The Starting Messy Podcast

What happens when the business blueprint isn’t enough? In this raw and honest conversation, Misty Jayne sits down with seven-figure entrepreneur, published author, and salon owner Kelly Cahen to talk about the pivot that changes everything — not just in your business, but in how you see yourself.Kelly built two thriving hair salons and spent years coaching other salon owners on systems, financials, and management. But she kept hitting the same wall: her clients had all the tools and still weren’t moving. Why? Because the real entry point to business success isn’t strategy — it’s self-leadership. It’s knowing who you are, what you stand for, and what you’re no longer willing to tolerate.If you’re a hairstylist or salon owner who’s been doing all the things but still feels stuck, afraid to raise your prices, terrified to lose clients or team members, or quietly wondering if this is really what you want — this episode is your mirror.In this episode, you’ll hear:Why salon owners know exactly what to do — and still don’t do it (hint: it’s not a strategy problem)The "Who the f*ck are you?" moment that reframed everything for KellyHow fear of losing clients and team members keeps hairstylists stuck in their own wayWhy pivoting your business identity feels like losing yourself — and how to do it anywayThe difference between awareness, acceptance, and actually making a decisionWhat self-leadership really means for women who wear too many hatsHow to stop over-explaining, stop seeking approval, and start making choices for youThe friendship audit every woman in the beauty industry needs to takeWhy the stories we create about other people’s opinions are keeping us smallMisty’s personal journey of stepping away from alcohol, identity shifts, and learning to experiment without commitmentPerfect for: Hairstylists, salon owners, beauty entrepreneurs, and any woman in the service industry who is ready to stop people-pleasing and start building a life that actually feels like hers.

Looking for support Mastering Your Mess: Apply hereIf you’re a hairstylist or salon owner who loves personal development, this episode might feel like a little bit of a wake-up call.In this episode , Misty is sharing the perspective that took her years to understand: personal growth isn’t about controlling everything. It’s about learning how to respond differently when they show up.

In this episode Misty sits down with Chrystal Graves Founder of Liquid AI Salon Assistant (TRY IT HERE FOR FREE & tell it Misty sent you) to talk about decision fatigue in the beauty industry and why mental burnout has less to do with long days… and more to do with constant decision-making.They cover:Why stylists feel overwhelmed even when they’re fully bookedConfidence vs. discipline (and why motivation won’t save you)Why Instagram isn’t your business coachSmall pricing shifts that create big income changesHow to retain clients without chasing new onesIf you’re growth-minded but tired of overthinking every move in your business, this conversation will help you simplify, get clear, and move with intention.

Apply to work with me IF YOU'RE READY hereIf you’re a hairstylist or salon owner who wants more time, peace, money, or boundaries… but keeps circling the same decision, this episode is for you.In this episode, Misty dives into something she’s noticed after six years of coaching hairstylists and creative entrepreneurs:The difference between wanting change and actually choosing change.From filling out coaching applications and ghosting…To saying you’ll raise your prices but never sending the text…To talking about cutting back your schedule but never actually doing it…This episode explores:Why reaching out feels like progress (but often isn’t)The identity shift that happens when you move from “I’m trying” to “I’m doing”How hyper-independence can actually be procrastinationWhy potential feels safer than progressHow self-trust is built through tiny decisionsThe real reason discipline creates motivation (not the other way around)If you’re a growth-minded hairstylist who:Feels stuck between comfort and expansionKnows you want more balance outside the salonStruggles with boundaries, pricing, or stepping into your next levelKeeps saying “now’s not the right time”This episode will feel like a loving mirror.Because the gap between wanting and choosing?That’s where your self-trust is built.

