Is your nail tech dipping your fingers into a communal jar of poop soup? Award-winning manicurist Renee Abugaben (Nay Nays Nails, Folsom's Best 3x) exposes why dip powder is a scam, how to spot a dirty salon, gel vs acrylic truth, and the nastiest client confessions ever — from mayonnaise nails to chewed-off acrylics.

This week on Shit I Told My Hairdresser, Jason and Paula finally have a MANICURIST on the pod — and she's not holding back

CONNECT WITH RENEE:

Instagram: @naynaysnails916/

Folsom, CA - Now accepting waitlist for 2027 (kidding... kinda)

LOVE THE SHIT WE TELL?

Tap FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts & Spotify - it's free and keeps us unfiltered.

Got a horror story? Leave us a voicemail at shititoldmyhairdresser.com or DM us on TikTok / Instagram @shititoldmyhairdresser

Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg pull back the curtain on the beauty industry with unfiltered conversations about salon culture, hairstylist life, toxic work environments, nightmare clients, celebrity encounters, relationships, burnout, and the chaos that happens behind the chair.

From hilarious salon horror stories to serious conversations about identity, mental health, beauty standards, and industry politics, Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser says the quiet parts out loud with raw honesty, dark humor, and zero filter.

New episodes weekly featuring hairstylists, salon owners, beauty insiders, celebrities, and real stories the industry usually keeps behind closed doors.

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

THE NON-APOLOGY MASTERCLASS -Nicholas gives his official apology to Kevin Murphy and Paula gives her apology to Unilever, Pantene, Suave, TRESemmé, and Prell: "You're absolutely right, and I apologize... it's all the same mush." and Jason just doesn't give a F*CK! Learn how to apologize without actually apologizing.

DIVERSION IS NOT A MYSTERY - How 35,000 units of Pureology end up on Groupon for less than your SalonCentric cost, and why your sales rep says "that's diversion" like it's not their own company doing it.

WHY WE SAID NO APOLOGIES, NO FUCKS GIVEN - The loyalty conversation they don't want you to have. When you buy from us, you keep the baseball jersey on our kid's back. When you buy from Safeway, you're helping buy someone's 3rd house in the Bahamas you're never invited to.

It's the sorry-not-sorry, backhanded apology episode that big beauty brands don't want you to hear.

We ask for one thing: If you like free shows like this, follow us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It costs you nothing and it keeps this show free and independent.

Got a story? Email us: info@shittoldmyhairdresser.com or leave a voicemail at shittoldmyhairdresser.com

TikTok + IG: @shittoldmyhairdresser

For more info in Nicholas Augustine and West Coast Blondes check them out and become a stockist or rep

IG @wcbhaircare @nicholaspaulaugustine

Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg pull back the curtain on the beauty industry with unfiltered conversations about salon culture, hairstylist life, toxic work environments, nightmare clients, celebrity encounters, relationships, burnout, and the chaos that happens behind the chair.

From hilarious salon horror stories to serious conversations about identity, mental health, beauty standards, and industry politics, Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser says the quiet parts out loud with raw honesty, dark humor, and zero filter.

New episodes weekly featuring hairstylists, salon owners, beauty insiders, celebrities, and real stories the industry usually keeps behind closed doors.

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

Charged for towels, backbar, and credit card fees while being called a 1099 commission employee? It's not normal. It's illegal.

We sat down with Margaret, Founder of Beyond The Chair Co., the nonprofit leading the fight for beauty education reform and regulation reform. A 10-year licensed stylist who left the industry after facing zero labor protections, she went back to school in her 30s, created her own degree in Applied Aesthetics, and is now earning her Master's in Public Affairs focused on fixing cosmetology licensure.

