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The Modern Hairstylist ™ Podcast
The Modern Hairstylist ™ Podcast
Author: Hunter Donia
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© 2026 The Modern Hairstylist ™ Podcast
Description
Teaching you how to grow your beauty business as a hairstylist or salon owner without the overwhelm by implementing modern strategies so you can reclaim time, freedom and energy from working behind the chair.
234 Episodes
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In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown break down why the traditional referral program has stopped working for independent hairstylists, and what the modern version of word-of-mouth growth actually looks like in 2026. Hunter shares his own experience watching a single well-connected client organically post about her hair on Instagram and send him more new clients than any referral incentive ever could. That moment became the foundation for s...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia shares a behind-the-scenes look at a real challenge many experienced stylists face: realizing that some of your longest-standing clients are still paying far less than your current pricing. When you have built deep relationships over years behind the chair, raising those prices can feel incredibly uncomfortable, even when you know it is the right business decision. Hunter walks through how emotional pricing often sneaks into...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hunter Donia revisits one of the most debated topics in the industry over the past few years: pre-booking. For decades, stylists were taught that pre-booking was the key to predictable income and a full schedule. But after the pandemic, many hairstylists began questioning whether it actually created real stability or just the illusion of it. Hunter originally challenged the traditional approach to pre-booking, arguing that it could create fal...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown talk about the thing that quietly stresses stylists out the most: unpredictable income. Whether your slow months follow the typical seasonal patterns or they hit randomly out of nowhere, this episode is both a reality check and a practical plan for creating more stability in your take home pay. Hunter breaks down why volatility usually comes from two issues that can be solved. Uneven profitability acros...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown break down how to attract new clients in ways that do not rely on constant posting, endless DMs, or putting all of your energy into one platform. If you feel like marketing takes too much effort just to maintain consistent inquiries, this conversation walks through the most automated strategies stylists can use to bring in new requests while doing less manual work day to day. Hunter explains that automa...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown break down what to do when you are fully booked, already priced high for your area, and still want to grow your income without adding more clients, more hours, or another big price jump. If you feel like you have hit a ceiling around that next revenue level, this episode gives you tangible ways to increase profit by working smarter inside the business you already have momentum in. Hunter shares the stra...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown get into a problem that drains time, energy, and momentum fast: attracting clients who DM forever, ghost after you send pricing, cancel last minute, or simply are not a great fit for your chair. If you feel like you are constantly dealing with non ideal inquiries and it is making you resent the process of booking new clients, this conversation gives you a clear framework to change the type of clients yo...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown break down the behind the scenes systems that make a stylist feel impossible to replace. If you have big ideas for your client experience but never have the time or consistency to follow through, this episode shows how to automate the parts that matter most so your business feels high touch without being high effort. Hunter walks through four key points in the client journey where simple automations can...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown talk about the client every stylist knows, the one that makes you dread your schedule before the week even starts. If you have ever felt anxious leading up to an appointment because you already know the client will be unhappy, uncomfortable to be around, or impossible to please, this episode walks you through how to let them go in a way that is firm, professional, and as low drama as possible. Hunter br...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown break down a policy almost no one thinks to write until it is too late: a salon etiquette policy. If you have ever had a client bring negativity, controversial topics, or disrespectful behavior into your chair and you froze because you did not know what to say, this episode gives you a simple way to prevent those situations before they start. Hunter explains why the goal of policies is not punishment. I...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia breaks down a question that comes up fast when bookings feel inconsistent: is lowering prices actually a smart move, or is it a distraction from what really needs attention? Using a real coaching call as the backdrop, Hunter walks through why price is often the first thing we blame, but why a price drop can backfire if you have not fully exhausted your marketing fundamentals and perceived value first. You will hear exactly w...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia breaks down the real reason most stylists avoid taking client photos and how to fix it without making things awkward. If you know you should be capturing more before and after content but you keep skipping it because it feels weird, this episode gives you a simple approach that protects the client experience while still getting the shots you need. You will learn how to ask in a way that feels confident and normal, how to rem...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hunter Donia continues his Year in Review series with Part 2, and this one is all about capacity. Not time on the calendar, but the actual energy it takes to keep saying yes, keep moving, and keep chasing the next experience. Hunter breaks down what happened after a season of constant travel, tour dates, and personal plans stacked back to back, and the moment he realized that being grateful and being burned out can exist at the exact same tim...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia kicks off a personal Year in Review series by reflecting on the trips he took, the lessons those experiences forced him to learn, and how they shaped the way he thinks about work, life, and success. This is not a highlight reel. It is an honest look at what changed behind the scenes and what it actually took to grow into a new chapter. If you have been craving a reset, questioning your direction, or feeling like you are outg...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia sits down with a panel of real independent stylists to talk about how they are actually navigating the holidays this year. From schedule choices to client gifts to family expectations, this roundtable gives you a behind the scenes look at what other beauty pros are doing in their businesses right now, without pretending there is one perfect way to do it. Whether your books feel lighter than usual, you are completely slammed,...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia speaks to independent hairstylists who are tired of creating big New Year goals that fizzle out by February. Instead of another pretty planner that never gets used, Hunter walks you through the exact way he planned his most successful year so far and what needs to change if you want a 2026 plan that actually sticks. Whether you are aiming for more consistent income, a lighter schedule, or finally following through on the pro...
Listen to "Real Stories of 10k Months, Big Growth & Bigger Confidence — Mastermind Roundtable" HERE In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia opens up about what happens after you hit your goals and still feel weirdly disconnected from your work. If your books are full, your revenue is steady, and you are technically “successful” but you feel numb, restless, or unsure what is next, this conversation is for you. Hunter and Jodie Brown talk honestly about using wo...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown share advanced marketing moves for stylists who are already booked and want to keep growing. If you feel like you have hit a glass ceiling with pricing and demand, this conversation shows the next level strategies that help you attract higher ticket clients and earn more without adding more days behind the chair. Whether you are ready to build an email list, test video consultations, or put a smal...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hunter Donia and Jodie Brown tackle a very real problem for stylists who are over social media yet still want consistent results. Hunter reframes consistency as a non negotiable business task and breaks down the root causes that keep stylists from posting. You will hear simple ways to remove those blockers so showing up becomes practical instead of perfect. Whether your book has new gaps or you just do not feel like posting, this conver...
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia brings a real roundtable of hairstylists to share what is actually working for last minute cancellations and no shows. You will hear how peers use cards on file, when they charge the fee, when they waive it, and how they communicate without burning bridges. This is a practical look at boundaries and grace so you can protect your time and income with confidence. Whether you are tightening policies for high ticket servic...



