Stylist Soul Tribe Conversations

Hosted by Lisa Huff

Business Entrepreneurship Marketing EducationInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Welcome to 'Stylist Soul Tribe Conversations', your source of inspiration and empowerment inside the beauty industry. Hosted by Lisa Huff, this podcast aims to ignite passion, purpose, and potential in hairstylists, salon owners, and industry professionals worldwide. Each episode, ranging from concise 15-minute insights to detailed hour-long conversations, is thoughtfully curated to offer a mix of solo musings, co-hosted discussions, and interviews with members of our close-knit Stylist Soul Tribe community and other industry trailblazers. We delve into business-building strategies, lifestyle design, personal growth, and the power of the law of attraction. Our conversations are both uplifting and insightful, crafted to help you build a life and business beyond your wildest dreams. The power of community is at the heart of everything we do. At 'Stylist Soul Tribe Conversations', we believe in the magic that happens when likeminded individuals come together, support each other, and collectively raise the bar in the industry. So join us as we explore the transformative power of community and celebrate the beauty of becoming, together.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

July 1, 202640 min

S-Corps, Tip Credits, and Tax Deductions: A CPA’s Guide for Beauty Pros

Have a topic request or someone you think we should have on the pod?! Send us a text and let us know!If you're a stylist or beauty professional who has ever felt confused, overwhelmed, or even frustrated when it comes to your business finances, this episode is your wake-up call.Today, we are joined by the incredible Michelle Cook, a beauty school graduate turned licensed CPA and the founder of Carter Cook CPAs. Michelle and her team specialize in guiding beauty professionals to move beyond compliance and into forward-focused strategy. In other words, she doesn't just help you file your taxes; she helps you use your numbers to grow your business.In this episode, Michelle pulls back the curtain on the recent tax law changes that every salon owner and independent stylist needs to know about right now. We break down the brand-new FICA Tip Credit (which could save you thousands permanently) and the temporary Tip Deduction (worth up to $5,000 in savings). We also tackle the confusing world of S-Corps (when to switch, what to pay yourself, and why the "general rule" might be costing you money), uncover the top hidden deductions you're probably missing, and have an honest conversation about why making six figures doesn't always mean you feel rich, and how to fix that.Whether you're a booth renter, a salon owner, or scaling a multi-seven-figure empire, this episode is your ultimate financial playbook. Key Takeaways Two New Tax Laws Are a Big Deal for Beauty ProsThe FICA Tip Credit is permanent and eliminates payroll taxes on tips—this alone can save you thousands.The Tip Deduction is temporary (2025–2028) and allows a deduction of up to $25,000 in tips, saving you roughly $5,000 annually.Don't Assume Your CPA Knows the NuancesNot all CPAs specialize in the beauty industry. Ask your tax preparer directly: "Are we taking advantage of the new tip credit and tip deduction?"If they missed it, they should amend your return for free. If they won't, run a cost-benefit analysis to see if hiring someone else to amend is worth it.Maximize Your Write-Offs with These Hidden DeductionsHome Office: Must be exclusively used for business—deduct a portion of utilities, internet, and mortgage interest.Vehicle: Track business miles (errands, trade shows, education), but not your daily commute.Cell Phone: Allocate a percentage of your monthly bill if used for business.All-Inclusive Retreats: 100% deductible as education—a better deal than paying for meals (only 50% deductible) separately.The S-Corp "Rule of Thumb" Might Be Wrong for YouGeneral CPAs often say you need $100K in profit for an S-Corp, but Michelle says start thinking about it at $50K in profit.Your salary must be "reasonable" for your location and role—$30K may work in some areas but won't fly in San Francisco.The only reason to form an S-Corp is to save on taxes. Make sure your CPA runs a personalized analysis first.Wealth Isn't About a Number—It's About BehaviorMany high-earners feel broke because of lifestyle creep.Smart business owners lock in a comfortable lifestyle and let the extra profit work for them (investing, saving, or scaling).Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Please consult your own qualified professional.Connect with Michelle Cook: https://www.cartercookcpas.com/Course: Beauty Bookkeeping – Learn to organize your numbers, pay yourself correctly, and set aside taxes like a pro. This summer I'm hosting the Summer Specialization Series: three live virtual panels on the specialties that are really taking off in the industry right now.June 29 — Hair Loss, Extensions, and Enhancements July 27 — Curly Hair August 31 — Scalp Health and Head SpasEach panel is $55, or grab all three for $111 and save.Grab your spot here: https://stylistsoultribe.mykajabi.com/2026-summer-seriesConnect with Lisa HuffInstagramFacebookYouTube

