In this brutally honest episode of Shit I Told My Hairdresser, we expose the dark side of the beauty industry — from predatory cosmetology school loans to sliding scale commission traps inside corporate salons.

Kelly shares her real journey through $20,000 beauty school tuition, unpaid assistant labor, booth rent disasters, and commission structures designed to keep stylists broke. We break down how retail quotas, hidden deductions, and corporate “chop shop” culture burn out talented hairdressers before they ever build a career.

Then things take a turn.

Because no hairdresser podcast episode would be complete without absolute chaos — including a client who grabbed a bowl of 40-volume bleach and decided to test a very bad idea in the bathroom.

This episode covers:

• The truth about cosmetology school marketing
• Corporate salon commission scams
• Sliding scale pay structures explained
• Booth rent vs commission pros and cons
• Beauty industry burnout and how to survive it
• And one of the wildest salon horror stories ever told

If you’re a hairstylist, barber, salon owner, or beauty school student wondering why 40% of graduates quit — this episode will hit hard.

Subscribe, rate, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite hairdresser podcast.

And remember:

Advocate for yourself. Read your pay structure. And maybe… leave the bleach where it belongs.

Stay shitty.

Give a follow on instagram https://www.instagram.com/shititoldmyhairdresser/

If you would like to be on the show or share a story with visit our website and leave us a voicemail or email https://shititoldmyhairdresser.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this wild episode of Shit I Told My Hairdresser, we break down one of the craziest salon horror stories we’ve ever experienced — including the infamous foot fetish client from Philly and a toxic salon client meltdown during a real-life medical emergency.

From entitled holiday clients who think their haircut matters more than a collapsing lung, to a grown man attempting to lick a stylist’s feet mid-service… this episode dives deep into the reality of working behind the chair.

We’re talking:

• Toxic salon clients who don’t respect boundaries
• Firing clients in the beauty industry
• Personal emergencies vs. entitled expectations
• Foot fetish chaos in a professional salon
• Why the “customer is always right” mindset is dead

If you’re a hairstylist, salon owner, or beauty professional, this hairdresser podcast episode will hit home.

If you’re a client… you might recognize yourself.

Listen now for real, unfiltered salon stories from behind the chair — because in this industry, the drama never books an appointment.

Give a follow on instagram https://www.instagram.com/shititoldmyhairdresser/

If you would like to be on the show or share a story with visit our website and leave us a voicemail or email https://shititoldmyhairdresser.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Shit I Told My Hairdresser, Jason and Jack break down the most exhausting clients in the salon industry — the ones who cancel last minute, abuse the front desk, try to intimidate stylists, and pull the classic line: “I know the owner.”

From a returning “Daddy” client who screamed at staff and learned the hard way about cancellation policies, to price-shopping emails, box dye lies, and clients who think negotiating hair services is normal, this episode exposes how entitlement really plays out behind the chair.

They talk about why professional stylists refuse to quote prices over email, how consultations protect both clients and artists, and why disrespecting receptionists is the fastest way to get fired as a client. If you’ve ever worked in a salon — or tried to bully your way into one — this episode explains exactly why boundaries exist and why they matter.

Raw, funny, and brutally honest, this is a must-listen for hairstylists, salon owners, and anyone who thinks money or connections give them control.

Give a follow on instagram https://www.instagram.com/shititoldmyhairdresser/

If you would like to be on the show or share a story with visit our website and leave us a voicemail or email https://shititoldmyhairdresser.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What really happens behind the chair isn’t glamorous—and it’s definitely not professional.

In this episode, we break down real salon horror stories including coworkers stealing supplies, toxic behavior in high-end salons, and clients who cross boundaries in ways most people wouldn’t believe. From stolen developer and quiet revenge, to creepy shampoo-bowl behavior, inappropriate oversharing, and power plays inside the beauty industry, this episode exposes what hairdressers, makeup artists, and salon owners actually deal with every day.

This raw, honest conversation pulls back the curtain on salon politics, workplace harassment, emotional labor, and why setting boundaries is essential for survival in the beauty industry. If you’ve ever worked behind the chair—or wondered why your stylist needs a drink after work—this episode explains everything.

Perfect for hairdressers, stylists, makeup artists, salon owners, and anyone curious about the reality of working in salons.

salon stories

hairdresser podcast

beauty industry reality

toxic coworkers

problem clients

salon drama

hairstylist life

behind the chair

Give a follow on instagram https://www.instagram.com/shititoldmyhairdresser/

If you would like to be on the show or share a story with visit our website and leave us a voicemail or email https://shititoldmyhairdresser.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anya joins Jack and Jason for a no-filter episode of Shit I Told My Hairdresser that hits everything from fake hair products and shady beauty education to the real reality of working behind the chair with a speech impediment. They talk stuttering in the salon, how clients and strangers react, and why confidence matters more than “perfect” speech—especially in an industry obsessed with image.