In this episode, Margaret breaks down:

• Why most commission stylists are misclassified and have no employment rights
• The real numbers: why cosmetology has the highest student loan default rate of any credentialing program
• How federally recognized apprenticeships pay you while you learn, with a 93% pass rate vs 76% in beauty school
• Why 55% of hairdressers legally can't unionize as booth renters or independent contractors, and the worker-owned co-op loophole that solves it
• Inside Mayday Salon in Nashville - the first worker-owned cooperative salon that's already profitable in year one

If you work in a commission salon, booth rent, suite, or own a salon, you need to hear where to actually go to learn your rights: Your Department of Labor, Washington L&I, and resources at beyondthechairco.com

Have a story about misclassification, wage theft, or no HR when you needed it? Leave us a voicemail at shititoldmyhairdresser.com and we might feature you. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Beyond the Chair Co. - beyondthechairco.com Instagram @beyondthechairco

Mayday Salon Cooperative (Nashville)

Department of Labor - For misclassification claims

L&I - Washington State Labor & Industries for commission rights

Before Beauty Nonprofit - Legal resources for stylists

And remember stay shitty!

Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg pull back the curtain on the beauty industry with unfiltered conversations about salon culture, hairstylist life, toxic work environments, nightmare clients, celebrity encounters, relationships, burnout, and the chaos that happens behind the chair.

From hilarious salon horror stories to serious conversations about identity, mental health, beauty standards, and industry politics, Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser says the quiet parts out loud with raw honesty, dark humor, and zero filter.

New episodes weekly featuring hairstylists, salon owners, beauty insiders, celebrities, and real stories the industry usually keeps behind closed doors.

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

What happens when addiction, crime, and a broken system collide—and someone finds a way back? In this episode, Hanzo Shears educator Collin Martin shares his remarkable journey from felony drug charges and homelessness to 16 years of sobriety and a successful career educating hairdressers across the country. We also uncover a shocking beauty school student loan fraud case, discuss why addiction remains a hidden crisis in the salon industry, and explore how mentorship, accountability, and second chances can transform lives. If you're a hairdresser, salon owner, cosmetology student, or simply love powerful comeback stories, this is an episode you won't forget.

Follow Collin on insta 📸 and visit him on his website and get cutting education https://collinmartinhair.com/

If this conversation resonated with you or someone you love, please know that help is available. Recovery is possible, and you don't have to face it alone.

🇺🇸 Need help with drug or alcohol addiction?

📞 SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

🕒 Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

💬 Free, confidential support, treatment referrals, and information for individuals and families.

If you're in immediate danger or experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

❤️ Remember: Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness—it's one of the strongest decisions you can make. Recovery is possible, and there are people ready to help. You are not alone.

Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg pull back the curtain on the beauty industry with unfiltered conversations about salon culture, hairstylist life, toxic work environments, nightmare clients, celebrity encounters, relationships, burnout, and the chaos that happens behind the chair.

From hilarious salon horror stories to serious conversations about identity, mental health, beauty standards, and industry politics, Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser says the quiet parts out loud with raw honesty, dark humor, and zero filter.

New episodes weekly featuring hairstylists, salon owners, beauty insiders, celebrities, and real stories the industry usually keeps behind closed doors.

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

Fourth-generation hairstylist, cosmetic chemist, and West Coast Blondes founder Nicholas joins Jason and Paula for one of the most eye-opening conversations we've had. From celebrity salons and LA Fashion Week to formulating professional haircare from the ground up, Nicholas breaks down how the beauty industry really works.

We expose white-label products, corporate consolidation, misleading marketing, influencer culture, overpriced salon products, and why so many hairdressers are being sold a version of success that doesn't match reality. We also dive into the science behind blonde hair, product formulation, salon profitability, affiliate income, and why independent stylists have more power than they realize.

If you're a hairstylist, salon owner, beauty professional, or someone who wants to understand what really happens behind the beauty industry curtain, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

Click the links below and get to know West Coast Blondes and Nicholas

Follow Nicholas & West Coast Blondes 📲 Instagram

🛍️ Shop West Coast Blondes Explore the professional haircare line built specifically for blondes and pre-lightened hair.

🤝 Become an Educator or Sales Rep Interested in partnering with West Coast Blondes? Learn how to join the team.

🎓 NPA Hair Learn more about Nicholas' education platform and professional training.

🎙️ Listen to the West Coast Blondes Podcast Hear more unfiltered conversations about the beauty industry, product formulation, business, and the future of hairdressing.

