In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia kicks off a personal Year in Review series by reflecting on the trips he took, the lessons those experiences forced him to learn, and how they shaped the way he thinks about work, life, and success. This is not a highlight reel. It is an honest look at what changed behind the scenes and what it actually took to grow into a new chapter.

If you have been craving a reset, questioning your direction, or feeling like you are outgrowing the version of business you built, this episode will help you zoom out. Hunter shares the moments that challenged him, the patterns he noticed in himself, and the mindset shifts that helped him come back clearer, calmer, and more intentional.

Key Takeaways:

🌍 What travel reveals about your life
How getting out of your normal environment can expose what is working, what is not, and what you have been tolerating on autopilot.

🧠 Lessons that changed how he shows up
The internal shifts that helped Hunter make better decisions, protect his energy, and stop forcing a version of success that did not feel aligned.

📈 Growth that is not just about money
Why personal growth and business growth are connected, and how your business changes when you start building a bigger life around it.

🧭 The value of reflection as a business tool
How looking back with honesty can help you choose your next moves with clarity instead of pressure.

Why You Should Listen:

If you want to end the year feeling proud and start the next one feeling grounded, this episode will meet you where you are. It is part storytelling, part reflection, and part real life perspective on growth that actually sticks. Tune in for a refreshing reset that will help you think differently about what you want next and how to build it.

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In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia sits down with a panel of real independent stylists to talk about how they are actually navigating the holidays this year. From schedule choices to client gifts to family expectations, this roundtable gives you a behind the scenes look at what other beauty pros are doing in their businesses right now, without pretending there is one perfect way to do it.

Whether your books feel lighter than usual, you are completely slammed, or you are somewhere in between, you will hear honest perspectives on setting boundaries, keeping things special for clients, and staying sane through the rush. This episode is here to help you feel less alone and more grounded in the choices you make for your own holiday season.

Key Takeaways

🎁 Client gifts that do not drain you
How stylists are using simple ideas like scratch off cards, low lift gifts, and service based surprises so clients feel appreciated without wrecking profit or energy.

⏰ Extra hours or not
Why some stylists add a single high value day, some stretch a bit for regulars, and others keep their schedule exactly the same, and how each option can work depending on your life season.

🎄 Holiday vibes in the studio
Ways to create a cozy experience with decor, photo shoots, and music, plus how some stylists use intake forms so clients can choose whether they want holiday playlists or not.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family and free hair
Real stories about family members who expect free services, what changed when stylists started saying no, and clear language you can use the next time someone asks you to “just do it quick” at a gathering.

🧠 Permission to do what works for you
Why your demand, your personal life, and your nervous system matter more than what “everyone else” is doing, and how to release guilt around not doing gifts, extended hours, or big promos if they are not aligned.

Why You Should Listen

If you have ever wondered how other stylists are handling the holidays or felt pressure to do more than you realistically can, this episode will feel like sitting in on a supportive group chat. You will walk away with practical ideas, stronger language for your boundaries, and the reminder that you are allowed to build a holiday season that works for your clients and for you.

Connect with these stylists on Instagram:

Jess Ortiz: @FlairedBeauty

 Kristen Code: @kristencode

Brandy Chavez: @brandythehairstylist

May Luu: @mayidoyourhair

Let's connect on Instagram!

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In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia speaks to independent hairstylists who are tired of creating big New Year goals that fizzle out by February. Instead of another pretty planner that never gets used, Hunter walks you through the exact way he planned his most successful year so far and what needs to change if you want a 2026 plan that actually sticks.

Whether you are aiming for more consistent income, a lighter schedule, or finally following through on the projects that have been sitting on your list for years, this conversation will help you create a plan that feels realistic, sustainable, and genuinely supportive of your life behind and beyond the chair.

Key Takeaways

📌 Create the plan you actually need
Learn why most stylists either overshoot with impossible goals or choose what feels comfortable, and how to set targets that match your real numbers, capacity, and business season.

📌 Set attainable goals you can work backward from
Hear how to choose revenue and project goals that you can reverse engineer with simple math, so you know exactly what needs to happen month by month instead of guessing.

📌 Focus on what the business truly needs
Understand the difference between shiny ideas and the unglamorous projects that actually move the needle for bookings, retention, and profit.

📌 Build inspiration and accountability into your year
Get Hunter’s process for pairing discipline with built in motivation, check ins, and community support so you are not relying only on willpower when life gets busy.

📌 Recalibrate instead of quitting on your plan
Learn how to check in on your goals throughout the year, adjust when circumstances change, and tweak your targets without slipping into all or nothing thinking.

Why You Should Listen

If you have ever bought a planner, written out beautiful goals, then lost momentum a few weeks later, this episode is for you. Hunter will help you create a 2026 plan that feels doable on your actual schedule, supports both your income and your energy, and gives you clear direction for the entire year instead of another burst of motivation that fades away.

Let's connect on Instagram!

Join us on the Modern Hairstylist Tour!