific, tactical steps you can take right now to prep your profiles before the scale tips.

If you're serious about finding out exactly how to stay ahead of the curve and play the modern business game better, then press "Play" now!

The first four episodes of After The Last Client are now available! Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season.

The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/.

Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!

If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this.

Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/

Let's be honest: one of the biggest challenges salon owners are hitting right now is figuring out how to actually attract, motivate, and retain the modern generation of talent. You've heard me say it many times, but if you want a team of self-motivated, hungry stylists, your brand positioning, your backend education system, and your own digital footprint have to be completely aligned. I'm sorry, but you can't fix your team until you look at how you're presenting your business to the world, and I'm diving deep into the data here to help you do it.

It doesn't matter if you're an established owner struggling to fill empty chairs, a leader trying to transition from a cozy "shadowing" model to a highly profitable, structured education system, or an entrepreneur who needs to optimize your digital footprint to fuel consistent growth behind the chair. This episode is exactly what you need to start shifting your business into its next phase of growth!

The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/.

Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!

If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this.

Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/

How would you like to hear the real talk about the massive amount of misinformation, manipulative jargon, and false narratives that float around our industry? We've all seen it and we've all experienced it: the secrecy around how someone actually built their business, or the people who look amazing on social media while we both know the back end tells a very different story.

I've wondered for a long time: what do we do to quit the secrecy in this industry? We talk a good game about community over competition, but then we gatekeep the business part…

Well, that's changing, and it all starts today!

I'm in my transparency era. I'm done with playing small and being secretive, so I'm starting something completely new. Born out of seven months of design and production is After The Last Client, the newest media platform in the beauty industry. These aren't just "feel-good" interviews; they are long-form, deep dives into the real strategies and step-by-step financial breakdowns of the industry's biggest voices.

If you weren't in the room for these conversations, consider this your seat at the table! The first four episodes drop today, June 8, 2026. Head over to www.afterthelastclient.com/ to watch the episodes, binge the series, and nominate the guests you want to see featured next season.

The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/.

Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!

If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this.

Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/

We just got back from San Antonio hosting our second annual X Club Retreat, and honestly, I'm still riding the high. Four days with 86 of the highest-performing stylists and salon owners in the industry who are doubling and tripling their revenue, running multi-seven-figure salons, and doing $300,000 a year solo behind the chair, and I walked away with pages of notes I knew I had to bring back to everybody.

Here's the thing about a room like that: there is no gatekeeping. It's almost like a competition of who can share the best strategy. And when you're surrounded by people operating at that level, the conversations get really real, really fast.

In this episode, I'm sharing the biggest takeaways from our speakers, what it really costs to produce an event like this, the mistakes I made, and what I'm doing differently when we head to Park City, Utah in 2027. If you weren't in the room, consider this your seat at the table!

If you want to learn more about the event, our X Club and what that looks like, go to www.thrivingstylist.com/xclub/. For those of you who are X Club members, I hope to see you in Park City, Utah next year, and if you're just looking to level up your business and want to learn more strategy, Thriver Society is always available to you at www.thrivingstylist.com/thriverssociety/.

If you need a tool to keep your numbers (and business!) organized, you'll want to check out our Wealthiest Year Yet Planner. Join the waitlist now at www.thrivingstylist.com/wealthiestyearyet/.

The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/.

Thriving Leadership Method hands salon owners a step-by-step strategy to implement an irresistible culture and create a powerful growth path…all while setting themselves up for structure and profit, and you can join the waitlist NOW at www.thrivingstylist.com/thrivingleadershipmethod/!

With Grow My Clientele Calculator, you'll get instant clarity on how many new clients you'll need to hit your 2025 financial goals! Enter just four numbers, and this tool will show you exactly how many new guests you need monthly and yearly to reach your target income. No guesswork or complicated math required, and you can get it now at www.thrivingstylist.com/growmyclientele/.

Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!

If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this.

Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/

Google just changed the rules on reviews, and based on the conversations I've been having, a lot of stylists and salon owners are feeling nervous about what this means for their business. I totally get it, because when a platform that's driving real clientele for you announces major policy updates, it's natural to wonder if everything you've been doing is suddenly wrong!

Here's what I want you to know: if you've been building your Google presence the right way, these updates shouldn't shake you. In fact, most of what Google announced in April 2026 is stuff I stopped coaching years ago. The real shift isn't the rules themselves, it's that Google is finally cracking down and holding people accountable.

In this episode, I'm walking you through every single change, from why you can't incentivize reviews anymore to what's really going on with the "staff name" drama that has salon owners spiraling. I'm also sharing why Google has quietly become the most powerful tool for my highest-earning students (the ones bringing in 6-figures solo or are generating over 100 new client requests every single month).

This is your moment to get it right. No more contests, no more checkout prompts, no more hoping your reviews stick. Just a clear, sustainable strategy that actually works in 2026 and beyond.

