Advertise on podcast: Destroy The Hairdresser

Your Thursday is empty, but thank God you finally found the right shade of beige for your website. In this solo episode, Cyd talks about the things hairdressers and salon owners do to feel productive while avoiding the conversations that could bring in business. From endlessly tweaking your branding to leaving inquiries unanswered and making yet another plan, she breaks down three common habits and three practical ways to start following through. Expect a little calling out, a few uncomfortable truths, and permission to promote your business before everything looks perfect. Need help putting it into practice? Join us inside the Hairdresser Business Club for real conversations about marketing, pricing, hiring, leadership, and money. Bring your questions, get support, and start using what you learn.

Kelly Clarkson walked into a small business in Brooklyn, had a bad experience, and somehow David has turned the entire situation into a conversation about what's wrong with customer service in the salon industry. And honestly? He's got some thoughts. This week, David is flying solo and using the Kelly Clarkson controversy to unpack something we've been talking about at Destroy the Hairdresser for years: a great client experience has absolutely nothing to do with how much money you're spending on the things you think make your salon professional. A front desk doesn't automatically mean good customer service. Neither does a retail wall, someone answering the phones, or another team meeting about the client experience. What actually matters? Emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and hiring people who genuinely understand what it means to take care of someone. David also gets into the difference between empathy and sensitivity, why some hairdressers seem to build their books effortlessly while others struggle, and the one question he thinks every salon owner should be asking when hiring: Do they get it? Because you can teach someone your systems, give them the scripts, and show them exactly what to do. But if they don't understand the bigger picture, none of it matters. Ready to rethink the way you're running your salon? Join us inside the Hairdresser Business Club, where we're challenging outdated industry standards and helping hairdressers and salon owners build businesses that actually work. And if you're curious about our methods but aren't quite ready to jump in, David is hosting a free class series breaking down the systems and philosophies behind Destroy the Hairdresser. Come learn something. Ask the hard questions. And maybe rethink everything you thought you knew about running a salon.

Apparently, giving away free business education is controversial now. Who knew? This week, Cyd and David are talking about the methods that have made Destroy the Hairdresser one of the more controversial voices in the industry. Hourly pricing, removing tipping, ditching retail, and questioning the way salons have always operated. And while the internet loves to argue about these things, we're more interested in helping hairdressers actually understand them. David is launching a FREE three-part class series where he's breaking down our methods, answering your questions, and helping you understand why we teach what we teach. No gatekeeping, no fluff, and yes, you can ask the hard questions. We're also talking about why copying a business method without understanding it is a recipe for disaster, how the industry is finally starting to shift, and why we're not interested in watering down our message just to make people more comfortable. Oh, and somewhere in the middle, Cyd becomes convinced she's having a medical emergency. So there's that. Want to learn from David for FREE? Join his free class series happening in October, November, and December. One registration gets you access to all three classes, and you can bring every question you've ever wanted to ask about our methods. Ready for more than just the education? The Hairdresser Business Club is where we help you take what you're learning and actually put it to work. Get access to ongoing business education, coaching, resources, and a community of hairdressers who are ready to do things differently. Because learning a new way to run your business is one thing. Actually doing it is another. Sign up for David's free classes or join the Hairdresser Business Club using the links in the episode description.

What if half the things you’ve been told your salon needs are actually just costing you money? This week, Cyd and David are doing what they do best: questioning everything the beauty industry has decided is “normal.” Retail shelves. Affiliate links. Brand deals. Business tools. Expensive education. Calculators disguised as revolutionary technology. And yes, even the difference between saying you “made” $60,000 in retail versus actually looking at how much of that money ended up as profit. Because bringing money into your business and actually making money are two VERY different things. They also get into why salon owners can have packed books, great revenue, a busy team—and still have nothing left after the bills are paid. And why sometimes the thing standing between you and a more profitable business isn’t another class, system, or shiny new subscription. It’s being willing to question the way you’ve always done things. If you’re listening to this thinking, “Cool, but I have no f*****g idea what I should actually change in my business,” that’s exactly what our coaches are here for. Book a free coaching call with DTH. Talk to an actual human about what’s happening inside your salon, where your money is going, what isn’t working, and what might need to change. No generic business advice. No pretending everything is fine. No selling you another calculator. Just a conversation about your actual business. Book your free coaching call with Destroy The Hairdresser and let’s figure out what the hell is going on.

AI is coming for every industry, and hairdressers aren’t magically exempt. But that doesn’t necessarily mean what you think it means. In this episode, David talks about what happens when artificial intelligence can do things faster, cheaper, and eventually maybe even “better” than humans. Because while AI can replicate a service, automate a system, and probably one day cut some damn hair, there’s one thing it can’t actually replicate: you. Your personality. Your perspective. Your artistry. Your ability to connect with another human being. And as technology gets faster and more perfect, David believes the imperfect, slow, intentional work of actual humans could become more valuable, not less. So maybe the future of the hair industry isn’t about competing with AI at all. Maybe it’s about building businesses that leave more room for the thing technology can’t replace: humanity. We’re talking artistry vs. service providing, why salons should be treated more like practices, the coming AI divide, and why the systems and automation we teach at DTH were never meant to remove the human from your business. They were meant to give you more time to actually BE one. And if the way we think about business makes sense to you, now is the time to join the Hairdresser Business Club. The Club is currently $40/month, and on October 1st, it increases to $99/month. Join before the increase and lock in the $40 rate for as long as you remain a member.