▶️ Watch on YouTube Subscribe for full interviews, education, product deep dives, and exclusive video content.

Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg pull back the curtain on the beauty industry with unfiltered conversations about salon culture, hairstylist life, toxic work environments, nightmare clients, celebrity encounters, relationships, burnout, and the chaos that happens behind the chair.

From hilarious salon horror stories to serious conversations about identity, mental health, beauty standards, and industry politics, Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser says the quiet parts out loud with raw honesty, dark humor, and zero filter.

New episodes weekly featuring hairstylists, salon owners, beauty insiders, celebrities, and real stories the industry usually keeps behind closed doors.

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

In this episode of Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser, Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg sit down with veteran salon owner and educator Mila, who shares her account of being recruited with promises of a national education platform—only to see those opportunities disappear amid alleged corporate politics, conflicts of interest, and years of frustration. Alongside Shaunda, they discuss the impact they say it had on their salons, careers, and business relationships.

The conversation explores:

• How beauty brands recruit salon owners and educators
• The politics behind becoming a platform artist
• Allegations of bait-and-switch recruiting tactics
• Conflicts of interest between sales reps and salons
• The realities of growing a successful salon business
• Leadership, integrity, and protecting your reputation
• Why more hairdressers are speaking openly about industry practices

Whether you're a hairstylist, salon owner, cosmetology student, beauty educator, platform artist, or beauty entrepreneur, this episode offers an inside look at the challenges many professionals say exist behind the scenes of the beauty industry.

Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser is the podcast that pulls back the curtain on the hair industry, exposing the conversations many professionals have privately—but few are willing to have publicly. If you're looking for honest discussions about salon culture, beauty business, education, and the future of the industry, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg pull back the curtain on the beauty industry with unfiltered conversations about salon culture, hairstylist life, toxic work environments, nightmare clients, celebrity encounters, relationships, burnout, and the chaos that happens behind the chair.

From hilarious salon horror stories to serious conversations about identity, mental health, beauty standards, and industry politics, Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser says the quiet parts out loud with raw honesty, dark humor, and zero filter.

New episodes weekly featuring hairstylists, salon owners, beauty insiders, celebrities, and real stories the industry usually keeps behind closed doors.

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

What does it really take to build a career in Hollywood as a hairstylist?

In this episode of Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser, Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg sit down with legendary hairstylist Cherry Peetenbrink, whose career has taken her from salon owner to Hollywood film sets, celebrity clients, major beauty brands, and blockbuster movies like The Hunger Games.

Cherry shares the untold stories behind coloring the iconic wigs for Effie and Katniss, working with Academy Award-winning actors, navigating Hollywood, educating for brands like Goldwell, Joico, and Olivia Garden, and why success has far more to do with delivering on your promises than luck.

The conversation also tackles the decline of today's hair shows, why brand loyalty has disappeared, balancing career with family, overcoming imposter syndrome, staying relevant after decades in the industry, and what today's hairstylists need to succeed in an ever-changing beauty business.

Whether you're a hairstylist, salon owner, beauty school student, educator, or simply fascinated by the world behind Hollywood hair, this episode is packed with real-world advice, career lessons, and behind-the-scenes stories you won't hear anywhere else.

Topics include:

• The Hunger Games hair transformations

• Celebrity hairstyling & Hollywood film sets

• Goldwell, Joico & major beauty brands

• Hair shows & beauty industry trends

• Salon ownership & career growth

• Education, mentorship & staying relevant

• Work-life balance & longevity in the beauty industry

If you're serious about building a long-term career in beauty, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg pull back the curtain on the beauty industry with unfiltered conversations about salon culture, hairstylist life, toxic work environments, nightmare clients, celebrity encounters, relationships, burnout, and the chaos that happens behind the chair.

From hilarious salon horror stories to serious conversations about identity, mental health, beauty standards, and industry politics, Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser says the quiet parts out loud with raw honesty, dark humor, and zero filter.

New episodes weekly featuring hairstylists, salon owners, beauty insiders, celebrities, and real stories the industry usually keeps behind closed doors.

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