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 sustainable

How toxic or unstructured salon environments impact confidence and longevity

The moment burnout becomes impossible to ignore

When client relationships cross into identity and emotional exhaustion

Why curating your clientele can be an act of self-respect

The role mentorship plays in preventing burnout before it starts

Cheri’s concept of “personal culture” and intentional career design

Redefining success in a way that actually supports your life

Whether 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.com

Cheri also shares long-form education, storytelling, and burnout recovery content on Instagram and YouTube, all linked through her website.

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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 now
• What’s changed in brand–stylist relationships over the last decade
• How to evaluate brands beyond trends and “clean” marketing
• How Amanda brought clients along for a retail transition without pressure
• Why retail is about trust, not just profit margins

This 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 Resources

• Seven Haircare (use code AMANDA50 for 50% off your first order): https://www.7haircare.com
  
  
• Connect with Amanda: https://www.instagram.com/amandatustinhair
  
  
• Learn more about Stylist Soul Tribe: https://www.stylistsoultribe.com

Connect with Lisa Huff

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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 #beautybusiness

Connect with Lisa Huff

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