June 24, 202611 min

The Pricing Mistake Most Hairstylists Make

Have a topic request or someone you think we should have on the pod?! Send us a text and let us know!Are you raising your prices based on strategy… or just repeating what you've always been told? One of the biggest mistakes I see hairstylists make is increasing haircuts by $5 and color services by $10 without ever looking at whether their service menu is actually balanced. In this video, I'm walking you through my Price-Per-Minute Clarity Check—a simple exercise that helps uncover hidden pricing imbalances inside your service menu. You'll learn: ✔️ Why most salon pricing becomes unbalanced over time ✔️ How to calculate price per minute for every service ✔️ Why I don't believe all services should automatically increase equally ✔️ How to identify underpriced services without lowering prices elsewhere ✔️ How I combine this with my supply-and-demand pricing philosophyThis isn't about random price increases. It's about building an intentional service menu that supports your income, your schedule, and the long-term sustainability of your beauty business. 👇 Watch next: How to Know When You've Earned a Price Increase (Supply & Demand Pricing) If you're a hairstylist, salon suite owner, esthetician, nail tech, or beauty professional looking to create more profit without working more hours, you're in the right place.Connect with Lisa HuffInstagramFacebookYouTube

June 17, 202612 min

The Data-Driven Approach to Raising Your Prices as a Stylist

Have a topic request or someone you think we should have on the pod?! Send us a text and let us know!Are you raising your prices based on feelings… or on actual data?One of the biggest mistakes I see beauty pros make is letting guilt, fear, or ego drive their pricing decisions, either charging more because they think they "deserve" it, or holding back because they're scared of what clients will think. But pricing isn't personal. It's supply and demand. It's math.In this training, I'm walking you through my completely data-driven approach to price increases, so you can raise your rates with clarity, not drama.You'll learn:✔️ The difference between emotional discounting and strategic price increases✔️ Why you have to get clear on your pricing structure before you raise anything✔️ The 4 questions I ask every stylist to determine if they've actually earned an increase—and whether it should be 10%, 20%, or 30%✔️ Exactly how to roll out your increase without the guilt or awkwardness: when to announce it, how to word the email to your clients, what to say at checkout, and how to handle the rare client who pushes back✔️ Why you don't need a public Instagram announcement or over-explanation—just a calm, confident rolloutThis isn't about charging more just because you want to. It's about reading what the market is already telling you and responding with confidence. When your demand is high and your books are full, leaving money on the table doesn't serve you or your clients. But when your prices match your demand, everything shifts—your schedule, your income, and the way you show up behind the chair.👇 Want hands-on help working through your own price increase strategy?If you're a hairstylist, salon suite owner, esthetician, nail tech, or beauty professional looking to build a business that actually pays you what you're worth, DM me "SST" on Instagram @lisahuffhair—and let's make it happen.Connect with Lisa HuffInstagramFacebookYouTube

