In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hunter Donia and Jodie Brown break down one of the most common mistakes stylists make when trying to grow their clientele, and how it could be stopping new clients from ever finding you.

As more stylists aim to stand out with unique service offerings and specialties, it’s easy to get caught up in niche language, trendy techniques, or add-on services that don’t actually speak to what your dream client is looking for. Hunter shares why focusing too hard on what excites you, without translating it into what your client understands—can lead to missed opportunities and stalled growth.

Whether you’re launching something new, expanding your service menu, or trying to stand out in a crowded market, this episode will help you get clear on your message and connect with the people who are already searching for what you do.

Key Takeaways:

• Speak Their Language: Why the average client isn’t Googling your method and what they are searching for instead.
• Low-Hanging Fruit > Laser Facials: How to lead with the services your clients already want (and layer in your passions later).
• Specialty ≠ Confusion: The difference between strong branding and muddled messaging.
• The 80/20 Rule for Marketing: How to introduce new services without losing sight of what brings people through the door.
• Behind the Chair Strategy: Smart ways to educate and upsell without overwhelming or distracting from your core service.

Why You Should Listen:

If you’ve been promoting your passion projects and wondering why they’re not gaining traction—or if you feel torn between staying booked and staying inspired—this episode will show you how to market your business in a way that feels authentic, strategic, and sustainable. It’s not about watering down your brand. It’s about making sure your message actually reaches the people who need you most.

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In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hunter Donia and Jodie Brown open up about the all-too-familiar experience of building your beauty business from a place of fear, and how to shift toward something more empowering and sustainable.

From spiraling over client feedback to making reactive business decisions, Hunter shares his personal mindset struggles as an entrepreneur and the hard lessons that came from letting scarcity lead the way. Together, Hunter and Jodie unpack how high-stress hustle culture can sabotage your growth, and how to trade it for calm, confident, and data-backed decisions that actually stick.

Whether you’re gearing up for a price increase, launching something new, or just feeling overwhelmed by “what ifs,” this episode will help you build a business that’s driven by intention, not panic.

Key Takeaways:

• Scarcity vs. Strategy: Why acting out of fear might get fast results, but at what cost?
• Calm Is a Skill: How to self-regulate through spirals and keep your focus on the bigger picture.
• Plan, Then Pivot: The power of sticking to your strategy long enough to make it work.
• Price Increases and Panic: How to raise your rates without letting your inner critic take the wheel.
• Community & Confidence: Why you need people in your corner, and how to borrow belief when you need it most.

Why You Should Listen:

If you’ve ever made a business decision in a moment of stress (and regretted it later), this one’s for you. Learn how to shift out of survival mode and start running your beauty business from a place of grounded inspiration, clarity, and trust in yourself—even when things feel uncertain.

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Join us on the Modern Hairstylist Tour!

In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, Hunter Donia and Jodie Brown unpack one of the biggest challenges stylists are facing in 2025: feeling maxed out with nothing to show for it.

If you’re working nonstop but your income, energy, or momentum aren’t growing—it’s probably not because you’re lazy. It’s because you’re spending your time in the wrong places (and no one ever taught you what the right ones are).

Hunter breaks down how to start treating your time like your most valuable resource, how to identify the biggest time sucks in your business, and what he’s doing on the Modern Hairstylist Tour to help stylists reclaim their time, income, and freedom behind the chair.

Key Takeaways:

• Where Your Time Is Actually Going: The hidden drains most stylists don’t realize are slowing them down
• Focus Over Frustration: Why doing less is usually the answer to getting more results
• Time vs. Money: How to shift your mindset and your strategy for sustainable growth
• Smarter, Not Harder: The tools Hunter’s teaching on tour to streamline the day-to-day—including how AI can help without taking over

Why You Should Listen:

If you’re an independent stylist who’s exhausted from doing it all and still not seeing progress, this episode will help you pinpoint where your time and energy should be going next. Whether you’re rebuilding, scaling, or just trying to get your life back—this conversation will give you the clarity and direction to finally make your hard work count.

Checkout the LAST TWO dates of the Modern Hairstylist Tour here: https://www.hunterdonia.com/tour

Let's connect on Instagram!

Join us on the Modern Hairstylist Tour!