Sh!t I told my Hairdresser

Jason Townsend a former Beverly Hills celebrity hairdressers spilling the tea

Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser is the unfiltered hairdresser podcast exposing the wild, hilarious, chaotic, and brutally honest reality of life behind the salon chair.Hosted by veteran hairstylist Jason Townsend and co-host Paula Dahlberg, the show dives into salon drama, hairstylist confessions, beauty industry secrets, toxic work culture, nightmare clients, celebrity encounters, relationships, burnout, and the conversations stylists usually only have behind closed salon doors.With decades of real industry experience — from Beverly Hills celebrity styling to everyday salon chaos — Jason and Paula say the quiet parts out loud with raw honesty, dark humor, and zero filter.You’ll hear:outrageous salon horror storieshairstylist confessionsbeauty industry truthstoxic salon culture exposedhilarious client interactionsbehind-the-chair gossipcelebrity and luxury salon experiencesreal conversations about burnout, identity, relationships, and salon lifeWhether you’re a hairstylist, salon owner, cosmetology student, barber, beauty industry professional, or a client obsessed with salon culture, this podcast gives you the real stories nobody else is willing to say publicly.If you love unfiltered conversations, salon drama, hairstylist humor, beauty industry chaos, and brutally honest storytelling — welcome to your new favorite podcast.Welcome to Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser — where the beauty industry finally tells the truth. Give a follow on instagram https://www.instagram.com/shititoldmyhairdresser/If you would like to be on the show or share a story with visit our website and leave us a voicemail or email https://shititoldmyhairdresser.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 4d ago

    Building a Profitable Salon: Hiring, Pricing & Boundaries with Filipe Santos

    Are you running your salon—or is your salon running you? Filipe Santos runs nine salons across New York, New Jersey, and Miami. He joins Jason Townsend on Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser for a blunt conversation about salon ownership, making money, and why being everyone’s best friend can cost you your business. We get into hiring hairstylists for work ethic over technical skill, setting expectations, and building systems that keep salon owners from feeling held hostage by their staff. Filipe also explains his approach to salon contracts and non-compete agreements. Then we’re calling out salon coaching red flags. Before you hand someone thousands of dollars to fix your business, can they show you the receipts from theirs? Plus: raising salon prices without the guilt, creating better client consultations, and why salon owners need to start working together before outside investors decide the industry’s future. IN THIS EPISODE • The emotional decisions that undermine salon leadership.• Hiring for energy, work ethic, and alignment.• Staff boundaries, accountability, and salon systems.• Non-competes, NDAs, and investing in stylist education.• Salon coaches versus mentors with proven experience.• Shared education and buying power for independent salons.• Private equity and the future of salon ownership.• Price increases, pre-booking, and communicating your value. EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 — Meet salon owner Filipe Santos02:00 — The biggest mistakes salon owners make06:00 — Hiring for attitude, work ethic, and alignment11:00 — Salon contracts, non-competes, and training investments21:00 — Salon coaching red flags: show the receipts25:00 — Mentorship, leadership systems, and business education27:00 — Salon buying power and working together29:00 — Private equity and salon consolidation34:00 — Taking ownership of the industry’s future37:00 — Raising salon prices and explaining the value40:00 — Better consultations, pre-booking, and client retention43:00 — Filipe’s final advice for salon owners CONNECT WITH FILIPE SANTOS Follow Filipe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chop_safil/ JOIN THE CONVERSATION Salon owners: have you ever felt like your staff was running your business? Stylists: what makes a salon worth staying at? Tell us on Instagram. Follow Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser, leave a rating and review, and send this episode to a salon owner or hairstylist who needs to hear it. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shititoldmyhairdresser/Website: https://shititoldmyhairdresser.com The discussion of contracts and non-competes reflects personal experiences and opinions, not legal advice. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Building a Profitable Salon: Hiring, Pricing & Boundaries with Filipe Santos
  2. Oct 25