May 27, 202630 min

How to Serve Hair Loss Clients Without Becoming a Specialist

Have a topic request or someone you think we should have on the pod?! Send us a text and let us know!You have clients who need hair loss solutions or volume enhancements. You want to help them. But you don't have the time, energy, or desire to master an entirely new specialty.Enter Emilie Carpenter.Emilie is a stylist who built a private studio in a converted office space during COVID. Along the way, she accidentally became an expert in custom-colored human hair toppers and then turned that expertise into a done-for-you business model called Stay Hair Solutions. ✨ In this episode, Emilie shares:Why coloring a topper is nothing like coloring biological hair (and the expensive mistake she made learning that)The 4 surprising use cases for hair toppers beyond just hair lossHow she hit her annual sales goal by May, selling directly to other stylistsAnd most importantly: how you can serve your own hair loss clients without doing any of the specialized work yourselfPlus, Lisa shares about her client, the $900 topper from a "trusted brand" that looked like a bright yellow hat, and how Emilie saved the day with a flawless custom piece.💡Key TakeawaysYou don't need to become a specialist. Emilie does all the sourcing, custom coloring, and fulfillment. You simply connect her with your client, choose your markup, and look like the hero.Hair toppers aren't just for hair loss. Use them for growing out gray, protecting fragile hair from bleach damage, trying bangs without commitment, or adding volume that bio hair can't achieve.Color matching is completely different. A client's exact bio-hair formula will NOT work on a topper. Emilie speaks stylist language but uses a completely different color theory to get a perfect match.The client experience is stress-free.Proof is in the results. Emilie joined the Soul Tribe Marketplace in January and hit her entire annual sales goal by early May. 💬Connect with EmilieStay Hair Solutions: https://www.stayhairsolutions.com/ Emilie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stayhairsolutions Connect with Lisa HuffInstagramFacebookYouTube

April 15, 202633 min

How to Buy a Salon (Instead of Building One From Scratch)

Have a topic request or someone you think we should have on the pod?! Send us a text and let us know!What if becoming a salon owner didn’t mean starting from zero?In this episode of Stylist Soul Tribe Conversations, I’m sitting down with Soul Tribe member Raschell to talk about a path to salon ownership that’s rarely discussed in our industry… buying an existing salon.Raschell officially purchased her salon in August 2025, and her story is such a powerful example of what’s possible when you combine intuition, strategy, and the willingness to do things differently.We walk through her entire journey—from the moment the idea was first planted, to navigating fear around leadership, to comparing options, negotiating the deal, securing financing, and stepping into ownership with an existing team.If you’ve ever felt called to salon ownership but overwhelmed by the idea of building something from scratch, this episode will expand what you believe is possible.✨ In This Episode, We Cover:The moment the opportunity was planted and why timing matters more than readinessThe biggest fear most stylists have about ownership (hint: it’s not money)How to evaluate whether buying vs. building is the right moveWhat to look for when reviewing P&Ls, pricing, and salon valueA real breakdown of the negotiation process and how to approach it confidentlyCreative ways to finance a salon purchase, including SBA loan optionsHow to navigate the transition with an existing team (without losing everyone)Why overcommunication is your biggest leadership advantageWhat it actually looks like to step into the role of salon owner💡 Key Takeaway:Salon ownership doesn’t have to follow the traditional path.Building from scratch is one option—but buying an existing salon can fast-track your growth, give you immediate infrastructure, and open doors you may not have considered before.The key is approaching it with both data and intuition, and being ready to step into leadership in a whole new way.🔗 Resources + Mentions:SCORE – Free mentorship and support for business ownersSBA Loans (Small Business Administration) – Financing options for purchasing a business💬 Connect with Raschell:Be sure to check out Raschell’s work and follow along with her journey:https://www.instagram.com/houseofcabelo/https://www.instagram.com/hairbyraschell/💛 Loved This Episode?If this conversation sparked something for you, share it with a stylist who’s been thinking about salon ownership.And if you’re ready to grow your business with support, strategy, and community, come join us inside Stylist Soul Tribe.Connect with Lisa HuffInstagramFacebookYouTube

