Destroy The Hairdresser

In this solo episode of Destroy the Hairdresser, Cyd takes the mic to talk directly to salon owners about one of the biggest frustrations in the industry: hiring.Every week she hears the same thing in coaching calls:“I can’t find good stylists.”“No one wants to work anymore.”“Everyone just wants to rent a suite.”But what if hiring isn’t actually the problem?In this episode, Cyd breaks down why recruiting feels harder than ever and why the constant “we’re hiring” posts on Instagram aren’t bringing in the right people. She explains how many commission salons were built by copying outdated structures instead of intentionally designing a system that attracts talent.You’ll hear about:Why hiring has become so emotionally exhausting for salon ownersThe cycle of hiring, training, and losing stylistsWhy “we’re hiring” graphics actually repel great talentHow desperation shows up in recruitingWhy profitability and structure determine whether stylists want to work for youIf you’re a salon owner feeling stuck in the hiring hamster wheel, this episode will challenge the way you think about recruiting and leadership.Because the real issue isn’t finding stylists.It’s building a salon that great stylists actually want to join.JOIN THE NEW COMMISSION SALON HERE: https://www.destroythehairdresser.com/the-new-commission-salon-2026

In this episode of Destroy The Hairdresser, David and Cyd accidentally prove a point.What starts as a conversation about social media strategy, live video, and “visual hooks” quickly spirals into stink bugs in microphones, lice trauma, wolf spiders, sponsorship rants, and whether salons should infect clients to create recurring revenue (kidding… mostly).But here’s the experiment:They hit record.They go live.They stop trying to be educational.And they let the nonsense unfold.And if you’re still listening to the end… that’s the point.This episode explores:Why voyeur-style content is the futureWhy audiences don’t want lectures — they want accessThe shift from “teaching” to “being watched”Why going live as a salon might be smarter than you thinkHow influence really works in everyday conversationsThere is no polished takeaway.There is no 5-step system.Just proof that attention is built through presence, not perfection.And if you made it to the end?Congratulations.You’re part of the experiment.

In this episode of Destroy The Hairdresser, David goes solo.He invites you into a different vision of what a salon can be, one that feels more like a gallery than a factory.Slower doesn’t mean less money. Softer doesn’t mean weak.David breaks down how DTH salons operate with less chaos and higher profitability by removing double booking, eliminating retail pressure, and focusing on time-based pricing, shared space, and intentional systems. Instead of hustle-driven burnout, he describes a model where artists are paid for their time, commission is structured with freedom, and owners build spaces they actually want to uphold.This episode explores curiosity as a business skill, fearlessness as a practice, and why the salons that survive rejection cycles are the ones built on belief, not imitation.If you’ve ever wondered whether calm can be profitable, or whether commission can feel expansive instead of restrictive, this episode is for you.David is teaching The New Commission Salon a four week intensive where he walks through the philosophy, structure, and financial framework behind this model.You’ll learn how to:​Design a commission salon that feels like freedom, not control​Implement time-based pricing​Eliminate retail dependency​Increase profitability beyond industry averages​Build systems you can actually sustainIf this episode resonated, this is your next step.Learn more and enroll here:https://www.destroythehairdresser.com/the-new-commission-salon-2026Or text David directly if you’re serious about changing your structure.Slower can be profitable.Softer can be powerful.But only if you build it that way.Ready to Build It?

Hairdressers get heated about licensing but is that loyalty earned or conditioned? In this episode, I break down why cosmetology licensing looks more like financial gatekeeping than public protection. We’ll cover the emotional sunk cost that keeps stylists defending it, the lack of evidence that licensing improves safety, and how the system disproportionately impacts women and marginalized workers. If you’ve ever felt conflicted about the license you worked so hard for, this one’s for you.

In this solo episode, Cyd shares the real story behind her coaching journey, why Destroy The Hairdresser was created, and how coaching at DTH is fundamentally different from traditional programs.This isn’t about hype, motivation, or fixing hairdressers. It’s about critical thinking, emotional intelligence, sustainable systems, and building businesses that actually support real lives.Cyd reflects on her experience behind the chair, what she saw hairdressers struggling with for years, and why community—not virality or hustle—is the missing piece in the industry right now. She also shares why she’s deeply proud of the Hairdresser Business Club and the quiet, powerful work happening inside it every day.If you’ve ever felt disconnected from the industry, burned out by “industry standards,” or unsure where you fit anymore—this episode is for you.🎧 Two weeks free inside the Hairdresser Business Club is linked in the bio.Come see what we’re building.https://www.destroythehairdresser.com/offers/DbMChf8w/checkout

We’re fresh off a snowstorm, two babies with ear infections, and one chaotic trip to urgent care… so naturally the conversation spirals into the internet’s latest obsession: the “blue hair = mental illness” theory.We break down the viral meme, the research behind it (and why you can basically find a study to “prove” anything), and what it says about counterculture, creativity, and why the hair industry is emotionally driven in the first place. Then we pivot into the other thing hairdressers are currently losing their minds over: AI inspiration photos—and why shaming clients for bringing them in is… a choice.Bottom line: the world is on fire, everyone’s nervous system is fried, and if you’ve got blue hair right now? We see you. We love you.

