Stylist Soul Tribe Conversations

Hosted by Lisa Huff

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May 2026

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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.

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60 recent

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

January 28, 202625 min

Is Retail Dead? How One Stylist Rebuilt Profitable Retail Without Ulta or Amazon

Have a topic request or someone you think we should have on the pod?! Send us a text and let us know!Retail used to feel simple. You trusted your brands, your clients trusted you, and selling products was part of the relationship—not a battle against the internet.For many stylists today, that’s no longer the case.In this episode of Stylist Soul Tribe Conversations, Lisa sits down with longtime Soul Tribe member Amanda Tustin to talk about what happens when retail starts to feel broken—and what it actually takes to rebuild it in today’s industry.Amanda shares her honest journey of nearly walking away from retail after years of frustration with minimum buy-ins, lack of support, inconsistent product performance, and competing with Amazon and big-box retailers. She opens up about the emotional and financial exhaustion of trying line after line—and why loving your product is non-negotiable if you expect clients to buy it.Together, they unpack:Why so many stylists feel disconnected from retail right nowWhat’s changed in brand–stylist relationships over the last decadeHow to evaluate brands beyond trends and “clean” marketingHow Amanda brought clients along for a retail transition without pressureWhy retail is about trust, not just profit marginsThis conversation isn’t about pushing a product—it’s about naming an industry shift and giving stylists permission to rethink retail in a way that actually feels aligned.If you’ve ever thought “retail just isn’t worth it anymore,” this episode is for you.Episode ResourcesSeven Haircare (use code AMANDA50 for 50% off your first order): https://www.7haircare.comConnect with Amanda: https://www.instagram.com/amandatustinhairLearn more about Stylist Soul Tribe: https://www.stylistsoultribe.comConnect with Lisa HuffInstagramFacebookYouTube

January 21, 202631 min

How Stylists Create Consistent Paychecks (and Stop the Feast-or-Famine Cycle)

Have a topic request or someone you think we should have on the pod?! Send us a text and let us know!Burnout isn’t a badge of honor, and inconsistent income doesn’t have to be part of the job.In this episode, Lisa sits down with business coach and industry educator Mandy Zehnder to talk about the systems that create real stability behind the chair: budgeting your business, setting aside taxes, paying yourself consistently, building cushion, and pricing with intention so your schedule can actually support your life.Mandy also shares her story of leaving the industry during a hard season, coming back with a “failure isn’t an option” mindset, and how running her business on a budget ultimately protected her family when life threw a major curveball.If you want more income, more freedom, and a schedule that doesn’t require nights, weekends, or constant hustle, this conversation will shift how you think about your business.Episode Links:https://www.mandyzehnder.com/https://www.instagram.com/mandyzehnder_edu/https://www.stylistsoultribe.com/ #hairstylist #salonbusiness #stylistlife #boothrenter #salonsuite #pricingstrategy #stylistburnout #beautybusinessConnect with Lisa HuffInstagramFacebookYouTube

January 17, 20261 hr 28 min

Together We Rise: Vision Casting Workshop Replay (Day 2 | Blueprint + Roadmaps)

Have a topic request or someone you think we should have on the pod?! Send us a text and let us know!This is Day 2 of the Vision Casting Workshop 2026 replay, originally hosted live inside Stylist Soul Tribe.Day 2 is where vision turns into structure. We move from reflection and big-picture dreaming into practical planning, focusing on the 12-Month Blueprint, quarterly themes, and 12-Week Roadmaps that actually support real life.This session is conversational, emotional, and deeply grounding. We talk through resistance, imposter syndrome, contentment, celebration, and what it really looks like to grow without chaos. You’ll hear live coaching, honest reflections from members, and examples of how to turn clarity into momentum.In this replay, we cover:Creating a 12-month vision that feels supportive, not overwhelmingChoosing a yearly theme and anchor goalsBreaking the year into quarters (and when it’s okay to only plan Q1)How to define “needle movers” instead of vague goalsBuilding realistic 12-week roadmaps (with real examples)When to DIY your roadmap vs. when deeper support mattersCelebrating wins, practicing contentment, and navigating imposter syndromeSystems, delegation, and support that reduce burnoutAn overview of the SST Marketplace and how members can get support without doing everything aloneWorkbook downloadConnect with Lisa HuffInstagramFacebookYouTube