If Cyd lost every single client tomorrow and had to rebuild her clientele from zero, she wouldn't start with the algorithm. In this episode, Cyd breaks down the five things she'd do again to build demand: becoming memorable, talking to actual humans, ditching outdated ideas of "professionalism," asking for referrals, and becoming known for something. Because Instagram will change. Algorithms will change. Platforms will come and go. But people still buy from people they know, like, and trust. If you're struggling to build a clientele—or you're posting constantly and wondering why it isn't translating into business—this episode is your reminder to get back to the fundamentals that actually make someone choose you. Want help putting it into practice? Inside the Hairdresser Business Club, Cyd teaches social media, branding, marketing, and business strategy every Monday. The Club is currently $40/month and increases to $99/month on October 1st. Join before the price changes and keep your $40 membership rate for as long as you remain an active member.

This week, we're going there. We're talking about power, money and who the hair industry chooses to put on a pedestal — and more importantly, who it continues to protect when serious allegations come to light. What starts as a conversation about the recent allegations and lawsuits surrounding Frédéric Fekkai turns into a much bigger conversation about our industry: the disproportionate power given to men in a female-dominated profession, the stories that get swept under the rug, the brands and publications that stay quiet when money is involved and why hairdressers need to start paying attention to exactly who they're funding. We're not journalists, and we're not asking you to blindly believe us either. We're asking you to do something we've always wanted hairdressers to do: Think for yourself. Do your research. Follow the money. And decide what you're willing to support. That's also exactly why we built the Hairdresser Business Club. The Club isn't about giving you another set of industry rules to blindly follow. It's about teaching you how to think differently about your business, question the systems you've inherited and build something that actually works for YOU. If you're ready to stop blindly following the industry and start thinking like a business owner, come join us inside the Hairdresser Business Club.

What if the reason your salon isn’t making enough money isn’t because you need more clients, more retail or more hustle… but because the way you were taught to run your business was never that profitable to begin with? In this solo episode, David is sharing some of the wins happening behind the scenes at Destroy The Hairdresser — salons hitting record weeks and months, owners reaching 20–25% profitability, hairdressers raising their hourly rates and clients saying YES without the drama everyone told them to expect. We’re talking hourly pricing, profitability, retail, outdated salon expenses and why following the traditional salon business model might be exactly what’s keeping you stuck. Because at some point you have to ask: if the old way was working so well… wouldn’t it have worked by now? And if you’re ready to learn a different way, get inside the Hairdresser Business Club. The Club includes live education, our recorded class library, community, the DTH methods and the tools we’re using to help hairdressers and salon owners build businesses that actually work for their lives. The Hairdresser Business Club increases to $99/month on October 1st, but if you join before then, you can lock in the current $40/month rate for as long as you stay a member. Get inside before the price changes.

What happens when you stop trying to build the salon you think you're supposed to own and build the one you actually want? In this episode, David sits down with Destroy the Hairdresser student and Capybara Hair Lounge owner Katya Yoshida to talk about her journey from nearly leaving the industry altogether to building one of the most unapologetically unique salons we've seen. Katya shares how discovering DTH challenged everything she thought she knew about pricing, salon ownership and what a "professional" salon was supposed to look like. They get into hourly pricing, gratuity-free culture, station sharing, hiring, commission in California and how she's built an eight-chair salon with a team that continues to grow. But this episode is really about what happens when you stop watering down the weird idea. Katya built a salon named after a giant rodent, filled it with creatives, anime lovers, gamers and self-proclaimed weirdos, and created a business that finally feels like her. Two years in, both she and her husband are able to take paychecks from the business, she was able to leave the country with her family for two weeks without the salon falling apart, and she's still focused on building something even bigger. If you've been sitting on an idea because you're worried people won't get it, this episode might be your permission slip to do it anyway. Want support building a salon that actually works for your life instead of copying the same tired industry playbook? Join us inside the Hairdresser Business Club. You'll get weekly business and social media education, coaching, community and access to the DTH methods salon owners and hairdressers are using to build businesses differently. Join the Hairdresser Business Club and get your first two weeks free.

Social media was supposed to be a tool for your business. Somewhere along the way, it became the place we measure our success, compare ourselves to everyone else, look for community, consume endless information, and decide whether or not we're doing enough. In this episode, Cyd and David talk about what happens when hairdressers start confusing views with value, why going viral doesn't necessarily mean you're making money, cancel culture, the fear of being perceived online, and why consuming too much content might actually be making you worse at creating it. They also get into the shift they're seeing away from traditional social media and toward smaller, intentional online communities. Because the goal isn't to disappear from the internet. It's to stop letting the internet run your business. That's exactly why they created the Hairdresser Business Club and the DTH app: a place for hairdressers and salon owners to get education, ask questions, connect with people who actually understand this industry, and build better businesses without relying on Instagram to be their teacher, community, and measuring stick. Use social media to grow your business. Then get the hell off of it. Join the Hairdresser Business Club and get your first two weeks free.