If you’re a hairstylist or salon owner who is fully booked but secretly exhausted… this one is for you.In this episode, Misty shares the story of one of her first Master Your Mess clients, a successful stylist and salon owner who didn’t need more clients… she needed her life back.Ready to work together? Apply Here

Have you ever known what you wanted to do… and still asked five people for their opinion before making a decision?In this episode, Misty dives into one of the most unexpected—but powerful—outcomes she sees in her coaching work with hairstylists and salon owners: self-trust.What started as just money coaching turned into something much deeper. Again and again, clients reflected back the same thing:“I learned how to trust myself.”If you're ready to start trusting yourself too... Click here for more details on working together. hairstylist podcast, salon owner podcast, hairstylist mindset, money mindset for hairstylists, self trust, confidence behind the chair, hairstylist burnout, life coaching for hairstylists

What happens when a former undercover police decoy becomes a salon owner, educator, and global business mentor?In this episode, Misty Jayne sits down with Alison Rodriguez, co-founder of two successful salons and creator of Mastermynd Beauty, to talk about growth, reinvention, and building a sustainable career in the beauty industry.Alison shares her unconventional journey—from working undercover with law enforcement as a teenager to opening and scaling multiple salons, training over 100 stylists, and eventually stepping into education, events, and global mentorship for salon owners and hairstylists.This conversation is a must-listen if you’re a hairstylist or salon owner who:Feels stuck doing the same thing and craving more growthIs overwhelmed by social media, business decisions, or leadershipWants to move beyond just “making money behind the chair”Is curious about education, mindset, automation, and long-term sustainability

What if the key to better clients, higher retention, and less burnout behind the chair wasn’t more skill… but better alignment?In this episode, Misty sits down with Kati Whitledge, founder of Maya and Host of Beyond The Technique Podcast, to talk about why who you work with matters just as much as what you do.This conversation goes beyond marketing and tech. It’s about building a career you don’t want to escape from, attracting clients who respect you, and creating success that actually feels good.If you’re a hairstylist or salon owner who’s tired of feeling drained by your schedule — this episode will hit home.

In this episode of the Starting Messy Podcast, Misty sits down with Aryn Detres, founder of The Left Brain Group, to unpack the overconsumption problem in the hair industry—and why more education isn’t always the answer.If you’re a hairstylist or salon owner who’s taken all the classes, saved all the screenshots, and still feels stuck… this episode is for you.

In this episode, Misty Jayne joins Jodie Brown, the host of the Hairstylist Rising Podcast to break down one of the most misunderstood topics in the beauty industry: the real difference between coaching, mentoring, education, and consulting and why more information isn’t always the answer.This conversation is for hairstylists and salon owners who feel stuck despite being talented, booked out, and knowledgeable. We talk about why overlearning can become a form of avoidance, how fear and identity play a bigger role than skill gaps, and when it’s time to stop searching for answers and start looking inward.In this episode, we cover:Why having all the strategy doesn’t guarantee actionThe difference between a coach, mentor, educator, and consultantHow coaching helps uncover the real reasons you’re stuckWhy confidence comes from action, not more classesHow people-pleasing, fear of being seen, and overthinking show up for stylistsWhen to hire a coach vs when education is actually the right moveWhat “Starting Messy” really means (and why your mess isn’t the problem)If you’ve ever thought, “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I just do the thing?” this episode will feel like someone finally turned the lights on.

Looking for support? Click here to Master Your Mess In this episode, Misty Jayne breaks down why life coaching can be one of the most supportive tools for hairstylists and salon owners—especially those who are booked out, successful on paper, but feeling burned out, overwhelmed, or disconnected behind the scenes.This isn’t about business strategy, marketing tactics, or raising your prices for the 47th time.It’s about separating who you are from what you do, regulating your nervous system, setting boundaries without guilt, and understanding why money stress is often about much more than money.

✨ Free Resource Mentioned: STARTING MESSY WORKBOOKAs the year wraps up, Misty gets honest about the work she’s been doing behind the scenes for years—and what she’s finally owning out loud in 2026.In this episode, Misty shares why so many hairstylists and salon owners think they have a money problem… when in reality, money is often just the symptom. Underneath it?Self-doubt. Overthinking. Fear of being seen. Fear of choosing the “wrong” path. And the exhaustion that comes from being the strong one everyone relies on.After years of coaching stylists through financial growth, confidence blocks, perfectionism, and identity shifts, Misty opens up about why she’s stepping fully into life coaching—without hiding behind the money conversation anymore.