    Wella's IPO Filing Just Exposed How They Use Hairdressers For Free

    SHIT I TOLD MY HAIRDRESSER - Where we talk a lot of shit. We read Wella's IPO filing so you don't have to. It's worse than we thought. OFFICIAL SEC FILING - THE RECEIPT:Wella's S-1 Filing to go public on the NYSE: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2125056/000162827926000484/filename1.htm One line that should piss off every licensed pro: Wella states in their risk factors that they use "hairdressers, salon relationships, education, and education professionals' credibility to build consumer demand and sell products through retail channels" and admits the pro-to-consumer push could backfire because stylists may resent seeing salon brands sold directly on Amazon. They know it undercuts the professional whose credibility they're borrowing. And they filed it with the SEC anyway. WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00] WELLA IPO EXPOSEDWe dig into the LLC vendor listings, the TJ Maxx loophole, and how Wella plans to become a publicly traded company. What does a $2.9 billion valuation mean when you built it on free labor from hairdressers? [06:00] THE RETAIL BETRAYAL PIPELINEFrom salon exclusive to Target, Walmart, TJ Maxx, and Amazon. Why Target now basically has a hair salon in it, what we saw watching stylists in Walmart salons, and how your "professional only" color line ends up on a clearance shelf. [12:00] OLAPLEX, HENKEL & HISTORY REPEATINGElyse Roxx explains the Olaplex IPO crash — stylists bought high and lost. Wella just sold for $4.1 billion to Henkel and is now under Henkel on the stock market. Why going public has never been good for a professional hair brand. [28:00] PART 2: FREDRICK - THE TROLL WHO TRIED USAfter our last episode on assault, a guy named Fredrick slid into Paula's DMs trying to "serve" us, saying we make men look bad and make the situation worse. Jason responds: "You showed us exactly who you were. Your tiny little penis goes a f*****g ways. I don't ever want to see you on our platform again." We break down why Fredrick is the perfect example of why predators live in silence, why it takes massive courage for a woman to come forward, and why you believe women the first time until proven otherwise. [35:00] JASON'S STORY - MALE SEXUAL ASSAULTJason shares his own experience with sexual assault as a man, how his sponsor pointed out "yeah, that was sexual assault," and why he held it as resentment for 30+ years. If you think it can't happen to men, listen to this. [42:00] THE CHAIR IS NOT JUST A CHAIRYou're a hairdresser, not a licensed therapist — but your clients trauma dump anyway. Paula and Elyse on the file cabinet method, compartmentalizing, and how to hold space for clients without taking their pain home with you. From Blue Creators like PottyMouth Polly to Megyn Kelly takes, why women who speak up get attacked. GUEST:Elyse Roxx - Independent Beauty Investigator & Pro AdvocateIG: @elyserox00_Support Elyse - buy her a coffee, follow her work. HOSTS:Jason Townsend @shititoldmyhairdresserPaula Dahlberg @Paula_j_Dahlberg LINKS & RECEIPTS: Wella S-1 IPO Filing (SEC EDGAR): https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2125056/000162827926000484/filename1.htmFollow the pod: Instagram + TikTok @shititoldmyhairdresserSUBSCRIBE & SHARE:If this pissed you off, good. Hit FOLLOW — the subscribe button is still free. Tell 10 friends you love and 20 you hate. We are word of mouth like the industry. Tell us your shit story: www.Shititoldmyhairdresser.com Wella IPO, Wella S-1 filing, Wella SEC filing, Wella professionals, Henkel Wella, Olaplex IPO, salon industry news, beauty industry exposed, professional beauty supply, hairdresser podcast, cosmetology podcast, behind the chair, salon retail betrayal, Target hair salon, Walmart hair salon, TJ Maxx Wella, Amazon】 professional beauty, Fredrick troll, misogyny in beauty industry, male sexual assault, predators live in silence Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Wella's IPO Filing Just Exposed How They Use Hairdressers For Free
  3. Oct 18