Every time you open Instagram, you're being sold a new way to run your business. A new pricing model. A new marketing strategy. A new "must-have" service. It's no wonder so many salon owners feel stuck, overwhelmed, and constantly questioning themselves. In this episode, David dives into the growing confidence crisis facing hairdressers and salon owners and explores how endless content consumption can quietly fuel doubt instead of growth. He shares why community has become more important than ever, how to know when social media is helping versus hurting you, and why building a business requires trusting your own decisions—not chasing every trend that shows up in your feed. If you've been feeling uncertain, burnt out, or like everyone else has the answers except you, this conversation is a reminder that confidence isn't built through more scrolling—it's built through connection, support, and taking consistent action alongside people who are growing with you. Want community? Join the Hairdresser Business Club and get your first two weeks free.

Your stylist accepted a new job. They weren't kidnapped. In this episode, I'm talking about one of the weirdest things we've normalized in the salon industry: treating hiring like stealing, recruiting like poaching, and quitting like a personal attack. Somewhere along the way, we stopped seeing career moves as a normal part of business and started treating them like betrayals. But what if we've been asking the wrong questions? What if your team doesn't belong to you? What if someone leaving your salon isn't a reflection of your leadership, but simply the next chapter in their career? In this episode, we're unpacking: Why the salon industry has made hiring so emotionalThe problem with calling recruitment "poaching"Why great leaders aren't afraid of people leavingHow to build a culture people choose—not one they feel trapped inThe mindset shift every salon owner needs to make about hiring, firing, and career transitionsIf this conversation makes you a little uncomfortable... good. That's usually where the growth starts. 🖤 Want to go deeper? Inside the Hairdresser Business Club, we have classes on hiring, firing, leadership, culture, and building a salon people actually want to be part of. We skip the fluff and get straight to the conversations that move your business forward. Join the Club here: https://www.destroythehairdresser.com/offers/DbMChf8w/checkout

In this episode, David sits down with former Destroy The Hairdresser student Elma Siljkovic, owner of Queen of Swords in Brooklyn, to share one of the most powerful stories we've ever featured on the podcast. After building a salon around systems, trust, and sustainability instead of hustle, Elma was faced with an unimaginable challenge: a cancer diagnosis. Because her business wasn't built to depend entirely on her, she was able to step away, focus on treatment, and give herself the space to heal without watching everything she had worked for fall apart. This conversation isn't just about salon ownership. It's about building a business that supports your life during the best moments—and the hardest ones. Elma shares how rethinking the traditional salon model gave her the freedom to prioritize her health, trust her team, and return stronger than ever. Whether you're behind the chair every day or leading a growing team, this episode is a reminder that the most successful businesses aren't the ones that demand everything from you—they're the ones that give something back when you need it most.

e.l.f. just launched an entire haircare line with products priced at $10 or less, and most of the industry is talking about the products themselves. We're talking about what this launch actually means. In this episode, Cyd and David unpack why e.l.f.'s move into haircare is a warning sign for the salon industry, what happens when massive consumer brands decide they no longer need hairdressers to sell products, and why the traditional retail model may be reaching a breaking point. From Target shelves and TikTok Shop to affiliate sales and consumer trust, this conversation goes far beyond shampoo. It's about the future of retail, the changing role of the hairdresser, and why competing on products alone may no longer be enough. If you've ever wondered why clients are buying more products than ever but less of them from salons, this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now and join the conversation. 💣 Ready to build a business that isn't dependent on outdated industry rules? Join the Hairdresser Business Club and get your first two weeks free. 🎟️ Want to experience DTH live? Grab your seat for The Disobedience Business Tour in NYC this July and learn how salon owners across the country are creating businesses that work differently.

Everyone says their event is "different." So what actually makes The Disobedience Business Tour different? In this episode, Cyd and David pull back the curtain on why they created the tour, what attendees can expect, and why this isn't another weekend of watching stage demos you'll forget by Monday. From uncomfortable conversations and bold business ideas to real coaching, honest stories, and a room full of people who refuse to settle for "the way it's always been done," the tour is designed to challenge the way you think about leadership, money, hiring, pricing, and what it means to build a salon business that actually supports your life. If you've been wondering whether this event is for you, this episode is your backstage pass. You'll hear the vision behind the tour, the impact they hope it has on the industry, and why some of the biggest breakthroughs happen when you're willing to question everything. 🎧 Listen now and find out why we're calling this the most disobedient event in the salon industry. 💣 Ready to experience it for yourself? Grab your ticket to The Disobedience Business Tour and join us in New York City. Whether you're a salon owner, independent stylist, or future leader, you'll leave with new ideas, new connections, and a completely different perspective on what's possible. 🤝 Looking for coaching beyond the event? Join the Hairdresser Business Club and get your first two weeks free for weekly coaching, live classes, and a community of salon professionals who are building businesses differently.