We start this episode snowed in, panic-prepping with two babies and no truck… and somehow end up exposing the entire beauty retail system. Because honestly? Natural disasters and Big Beauty have more in common than you think.In this episode, we talk about why hairdressers and salon owners are out here defending brands that don’t pay them, don’t protect them, and definitely wouldn’t show up if their salon flooded, burned, or shut down overnight. We break down the myth of “partnership,” why retail math is misleading, how exclusivity is fake, and why putting a brand name in your bio for free is wild behavior.We cover:Why you’re the client, not the partnerHow retail money disappears instead of becoming profitWhy affiliate models actually make more senseHow Big Beauty benefits whether you win or loseWhy “supporting the brand” rarely supports youThis isn’t anti-product. It’s pro–critical thinking.Prep for the storm. Prep for your business. Stop selling your soul for shelf space.Stay safe out there. And seriously—follow the money.

This episode is pure internet chaos—for hairdressers. A harmless post turns into a comment-section war, non-hairdressers take it personally, someone yells about California laws, bean soup somehow enters the chat, and suddenly everyone thinks the post was about them.We talk about why going viral isn’t the flex people think it is, why the comments are always louder than the truth, and how quiet likes are usually the ones that actually turn into money. If you’ve ever wanted to go viral, gone viral, or been emotionally attacked by strangers with too much free time—this one’s for you.Not everything is for you. Especially this post.If this episode made you realize you’re arguing with strangers instead of building a business—come sit with us.👉 The Hairdresser Business Club is open with a 2-week free trial.Inside, we help you:• Make money without chasing virality• Stop spiraling over comments and start focusing on conversions• Use social media strategically, not emotionallyThe loudest people online aren’t your audience.The quiet ones already are.🎉 Try it free for two weeks and see what actually moves the needle.(And yes—watch the monks.)JOIN HERE: https://www.destroythehairdresser.com/offers/DbMChf8w/checkout

In this New Year’s Day episode, Cyd sits down with Cheri Oteri for a wildly honest, hilarious, and unexpectedly deep conversation about grief, burnout, leadership, and the absolute massacre of language in modern marketing.They kick things off by questioning why humans invented New Year’s celebrations in the first place, spiral into sickness updates and hospital scares, and then land squarely on the real theme of the episode: we’ve officially ruined some words beyond repair. Think “era,” “toxic,” “narcissist,” and other once-meaningful terms that now mean… absolutely nothing.From there, the conversation sharpens. They unpack why you cannot motivate your team, why forcing staff to do social media is unhinged, and why salon owners need to stop asking “How do I get them to…” and start asking “Is my business even worth documenting?”This episode dives into:Why behavior doesn’t change unless the environment doesWhy boring salons create silent teamsWhy posting hair is dead (sorry)Why leadership-by-example is annoying but necessaryWhy imperfect, human content is about to matter more than ever in an AI-saturated internetIt’s funny, spicy, blunt, and grounded in real coaching experience. No platitudes. No buzzwords. Just the uncomfortable truth: you can’t spark something if there’s nothing to light.If you’re a salon owner, leader, or coach heading into 2026 feeling stuck, this episode will either piss you off a little or make everything click. Possibly both.JOIN THE HAIRDRESSER BUSINESS CLUB AND GET TWO WEEKS FREEhttps://www.destroythehairdresser.com/offers/DbMChf8w/checkout

In this New Year’s Day episode, Cyd sits down with Cheri Oteri for a wildly honest, hilarious, and unexpectedly deep conversation about grief, burnout, leadership, and the absolute massacre of language in modern marketing.They kick things off by questioning why humans invented New Year’s celebrations in the first place, spiral into sickness updates and hospital scares, and then land squarely on the real theme of the episode: we’ve officially ruined some words beyond repair. Think “era,” “toxic,” “narcissist,” and other once-meaningful terms that now mean… absolutely nothing.From there, the conversation sharpens. They unpack why you cannot motivate your team, why forcing staff to do social media is unhinged, and why salon owners need to stop asking “How do I get them to…” and start asking “Is my business even worth documenting?”This episode dives into:Why behavior doesn’t change unless the environment doesWhy boring salons create silent teamsWhy posting hair is dead (sorry)Why leadership-by-example is annoying but necessaryWhy imperfect, human content is about to matter more than ever in an AI-saturated internetIt’s funny, spicy, blunt, and grounded in real coaching experience. No platitudes. No buzzwords. Just the uncomfortable truth: you can’t spark something if there’s nothing to light.If you’re a salon owner, leader, or coach heading into 2026 feeling stuck, this episode will either piss you off a little or make everything click. Possibly both.

