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Shit I told my Hairdresser
Unfiltered Salon Stories, Hairstylist Confessions & Beauty Industry Truths
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147. Illegal Salon Pay Tricks Commission vs 1099 w/ Margaret Ferguson Beyond the Chair Co
56:02||Season 1, Ep. 147Charged 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 rightsThe real numbers: why cosmetology has the highest student loan default rate of any credentialing programHow federally recognized apprenticeships pay you while you learn, with a 93% pass rate vs 76% in beauty schoolWhy 55% of hairdressers legally can't unionize as booth renters or independent contractors, and the worker-owned co-op loophole that solves itInside Mayday Salon in Nashville - the first worker-owned cooperative salon that's already profitable in year oneIf 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.comHave 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 @beyondthechaircoMayday Salon Cooperative (Nashville)Department of Labor - For misclassification claimsL&I - Washington State Labor & Industries for commission rightsBefore Beauty Nonprofit - Legal resources for stylistsAnd remember stay shitty!
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146. From Felony Charges to 16 Years Sober: A Hairdresser's Incredible Comeback with Collin Martin
50:29||Season 1, Ep. 146What 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.
145. The Haircare Industry Is Lying to Hairdressers with West Coast Blondes Founder Nicholas Augustine
48:38||Season 1, Ep. 145Fourth-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 NicholasFollow 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.
144. The Beauty Industry Bait & Switch: How One Rep Nearly Destroyed a Salon owner reputation and her salons
01:02:48||Season 1, Ep. 144In 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 educatorsThe politics behind becoming a platform artistAllegations of bait-and-switch recruiting tacticsConflicts of interest between sales reps and salonsThe realities of growing a successful salon businessLeadership, integrity, and protecting your reputationWhy more hairdressers are speaking openly about industry practicesWhether 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.
143. Hollywood's Secret Hairdresser: The Untold Story Behind The Hunger Games with Cherry Petenbrink
57:27||Season 1, Ep. 143What 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 industryIf you're serious about building a long-term career in beauty, this is an episode you don't want to miss.
142. Beauty Schools Exposed, A State Board Examiner & A Students Email Tell All
48:20||Season 1, Ep. 142What really happens behind the scenes at beauty schools—and why are so many graduates unprepared for the salon floor?In this episode of Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser, Jason Townsend and Paula Dahlberg sit down with a former state board examiner who reveals what she witnessed firsthand: failing sanitation standards, missing student hours, weak instructor training, licensing issues, and the costly mistakes that can follow students long after graduation.They also break down a listener's shocking account of attending beauty school during COVID, including allegations of fundraising during class time, questionable tuition practices, financial aid concerns, and why many graduates leave school unprepared for a real career behind the chair.If you're a hairstylist, beauty school student, salon owner, educator, or anyone considering a career in cosmetology, this episode pulls back the curtain on an industry that desperately needs accountability.Topics: beauty school, cosmetology school, state board exam, hairstylist education, salon industry, cosmetology licensing, sanitation, beauty school scams, salon careers, hairstylist podcast.
141. The Beauty School Lie Nobody Wants to Admit with Carla Jones
01:12:09||Season 1, Ep. 141The beauty industry is facing one of its biggest educational shakeups in decades. Carla Jones joins us to unpack the facts behind the Do No Harm Bill, Title IV funding, gainful employment requirements, student outcomes, salon culture, and the future of beauty education. This isn't fear-mongering—it's a candid conversation about accountability, opportunity, and what schools, students, and salon owners need to do moving forward. For more follow Carla on Instagram @iamcarlajones and on TikTok @iam.carlajonesBeauty School Reform, Cosmetology School, Do No Harm Bill, Beauty Industry News, Hairdresser Podcast, Salon Industry, Hairstylist Education, Beauty School Truth, Cosmetology Career, Salon Owner, Hair Industry, Beauty School Accreditation, Career Readiness, Hairdresser Business, Beauty Industry Podcast