Get your Starting Messy Workbook HereMisty breaks down why those negative thoughts feel so real, even when they aren’t, and how your brain is literally wired to cling to familiar stories, not true ones.This conversation is especially for hairstylists and salon owners who:Overthink every business decisionStruggle with self-doubt, comparison, or imposter syndromeFeel stuck in negative mental loops that kill confidence and momentumYou’ll learn:Why positive thoughts feel “fake” at first (and why that’s normal)How repetition — not truth — creates beliefHow to rewire negative thought patterns without toxic positivitySimple ways to practice new thoughts so they actually stickWhy your mindset directly impacts your confidence, money, and decisionsIf you’ve ever felt like your own brain is working against you, this episode will help you understand what’s happening — and how to change it.✨ Plus, Misty shares a free resource to help you get unstuck and out of your head. Get your Starting Messy Workbook Here

Misty sits down with Carly Zanoni @the.blonde.cronicles, the educator and stylist behind The Blonde Chronicles University, to talk about what hairstylists really want to know: how to start before you're ready, how to grow without losing yourself, and how to build something meaningful even when everything feels messy.Carly shares how she launched a digital education platform during shutdowns, why “doing it scared” is so important, and how simplifying your color placement (and your self-talk) can change everything behind the chair.If you're a hairstylist or salon owner navigating growth, perfectionism, burnout, or the pivot into education — this episode is like a permission slip and a pep talk wrapped together.

In this episode, Misty gets vulnerable about what it really looks like to build a career in education and coaching as a hairstylist — beyond what Instagram shows you. She breaks down the messy middle, the insecurities, the backwards steps, and the slow-burn confidence that has shaped her journey over the past six years.Perfect for:Hairstylists, salon owners, independent educators, new coaches in the beauty industry, and anyone trying to figure out if they’re “behind” (spoiler: you’re not).

As hairstylists and salon owners, clients trust us with more than their hair — they trust us with their stories, emotions, and vulnerability. But being a true “safe space” doesn’t just happen. It’s a skill. And for many of us? It's a skill we were not taught.In today’s episode, Misty breaks down four powerful communication shifts that transformed her from a reactive communicator into the grounded, emotionally-intelligent coach and leader she is today. Whether you're navigating heavy conversations with clients, building stronger relationships with your team, or improving communication at home — these skills will change how you show up.hairstylist communication skills, salon owner leadership, safe space behind the chair, emotional intelligence for hairstylists, client relationships salon, how to communicate with clients, stylist burnout prevention, hairstylist personal development, beauty industry education, salon team communication

In this conversation, Misty breaks down what consistency really looks like — not perfection, not hustle, not “do the most every day.” Real, sustainable consistency that builds trust with your clients, your audience, your business, and yourself.Whether you’re behind the chair, growing your visibility, building a salon team, or trying to stick to your money plan… this episode gives you permission to show up imperfectly — and still create results.hairstylist business tips, salon owner education, stylist money mindset, beauty business coaching, hairstylist consistency, client trust salon industry, stylist burnout support, hairstylist podcast, beauty industry podcast, money mindset for stylists, stylist personal growth, salon leadership tips

In this throwback episode Misty chats with Aly Mckinnon, a salon design and organizations coach who helps salon and suite owners nationwide to create the salon space of their dreams. Using aligned design and organizational systems she helps stylists to bring joy and ease into their day in the salon and help to attract their dream clientele.Find more from Aly here: theorganizedhairstylist.com

In this episode, Misty Jayne sits down with salon business coach Kelly Cahen to unpack the toxic trend of shame-based money coaching — and why guilt and “tough love” won’t fix your financial patterns.If you’ve ever felt judged for having debt, using credit cards, or not saving “the right way,” this conversation will help you breathe again. Misty and Kelly talk about:💸 Why traditional money advice often fails hairstylists and salon owners💬 How shame keeps you stuck in scarcity🧠 The mindset shifts that actually create financial confidence💪 How to build a plan that fits YOUR unique money story — without guilt or “shoulds”Listen now to learn how to build wealth your way, ditch the guilt, and take back your financial power behind the chair.

In this throwback episode, Misty sits down with one of her salon clients, Danielle Talley, to discuss what clients really think about price increases! They dive into:Why confidence is the foundation for client trust (and pricing)How to navigate money conversations without guilt or over-explainingWhat clients really think when stylists raise their pricesHow mindfulness connects to your money habits and business boundariesThe importance of letting failure shape your growth instead of stopping itThis conversation bridges the worlds of yoga, wellness, and hairstyling — showing how confidence, boundaries, and emotional awareness shape success behind the chair and beyond it.