In this solo episode, David steps in without a co-pilot and delivers one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on the podcast in a long time.This isn’t a hype episode.This isn’t a “set your goals and grind harder” episode.And it definitely isn’t about manifesting your way out of burnout.It’s about what happens after success.David reflects on the past few years — culturally, politically, personally — and challenges listeners to stop waiting for a global reset, a better year, or external permission to change their lives. Instead, he makes the case for individuation, sustainability, and choosing your own definition of success in an industry addicted to hustle and “more.”In this episode, he breaks down:Why hard work has very little to do with successHow the industry uses fake statistics and hustle myths to keep you stuckThe difference between achievement and fulfillmentWhy “more money” isn’t the same as a better lifeThe rarely discussed reality of Phase Four — when success arrives, boredom creeps in, and self-sabotage followsThis is a conversation about money, yes — but more than that, it’s about capacity. About learning how to sit with success instead of running from it or destroying it. About building a business that doesn’t collapse the moment you stop sprinting.If you’ve ever hit a milestone and thought, “Why doesn’t this feel how I thought it would?”Or if you’re exhausted by the endless chase for more — this episode will land.

This week, Cyd is lighting up the mic with the conversation the industry still tiptoes around: the retail system is broken, stylists are stuck at the bottom of the food chain, and product companies are out here winning big while hairdressers are left dusting shelves and doing math gymnastics hoping to find the “profit” everyone keeps promising.We dive into the era when salons ran the show, how ego and toxicity pushed stylists into the great suite exodus, the pandemic reset that flipped retail upside down, and the moment big brands pivoted to affiliate links because they had no choice. And just when hairdressers finally started winning? The TikTok influencer wave crashed over the industry and shoved stylists right back to the bottom — even though YOU are the one doing the actual work.Cyd breaks down what really happened, why influencers are cashing the checks meant for professionals, and what product companies must do if they want to stay relevant in the new era of creator-driven commerce. Spoiler: the future of retail belongs to the people who touch the hair, not the people who touch a ring light.Whether you’re a stylist, a salon owner, suite-based, or somewhere in between — this is the episode you’ll be sending to everyone in your salon group chat.And if you’re ready to stop feeling behind, stop playing by outdated rules, and actually build a profitable, modern salon career?Your salon business shouldn’t feel like guesswork — and you shouldn’t have to do it alone. Inside the Club, you get weekly coaching, real strategies that actually work in 2025, a community that understands the industry you’re living in, and systems that help you make more money with LESS stress.If this episode hit a nerve… the Club is where you turn the lightbulb moment into action.👉 Join the Hairdresser Business Club today.Your clients trust you.Your career deserves the same energy.https://www.destroythehairdresser.com/offers/DbMChf8w/checkout

In this episode, Cyd and David go off (lovingly) on the rise of woo-woo salons—the ones where your haircut somehow turns into an unsolicited aura reading, your schedule is set by the moon cycle, and “vibes” are doing more work than the actual business plan.They unpack:When spirituality and religion in the salon cross a line from “on brand” to “manipulative”Why your team and clients did not sign up to be part of your personal awakeningThe difference between building a clear brand experience vs. blindsiding people with energy workTroll comments like “no pain, no gain” and why DTH exists specifically so the next generation doesn’t have to suffer the way the last one didHow Destroy The Hairdresser’s “disruptive” branding triggers people who haven’t actually looked at the resultsAnd of course, they circle it back to hourly pricing, boundaries, and critical thinking as the actual structure that lets you build any kind of salon—woo, churchy, ultra-clinical, whatever—without burning everyone out.👀 Want help doing this without chaos?This is exactly what they teach inside the Hairdresser Business Club:Live weekly business + social media classes with Cyd and DavidA private community of stylists & salon owners who actually get what you’re trying to buildAccess to the full class library so you can binge the methods instead of winging it in the comments sectionAll for $39/month, with two weeks free, and you can cancel anytimeCome lurk, learn, and decide for yourself:👉 Join the Hairdresser Business Club here: https://www.destroythehairdresser.com/offers/DbMChf8w/checkoutYou can even be that person who takes a ton of classes in two weeks and then decides if you’re staying. We’ll still love you. 🖤

In this reflective solo episode, David gets honest about validation, legacy, and what it really means to be seen in the hair industry. From social media trolls to self-awareness, he breaks down why craving validation isn’t weakness—it’s human. The real issue? Seeking it from the wrong people.David dives into the evolution of Destroy the Hairdresser, the chaos of social media, and why connection—not perfection—is what sustains creative entrepreneurs long-term. He also shares how the Hairdresser Business Club is giving stylists and salon owners a place to find support, strategy, and belonging in an industry that often leaves them isolated.💣 Ready to find your people and grow your business with us?Join the Hairdresser Business Club →  https://www.destroythehairdresser.com/offers/DbMChf8w/checkout