March 25, 202614 min

STOP Taking Every Client: How to Build a Clientele You LOVE

Have a topic request or someone you think we should have on the pod?! Send us a text and let us know!If you want help curating your clientele, tightening your boundaries, and building systems that support the kind of business you actually want to run, DM me “SST” on Instagram @lisahuffhair. That’s the work we do inside Stylist Soul Tribe.If you’ve ever felt resentful in your own fully booked schedule, this video is for you. So many stylists were taught to say yes to everyone, and that mindset quietly builds a clientele that drains you instead of supports you. In this training, I walk you through how to stop taking every client and start intentionally attracting the ones who respect your time, trust your expertise, and make your days feel lighter.We’re breaking down the Yes, No, Maybe audit, how to define what a dream client actually means for you, and how your messaging, services, pricing, and boundaries all work together to filter in the right people. I also talk about what to do with misaligned clients, how to set clear expectations without drama, and why raising your prices is not the first move if your foundation is off.This is not about being exclusive or ego-driven. It’s about building a business that feels sustainable. When your books are full of people who drain you, no amount of money fixes that. But when your books are full of aligned clients, everything changes.If you want help curating your clientele, tightening your boundaries, and building systems that support the kind of business you actually want to run, DM me “SST” on Instagram.Connect with Lisa HuffInstagramFacebookYouTube

March 18, 202615 min

The 5-Stage Marketing System for Fully Booked Stylists

Have a topic request or someone you think we should have on the pod?! Send us a text and let us know!If your books feel unpredictable busy one month, slow the next it's not because you're doing anything wrong. It's because most stylists were never taught the actual foundations of running a business. In this video, I'm breaking down the 5-stage marketing system that separates struggling stylists from consistently booked ones: ✔️ Awareness — How clients actually find you ✔️ Consideration — What makes them trust you before they book ✔️ Conversion — Making it easy to say yes ✔️ Nurture — Turning one-time guests into long-term clients ✔️ Advocacy — Getting clients who refer on repeat You don't need to be everywhere. You don't need to do all the things. But you DO need a complete funnel. When all 5 stages work together, you stop chasing clients and start attracting them. This is the foundation that changed everything for me—and for hundreds of stylists and beauty pros inside Stylist Soul Tribe. Ready to implement this in your business? DM me 'SST' on Instagram and let's build your system together.Connect with Lisa HuffInstagramFacebookYouTube

March 11, 202633 min

Outgrowing Your Space Without Outgrowing Your Mind

Have a topic request or someone you think we should have on the pod?! Send us a text and let us know!Have you ever felt like your business has physically outgrown its location, but your brain hasn't quite caught up to the leap you need to take?In this episode of Stylist Soul Tribe Conversations, I sit down with Megan Vaughn, a 20-year stylist and 11-year salon owner from the Central Coast of California. Megan’s journey to ownership was completely accidental (think messy partnerships, partners who walked out, and a whole lot of winging it), but her growth over the last 18 months has been anything but.We dive deep into the moment she realized her 670-square-foot salon was holding her back, the terrifying decision to look for a new space, and the wild way the perfect turnkey location literally fell into her lap after she spoke her vision out loud. Megan gets real about imposter syndrome, the evolution of her vision boards, and how she navigated the fear of "what if it doesn't work out?" only to have the universe prove her wrong.If you’ve ever felt stuck, scared to level up, or like you’re the only one winging it, this conversation is for you.In this episode, we cover:What it means to be an "accidental" salon owner and how to survive when partnerships fail.The signs that your physical space is limiting your growth (even if the business is "working").Why speaking your desires out loud specifically "I want a bigger space but I don't have a build-out in me" can open doors you didn't know existed.How to navigate the terror of a rent increase and the risk of a team walkout.The reality of imposter syndrome: why you can still feel like a "small fish" even after a major upgrade.Megan’s vision board evolution: from "safe" to specific, and how she marks things off (including this podcast!).The power of community in giving you the confidence to make moves you’ve been marinating on for years.Connect with Megan Vaughn:Instagram: @gypsyandoaksalonConnect with Lisa HuffInstagramFacebookYouTube