If you need a tool to keep your numbers (and business!) organized, you'll want to check out our Wealthiest Year Yet Planner. Join the waitlist now at www.thrivingstylist.com/wealthiestyearyet/.

The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/.

Thriving Leadership Method hands salon owners a step-by-step strategy to implement an irresistible culture and create a powerful growth path…all while setting themselves up for structure and profit, and you can join the waitlist NOW at www.thrivingstylist.com/thrivingleadershipmethod/!

With Grow My Clientele Calculator, you'll get instant clarity on how many new clients you'll need to hit your 2025 financial goals! Enter just four numbers, and this tool will show you exactly how many new guests you need monthly and yearly to reach your target income. No guesswork or complicated math required, and you can get it now at www.thrivingstylist.com/growmyclientele/.

Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!

If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this.

Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/

My DMs have been blowing up lately with one specific question: "Britt, what do you think of this advice?" It seems like every time I open Instagram, there is a new business coach telling stylists that the way they've been working for years is suddenly obsolete. This week, I'm taking those viral posts to task and ranking them on a brand-new scale to see which ones are actual breakthroughs and which ones are just noise!

I'm digging into the "Saturday hustle" myth, the reality of a la carte versus tiered pricing, and some incredible innovation in the bridal space that I can't wait for you to hear.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice or wondering if you're falling behind the "latest trends," this episode is for you. We're cutting through the hype, looking at the actual numbers, and making sure you have a clear, actionable plan that prioritizes your success and your sanity.

I would love to hear what you think of this type of episode, and if you found it helpful and informative, let me know so I can bring more of this type of content to you here on the podcast!

If you need a tool to keep your numbers (and business!) organized, you'll want to check out our Wealthiest Year Yet Planner. Join the waitlist now at www.thrivingstylist.com/wealthiestyearyet/.

The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/.

Thriving Leadership Method hands salon owners a step-by-step strategy to implement an irresistible culture and create a powerful growth path…all while setting themselves up for structure and profit, and you can join the waitlist NOW at www.thrivingstylist.com/thrivingleadershipmethod/!

With Grow My Clientele Calculator, you'll get instant clarity on how many new clients you'll need to hit your 2025 financial goals! Enter just four numbers, and this tool will show you exactly how many new guests you need monthly and yearly to reach your target income. No guesswork or complicated math required, and you can get it now at www.thrivingstylist.com/growmyclientele/.

Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast!

If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this.

Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/

Have you ever looked at a viral post and felt like something was missing? This week, a social media campaign from a collection of private beauty schools has been making the rounds, warning that the industry is at risk of collapse due to federal loan defunding. On its face, it sounds terrifying, but once you peel back the layers, you realize the situation is much more complex than just "saving" the industry.

I was asked about my opinion on the post and situation, so I wanted to do an investigative-style episode that digs into the financial mechanics of for-profit beauty schools and the reality of the July 2025 Big, Beautiful Bill. I'm breaking down why the shift in oversight to the Treasury Department is happening, the staggering default rates that are putting NACCAS accreditation at risk, why cosmetology has landed in the crosshairs of a new federal earnings test, and much more.

If you've been confused by the buzz or worried about the future of beauty education, this episode is your clarity and context. Let's look at the data, address the fragility of the current model, and talk about how we can come together to build something better!

If you need a tool to keep your numbers (and business!) organized, you'll want to check out our Wealthiest Year Yet Planner. Join the waitlist now at www.thrivingstylist.com/wealthiestyearyet/.

The beauty industry is changing faster than ever. What worked in 2022 or even 2024 won't cut it in 2026, so are you ready? Grab our FREE 2026 TREND REPORT, The 2026 Must-Know Business Realities, Strategies & Trends for Stylists and Salon Owners now at https://thrivingstylist.com/mustknow/.

Thriving Leadership Method hands salon owners a step-by-step strategy to implement an irresistible culture and create a powerful growth path…all while setting themselves up for structure and profit, and you can join the waitlist NOW at www.thrivingstylist.com/thrivingleadershipmethod/!

With Grow My Clientele Calculator, you'll get instant clarity on how many new clients you'll need to hit your 2025 financial goals! Enter just four numbers, and this tool will show you exactly how many new guests you need monthly and yearly to reach your target income. No guesswork or complicated math required, and you can get it now at www.thrivingstylist.com/growmyclientele/.

Do you have a question for me that you'd like answered in a future episode like this one? A great way to do that is to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review with your question. I'm looking forward to answering your question on a future episode on the podcast! If you're not already following us, @thethrivingstylist, what are you waiting for? This is where I share pro tips every single week, along with winning strategies, testimonials, and amazing breakthroughs from my audience. You're not going to want to miss out on this.

Learn more at: https://thrivingstylist.com/podcast/