    Global Hair Collective: The Future of Professional Hair Education

    About The Guest: Daniele De Angelis is originally from Rome, Italy. After seeing Anthony Mascolo perform, he moved to London at 20 to pursue his dream of working for Toni & Guy. He became an International Art Director and spent almost 10 years as the Academy Manager for Toni & Guy London Academy until February of this year. He has now relocated to Spain with his family to launch his new chapter: Global Hair Collective. What You'll Learn In This Episode: The inside story of running Toni & Guy London Academy and why Daniele leftThe 2 reasons top educators leave big corporate institutions: Identity and IncomeWhat is Global Hair Collective and how it worksWhy social media education (YouTube University, Instagram, TikTok) can't replace in-person hair educationWho is in the Collective - Meet the Avengers of Hair EducationUpcoming Global Hair Collective education events in Spain, Italy, London, and the USHow to inquire and book Global Hair Collective education on the East Coast and West Coast (Mark Layton and Angelo Vallillo in the US)Global Hair Collective Artists Mentioned: Gen Itoh, Sam Elliott, Andy Smith, Danilo Giangreco, Matteo, Mark Layton, Angelo Vallillo, and more to be announced. Episode Timestamps: [03:00] Daniele De Angelis 20-year journey with Toni & Guy[05:00] Why quality educators are leaving corporate[08:00] The birth of Global Hair Collective[15:00] The education vacuum in the hair industry[30:00] The Bike Shed London meeting - assembling the team[40:00] Upcoming shows in Spain and Turin, Italy[53:00] How to book in the US and contact the Collective Connect With Global Hair Collective:Website: globalhaircollective.comInstagram: @globalhaircollective.official Connect With Us:Instagram: @ShitIToldMyHairdresser Website: shititoldmyhairdresser.com Enjoyed this episode on the future of hair education? Please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help other hairdressers find us  : Global Hair Collective, Daniele Dahlberg, hair education, hairdresser education, hairstylist education, professional hair education, Toni & Guy, Toni & Guy Academy, continuing education for hairdressers, advanced haircutting education     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Global Hair Collective: The Future of Professional Hair Education
  4. Oct 11

    The Cornell 7, Bikini Salons & Why certain Men Shouldn't Be In Our Chairs

    Paula is PISSED. And she should be. This week in the salon, 25 different clients told her the same thing: "I'm a Jane Doe." From the Cornell scandal - where 7 predators were protected by 50+ people who knew and did NOTHING - to a salon chain in Utah called Bikini Kutz where licensed cosmetologists had to wear bikinis to give $35 haircuts and hire security so men wouldn't follow them to their cars... we're unpacking why salons have become hunting grounds. If you've ever had a creepy client, a pervy cousin who thinks a scalp massage is erotic, or an MLM hun trying to sell you a dream while the economy burns - this one's for you. IN THIS SAVAGE EPISODE: [00:00:00] The Setup: Why Paula is angry this week[00:01:30] The Cornell 7: 7 predators, 50+ people who knew, and punishment is... an essay?[00:02:15] BIKINI KUTZ Exposed: The real Utah salon chain where women in bikinis gave haircuts and needed security on the back door[00:04:30] Jane Doe Movement: Why 25 clients came out in ONE week[00:05:20] Creepy Client Confessions: "He finds haircuts erotic" and other shit hairdressers actually hear[00:43:00] MLM Predators & Delulu Culture: How broke hairstylists are being scammed with "manifest your mansion"[00:47:10] The Closer: Chemical castration, no more essays, and why mommy & daddy can't bail you out anymore This episode is for you if you search:salon harassment stories, hairdresser confessions, hairstylist horror stories, Cornell scandal, Jane Doe movement, Bikini Kutz Utah, creepy clients in salon, MLM scams for hairdressers, salon predator, sexual harassment in salon TELL US YOUR STORY:Got a creepy client? An MLM predator? A Jane Doe story?Leave us a voicemail or email at shititoldmyhairdresser.com - click the green mic icon. We might play it on the show. FOLLOW THE SHIT:Instagram: @ShitIToldMyHairdresserWebsite: shititoldmyhairdresser.comMerch dropping soon. LOVE US? HATE US?If you like us, tell 10 friends. If you hate us, tell 20.Please rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio & Amazon - it helps our algorithm and hurts little ears. Explicit Warning: This episode contains uncensored profanity, raw salon talk, and zero filter. Just how you like it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Cornell 7, Bikini Salons & Why certain Men Shouldn't Be In Our Chairs
  5. Oct 4