February 25, 202637 min

"I'll Just Do Your Social Media" How a Tribe Call Comment Became a Business

Have a topic request or someone you think we should have on the pod?! Send us a text and let us know!What if the thing you were always good at wasn't meant to stay a hobby, but the foundation of an entirely new business?In this episode, I'm sitting down with my good friend and repeat guest, Laurel Guaderrama. She's a six-figure stylist turned Instagram marketing coach and founder of a social media management agency for beauty pros. But unlike most marketers, she's still behind the chair using the same strategies her agency executes for other stylists to grow real clientele in real time.It's been almost exactly two years since her first episode, and if you've ever wondered what it actually looks like to navigate a hard season and come out the other side building something you never planned for, this conversation is for you.Laurel gets honest about the last two years: the postpartum fog she couldn't shake, the identity hit when the strategies that once worked stopped working, and the radical decision to leave a salon she loved, not because anything was wrong, but because you can't heal in the environment you got sick in.From there, things shifted. A helpful comment in a Soul Tribe call, "I'll just do all of your guys' social media", turned into a beta test. That beta test turned into nine clients, and the realization that she couldn't do it alone. We talk about what it actually looked like to build a team, hire her first support, and transition from "hairstylist who helps with Instagram" to founder of an agency with systems, packages, and a waitlist.Laurel also walks us through the "Big Magic" download that became her new prompt subscription, a brainless, fill-in-the-blank content solution born from the realization that she was generating content for nine different accounts, speaking as nine different people, and could turn that skill into something any stylist could use.In this episode, we cover:Why the strategies that worked before stopped working after life threw a curveballThe difference between actual limitations and the ones we create when we’re stuck in our feelingsWhy changing your environment can be the radical jolt your nervous system needsHow a casual offer in a group chat turned into a beta test, then a full-blown agencyThe messy reality of scaling too fast and the moment Laurel knew she needed to build a teamWhat it looks like to train other people to write like you and speak for your brandThe “Big Magic” download that became her prompt subscription and why it exists to make content brainlessWhat’s working on Instagram right now (and why it’s simpler than you think)Connect with Laurel https://www.looksbylaurel.com/Connect with Lisa HuffInstagramFacebookYouTube

February 4, 202645 min

Booked & Busy Isn’t the Goal: Redefining Success with Cheri Doren

Have a topic request or someone you think we should have on the pod?! Send us a text and let us know!What if being “booked and busy” isn’t actually the definition of success we’ve been sold?In this episode, I’m joined by Cheri Doren, creator of the Defined Stylist Method, behind-the-chair stylist, salon owner, and educator with nearly four decades in the beauty industry. Cheri shares her honest journey through burnout, people-pleasing, financial pressure, and identity loss, and how those experiences shaped the way she now mentors stylists.We talk about the realities of hustle culture behind the chair, how early salon environments can either build or break confidence, and why so many stylists end up trapped in careers that look successful on the outside but feel unsustainable on the inside.This conversation is reflective, grounding, and deeply validating for any stylist who has ever felt exhausted, overwhelmed, or unsure if this pace is really what they signed up for.In this episode, we cover:Why “booked and busy” isn’t the same as fulfilled or sustainableHow toxic or unstructured salon environments impact confidence and longevityThe moment burnout becomes impossible to ignoreWhen client relationships cross into identity and emotional exhaustionWhy curating your clientele can be an act of self-respectThe role mentorship plays in preventing burnout before it startsCheri’s concept of “personal culture” and intentional career designRedefining success in a way that actually supports your lifeWhether you’re early in your career and want to avoid burnout altogether, or deep in it and craving a way out, this episode offers perspective, permission, and a reminder that there is another way.Connect with Cheri Doren:Website: https://www.thedefinedstylistmethod.comCheri also shares long-form education, storytelling, and burnout recovery content on Instagram and YouTube, all linked through her website.Connect with Lisa HuffInstagramFacebookYouTube