In this solo episode, Cyd gets brutally honest about the excuses holding you back—from business growth to social media visibility to your own damn potential. If you’re still hiding behind “I don’t know what to post,” it’s time to admit the truth: you’re not confused, you’re insecure. Cyd breaks down how fear of judgment becomes a trap, how to get unstuck, and how to actually build a system that works for you—not against you.She shares how she coaches stylists to simplify, organize, and show up with strategy instead of burnout, proving you don’t have to post every day to see results. And before wrapping, she spills all the details on her signature program The Social Circus—a 4-week immersive experience designed to help hairdressers find their rhythm, grow their socials, and finally stop overthinking their content.👉 Payment plans available. Replays included. Zero excuses left.Ready to run away with the social circus? JOIN HERE!👇https://www.destroythehairdresser.com/the-social-circus

Cyd and David get real about the industry’s favorite lie: “I don’t need help.” They unpack why stylists and owners hide behind busyness, how product culture hijacked salons, and why going all-in on social while skipping real-world connection is costing you money.Then they lay out the fix: The Hairdresser Business Club—DTH’s coaching community where owners and independents learn modern pricing, marketing that actually books, recruiting that works, and leadership that doesn’t burn you out. You’ll get weekly live classes with Cyd (social) and David (business), replays, and access to the private clubhouse where students share scripts, wins, and receipts. It’s $39/month with a 2-week free trial, cancel anytime. If you’re tired of white-knuckling your business alone, come sit with us. https://www.destroythehairdresser.com/offers/DbMChf8w/checkout

Something magical happened while we were recording — we both yelled “witchcraft!” at the same time, and honestly… it fits.In this episode, Cyd and David pull back the curtain on why DTH Level One: The New Commission Salon feels like pure magic for salon owners who are tired of running their businesses on chaos.We talk about what actually changes when you stop guessing, start using systems, and realize leadership doesn’t have to feel like survival. From hiring to pricing to the emotional side of letting go — this episode is a mix of humor, truth bombs, and a little DTH sorcery.If you’ve ever said, “There has to be a better way,” this one’s for you. Join DTH LEVEL ONE Here: https://www.destroythehairdresser.com/offers/KFq6eMzz/checkout

In this solo episode, David gets real about working and leading when the world feels unsteady. He reframes the salon as a place of structure and sanctuary, urges stylists to protect their energy (hello, silent appointments), and draws a clear line between performative “giving” and simply providing clients a break. Beyond mindset, he lays out a practical call to action: shrink your focus to what you can control, strengthen routines around sleep/nutrition/mental health, and make plans that reach past today—because exhaustion breeds complacency.If you’ve felt powerless, this is your reminder that change in our industry and our communities moves from the people up, not the top down.Need salon business support? Book a free coaching call https://www.destroythehairdresser.com

Grab your spot in Cyd's Booked on Repeat: The hairdressers guide to IG stories class https://www.destroythehairdresser.com/offers/F63haZi5/checkoutCyd and David turn a chaotic Miami flight (two kids, two blowouts, one traumatized spouse) into a masterclass on Instagram Stories as the real engine of modern salon marketing. They unpack how branding is “friendly brainwashing,” why Stories outperform feeds for conversions, and how to turn everyday life into narrative arcs that book clients and sell classes—fast. You’ll learn the difference between feed (discovery) and Stories (nurture + conversion), how to structure Story sequences with purpose, and why showing up imperfectly beats perfectly curated posts every time. Cyd announces her live class, Booked on Repeat: The Hairdresser’s Guide to IG Stories, and shares practical prompts you can swipe today to turn taps into appointments.Need salon business support? Book a free coaching call https://www.destroythehairdresser.com

In this solo episode, Cyd takes a flamethrower to pricing confusion and breaks down the three models most stylists use—à la carte, session pricing, and hourly—without the fluff or guilt. She lays out clear pros and cons for each, then makes the simple, disruptive case: everything you sell is already time-based. If a cut takes 45 minutes and a blonding takes three hours, the price is always tied to time—whether you package it, rename it, or hide it under “starting at.”Cyd tackles the real barrier to hourly (it’s not the math—it’s saying your rate out loud), and gives exact scripts for explaining hourly to clients (“I charge for my time so you’re never upsold”), teams (“we don’t sell haircuts—we sell time”), and your socials/website (“book the time you need—if you’re not sure, I’ll guide you”). If you’re sick of defending add-ons, confused by sessions, or nervous to claim your rate, this is the clean, transparent framework you’ve been looking for.