Then it gets wild: Anya breaks down the high-end Williamsburg Brooklyn salon scene—cash-only days, motorcycles in the salon, nonstop partying, strip club nights, and the toxic “rockstar stylist” lifestyle people glamorize but don’t understand. They also get into drug and alcohol culture in salons, including what really happens in “cool” luxury spaces, hair shows, and education programs that pay trash and sell lies.

And if you think that’s the peak… wait until Costa Rica: mud wrestling, heavy partying, a fight with locals, guns, and a Corona bottle to the face that left Anya stitched up—plus the dark truth about how these stories happened before everyone had a camera in their pocket. This one’s for every stylist who’s ever felt judged, underestimated, or told they “can’t” do it.

hairdresser podcast, stuttering, speech impediment, salon culture, fake hair products, beauty industry, hair education, toxic salon, Williamsburg Brooklyn salon, drugs in salons, hair show stories, celebrity stylist, hairstylist life.

Give a follow on instagram https://www.instagram.com/shititoldmyhairdresser/

If you would like to be on the show or share a story with visit our website and leave us a voicemail or email https://shititoldmyhairdresser.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when clients cross the line—and expect you to stay quiet because they’re “paying”?

In this episode, we break down the real reasons hairstylists fire clients and why bad behavior in the salon is no longer tolerated. From clients blasting phone calls on speaker, to entitlement, false accusations, boundary violations, and emotional manipulation, this conversation exposes the ugliest side of salon culture that no one prepares stylists for.

Our guest shares firsthand stories from behind the chair—being overstimulated by loud clients, dealing with disrespect during consultations, navigating false claims, and finally choosing self-respect over steady money. We talk about why “loyal” clients aren’t always good clients, how toxic behavior drains your energy and business, and what actually happens when stylists stop people-pleasing.

This episode is a must-listen for hairstylists, salon owners, and beauty professionals who are burned out, underpaid, and tired of being treated like servants instead of skilled professionals.

If you’ve ever asked yourself “Is this client worth it?”—this episode gives you the answer.

hairstylist podcast, bad clients, firing clients, toxic salon clients, salon boundaries, hairstylist burnout, beauty industry stories, salon etiquette, behind the chair

Give a follow on instagram https://www.instagram.com/shititoldmyhairdresser/

If you would like to be on the show or share a story with visit our website and leave us a voicemail or email https://shititoldmyhairdresser.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason sits down with his mother, Elizabeth Townsend—a Honduran immigrant and veteran hairdresser with 47 years behind the chair—to share the real, unfiltered truth about building a long-term career in the beauty industry.

Elizabeth recounts immigrating from Honduras to California as a teenager, starting her hairdressing career in the late 1960s, and building a loyal clientele without social media, influencers, or modern marketing. She shares how consistent work ethic, saving money, and smart decisions allowed her to turn hairdressing into long-term financial stability and real estate wealth.

The conversation also exposes the hidden health risks of hairdressing, including long-term exposure to hair color chemicals and the link to cancer—an issue rarely discussed openly in the salon industry. Elizabeth shares her personal experience battling cancer multiple times and why today’s stylists need to take chemical safety seriously.

From old-school salon culture and unforgettable client stories to lessons on resilience, money, and longevity, this episode is a must-listen for hairdressers, beauty professionals, immigrants, and anyone building a career from the ground up.

Give a follow on instagram https://www.instagram.com/shititoldmyhairdresser/

If you would like to be on the show or share a story with visit our website and leave us a voicemail or email https://shititoldmyhairdresser.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beauty school didn’t fail you by accident — it failed you by design.

In this episode of Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser, we break down the biggest lie sold to aspiring hairstylists: the promise that you’ll graduate “salon ready” and make six figures right out of school.

Spoiler alert: you won’t.

This honest, no-fluff conversation pulls back the curtain on what beauty school actually prepares you for (passing state board) — and what it completely ignores (real-world salon life, income reality, client management, and career longevity).

We talk about:

• Why most new stylists start as assistants making far less than expected

• How beauty schools oversell income potential to boost enrollment

• Why real education starts after graduation

• The emotional and financial shock new stylists aren’t warned about

• Why mentorship matters more than talent

• The gap between Instagram fantasy and salon reality

• What actually builds a sustainable, profitable hair career

This episode isn’t anti-education — it’s pro-truth.

If you’re a beauty student, new stylist, salon owner, or educator, this episode will either validate what you already know… or explain why the industry felt so hard so fast.

No motivation posters.

No fake numbers.

Just the truth about how hairstylist careers are really built.

beauty school myth

hairstylist career advice

salon ready lie

beauty school reality

hairdresser salary truth

new hairstylist struggles

salon assistant life

beauty industry education

Give a follow on instagram https://www.instagram.com/shititoldmyhairdresser/

If you would like to be on the show or share a story with visit our website and leave us a voicemail or email https://shititoldmyhairdresser.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.