    No, Karen, Your 21-Year-Old Is Not a Kid, Hairdresser Boundaries 101

    6'1" Is NOT a Kid's Cut: Why Hairdressers Need to Enforce F*cking Boundaries People don't like boundaries. And that's the problem. In this raw episode of Shit I Told My Hairdresser, Jason and special guest Paula J Dahlberg get into the Shitology of setting boundaries behind the chair. We start with a listener DM complaining about all the cussing. Our response? Yes, we f*****g do. It's in the title for a reason. Then we get into the real shit: IN THIS EPISODE:[00:00] The Employee Break Room Skit: Why your break room isn't a therapy couch[01:20] The Cussing Complaint: Why we won't stop cursing for your little ears[04:00] The TikTok That Pissed Us Off: A mom bitching about barber prices for her 6'1" son[04:40] The Great Debate: What SHOULD be the cutoff for a kid's haircut? 8 years old (Jason) vs 16 (Paula)[08:00] Hairapy 101: The psychology behind why moms won't let their kids grow up - and why you have to get "on the outside of the psychology"[15:00] Raising Your Prices Without Guilt: Why charging what you're worth isn't mean, it's business[39:00] The 21-Year-Old Human Doll: Paula's client who demanded a kid's price for her 21-year-old son, sat next to him, and HELD HIS HAND during the cut[41:30] Codependency in the Salon Chair: How to tell a client "get the f**k back to the waiting room" professionally KEY TAKEAWAY FROM PAULA:"It's just defining to people that I'm not willing to sacrifice my money, my income for what you believe should be true to yourself." If you are a hairstylist, barber, salon owner, or independent stylist struggling with: how to set boundaries with clientswhen to stop charging kid's priceshow to raise prices and handle pushbackhow to deal with parents who speak for their adult kidsThis episode is your permission slip to enforce the boundary. YOUR TURN:What is your cutoff age for a kid's cut? Is it 8 like Jason says - because they're mini adults who can tell you what they want? Or 16? Drop it in the comments on Instagram @shititoldmyhairdresser RATE US:If you love this shit, give us a rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or Amazon. It helps our algorithm more than you know. GET YOUR STORY ON THE SHOW:Website: shititoldmyhairdresser.comEmail: info@shititoldmyhairdresser.comLeave a voicemail on the site with the green mic iconIG / TikTok: @shititoldmyhairdresser Explicit - Cussing throughout. Little ears beware. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    No, Karen, Your 21-Year-Old Is Not a Kid, Hairdresser Boundaries 101
  6. Sep 27

    Go F Yourself ! Why We Stopped Apologizing For Raising Prices with Annie Fisher

    If a client tells you they can't afford to tip you anymore because you gave yourself a raise, feel free to tell them to go F* themselves. Lovingly. In this episode of Shit I Told My Hairdresser, Jason and Paula sit down with Seattle salon owner, 30-year beauty veteran, and author Annie Fisher. She just wrote a love letter to the beauty industry, but she's also spitting hard truths we all need to hear. Buy it here Love is in the hair We get into the shit no one taught us in beauty school: how to stop apologizing for raising your prices, why defending your rent and color costs to clients is insulting, how ditching tipping removed client manipulation and made her more profitable, and how to handle the "I've been so loyal" guilt trip. Annie breaks down attrition, boundaries, self-care, burnout, and why losing cheap clients is actually how you work less and make more. If you've ever felt offensive for charging your worth, complained about clients complaining on their way to Paris with a Birkin bag, or wondered if you're running a nonprofit, this one is for you. Plus, details on her new book about success, self-care, and formulas for longevity behind the chair. 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Go F Yourself ! Why We Stopped Apologizing For Raising Prices with Annie Fisher
  7. Sep 20

    Is Selling Your Client List Sleazy? How to Cash Out Your Book

    Is selling your clients sleazy? Or is giving them away for FREE even dumber? Michelle & Chrissy from 👉Beauty Pros Exchange ---yes click here! the first online marketplace for independent beauty professionals - join Paula and Chrissy to blow up the industry's dirtiest secret: your client list is your biggest asset and you should be cashing out on it. If you've ever had to rebuild your clientele after moving from Dallas to Seattle, got stuck discounting with Groupon, or got a fake 1-star Yelp review from your ex-husband named Brian... this one's for you. IN THIS RAW EPISODE, WE GET INTO: How to sell your clientele and why every independent hairstylist, booth renter, and salon owner needs an exit planWhy Groupon is the devil and the 4-letter word that keeps you stuck at $85 for a partial while your suite mate charges $300The difference between selling PEOPLE vs. selling contact info to a vetted pro you trustHow to buy a ready-made clientele instead of starting from scratch when you relocateWhy Google and Yelp reviews are dead and what clients actually look at nowThe real cost of giving your book away for free: "No skin in the game, just f*****g give it to me"How to stop discounting your work - because if you discount your work, you DO discounted workBeauty Pros Exchange is hairstylists helping hairstylists. No handouts, just a hand up to finally monetize your book on the way out and help another beauty pro grow fast. Stop begging for referrals. Stop living on Groupon. Start banking on your book. GUESTS: Michelle & Chrissy from Beauty Pros Exchange Follow them om insta @beautyprosexchange/ HOSTS: Jason & Paula from Shit I Told My Hairdresser 👉 LEARN MORE: Beauty Pros Exchange - link in show notes + on our Instagram @shititoldmyhairdresser Got shit to tell your hairdresser? Email us: info@shititoldmyhairdresser.com Website: shititoldmyhairdresser.com Liked this? Smash that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts & Spotify - it's free. sell clientele, buy clientele, beauty pros exchange, monetize client list, independent hairstylist, booth renter, how to sell salon clients, Groupon for salons, rebuild clientele, salon owner business, beauty industry marketplace 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Is Selling Your Client List Sleazy? How to Cash Out Your Book
  8. Sep 13

    Bleach at TJ Maxx AND Beauty School Scams? The Industry Is Eating Itself

    Is professional bleach at TJ Maxx the new normal?! This week on Shit I Told My Hairdresser, we're diving into TWO things pissing off hairdressers everywhere. First up - THE DIVERSION SCANDAL. Stylists are finding Wella Blondor and other pro-only lightener at TJ Maxx from LA to North Carolina. We brought in diversion expert Elyse aka @eleserocks to break it down: Is that viral video real or fake? Did Wella change the Blondor formula with new metal chelators? Why is professional color being diverted to discount stores like TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack? And why are hair brands using us to build hype then dumping product? Then - PAULA'S BEAUTY SCHOOL VISIT FROM HELL. Paula went to a cosmetology school and has... thoughts. We get into the uncomfortable truth about beauty school fundraising, where that $20k+ tuition really goes, why students with no money are being asked to fundraise, and that $300k educator travel budget. If you're thinking about cosmetology school or you went to beauty school, you need to hear this. We talk: Wella Blondor diversion at TJ Maxx & Nordstrom Rack explainedProfessional product diversion: how brands divert pro hair productsIs the viral TJ Maxx bleach video real?Beauty school / cosmetology school red flagsBeauty School fundraising and student experienceWhy the hair industry is built on word of mouth but brands aren't giving backGUEST: Elyse - @eleserocks on Instagram This is a must-listen for hairstylists, cosmetologists, beauty school students, salon owners, and anyone sick of professional-only products showing up at discount stores. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Professional bleach at TJ Maxx? WTF 01:00 - Welcome to Shit I Told My Hairdresser 03:00 - The Wella Blondor diversion drama with Elyse 20:00 - Nordstrom Rack, Bed Head, and 20 years of diversion 30:00 - Paula's cosmetology school visit 58:00 - Dirty Shitology: Are beauty schools scamming students? Tell 10 friends you love and 20 you hate. And stay s****y. 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Bleach at TJ Maxx AND Beauty School Scams? The Industry Is Eating Itself
4.8
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser is the unfiltered hairdresser podcast exposing the wild, hilarious, chaotic, and brutally honest reality of life behind the salon chair.Hosted by veteran hairstylist Jason Townsend and co-host Paula Dahlberg, the show dives into salon drama, hairstylist confessions, beauty industry secrets, toxic work culture, nightmare clients, celebrity encounters, relationships, burnout, and the conversations stylists usually only have behind closed salon doors.With decades of real industry experience — from Beverly Hills celebrity styling to everyday salon chaos — Jason and Paula say the quiet parts out loud with raw honesty, dark humor, and zero filter.You’ll hear:outrageous salon horror storieshairstylist confessionsbeauty industry truthstoxic salon culture exposedhilarious client interactionsbehind-the-chair gossipcelebrity and luxury salon experiencesreal conversations about burnout, identity, relationships, and salon lifeWhether you’re a hairstylist, salon owner, cosmetology student, barber, beauty industry professional, or a client obsessed with salon culture, this podcast gives you the real stories nobody else is willing to say publicly.If you love unfiltered conversations, salon drama, hairstylist humor, beauty industry chaos, and brutally honest storytelling — welcome to your new favorite podcast.Welcome to Sh!t I Told My Hairdresser — where the beauty industry finally tells the truth. Give a follow on instagram https://www.instagram.com/shititoldmyhairdresser/If you would like to be on the show or share a story with visit our website and leave us a voicemail or email https://shititoldmyhairdresser.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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