The Energized Hairdresser

Ashley Jo Gillan
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This podcast is for hairstylists, beauty professionals, and salon owners who are starting to wonder how much longer they can keep doing this. Not because they do not love it. Because they come home after a full day behind the chair with absolutely nothing left, for dinner, for their kids, for themselves, and nobody ever taught them how to actually take care of themselves inside of this career. Hosted by Ashley Gillan, certified health and life coach and hairdresser with over 20 years behind the chair, this show covers the three things every stylist needs to thrive: Hair, Home, and Health. Hair - the craft, the career, and the mindset it takes to keep loving what you do long term. Because you did not build this career to burn out inside of it. Home - the rhythms, routines, and relationships that restore you when you walk out the door. Because what happens at home affects everything that happens behind the chair. Health - real talk about fueling your body, balancing your blood sugar, supporting your hormones, and recovering from the physical and emotional demands of salon life. No diets. No restriction. Just systems that actually fit your life. Topics covered include hairdresser burnout, salon nutrition, blood sugar balance for stylists, nervous system regulation, salon business and pricing, stylist mental health, home routines for working moms, and building a sustainable beauty career. This is not a perfect wellness podcast. It is a real conversation about what it actually takes to show up well, behind the chair and beyond it. If you are a hairstylist, colorist, booth renter, or salon owner, you are in the right place. 👉 Subscribe and come hang out with a community of stylists who actually get it. 💬 Want more support? Join us inside The Energized Hairdresser community on Skool for weekly coaching, real conversation, and tools built for salon life. www.skool.com/theenergizedhairdresser 🌐 Free resources, episode guides, and wellness tools at www.energizedhairdresser.com

  1. 3d ago

    Clear Is Kind: The Client Conversations Hairdressers Avoid

    Clear Is Kind: The Client Conversations Hairdressers AvoidWhat if being clearer with your clients was actually one of the kindest things you could do? In this episode of The Energized Hairdresser, Ashley sits down with Lisa Huff, founder of Stylist Soul Tribe, for a conversation about client boundaries, specialization, scarcity, and building a behind-the-chair business that actually feels good to work in. They unpack the idea that “clear is kind”, especially when it comes to the conversations hairdressers tend to avoid. The client who is no longer a good fit. The service you really do not want to offer anymore. The price increase you are afraid to talk about. The client you keep hoping will magically stop booking. Instead of avoiding the conversation, blocking someone from online booking, or quietly resenting the appointment every time it appears on the schedule, Lisa shares why slowing down and communicating clearly, kindly, and professionally can create a healthier business for everyone involved. Ashley and Lisa also talk about the scarcity that can make hairdressers feel like they have to hold onto every client, even when the relationship no longer works. Because your client does not belong to you. And saying, “I’m not the right stylist for this,” does not mean there will never be another client. Sometimes there is another stylist down the road who would LOVE the service you are tired of doing. In this episode:Why avoiding conflict usually makes it bigger laterHow “clear is kind” applies behind the chairWhy you do not have to offer every service a client asks forThe scarcity mindset that keeps hairdressers holding onto the wrong clientsHow Lisa uses a Yes, No, Maybe client listAsking whether a client actually “sparks joy”Why letting go of a client does not have to make anyone the bad guyHow to recognize patterns in your favorite clientsUsing those patterns to begin specializing your businessWhy your website, Google profile, and social media should reflect the work you actually want more ofThe difference between building strong client retention and believing clients belong to youWhy hairdressing gives us an incredible opportunity to continually redesign our careers as our lives changeOne of the biggest reminders from this conversation? You get to choose. You get to decide what services you want to offer, who you want to work with, how you want your schedule to look, and what kind of career you want to build. Some of those decisions might feel uncomfortable at first. But keeping a business that drains you because you are afraid to make a change is uncomfortable too. Sometimes you just have to choose your hard. Connect with Lisa HuffFind Lisa on Instagram at @lisahuffhair Learn more about Lisa and Stylist Soul Tribe at LisaHuffHair.com or StylistSoulTribe.com. About The Energized HairdresserThe Energized Hairdresser is for the woman behind the chair who wants to build a successful career without abandoning herself inside of it. Here, we talk about the whole hairdresser: your business, your body, your boundaries, your energy, and the life you are building outside the salon.

  2. Aug 3

    The Two Seconds Before Yes: How Hairdressers Stop Automatically Overcommitting

    Have you ever agreed to squeeze in a client, work on your day off, skip your lunch break, or answer a late-night message—and immediately wondered why you said yes? In this episode of The Energized Hairdresser Podcast, Ashley talks about the split-second moment when a hairdresser’s mouth says yes before her body, schedule, or energy has a chance to weigh in. For many hairdressers, people-pleasing is not simply a personality trait. It is a practiced response shaped by years of being taught to accommodate clients, stay flexible, keep the chair full, and avoid disappointing anyone. But every automatic yes has a cost. It may cost you your lunch break, your recovery time, your evening with your family, or the energy you need to sustain your career. Ashley explores why these requests can feel urgent, how fear, belonging, and survival responses influence our decisions, and why resentment can be useful information instead of something to feel ashamed of. She also shares a practical two-second pause that can help interrupt the automatic response and give you enough time to make a decision based on your actual capacity. In this episode, Ashley talks about:Why hairdressers often agree before checking their schedules or energyHow salon culture has trained hairdressers to equate flexibility with valueWhy a full appointment book does not always create safetyThe connection between people-pleasing, belonging, and fear of losing clientsHow resentment can reveal where you ignored your own capacityWhy clients cannot protect boundaries they cannot seeHow to pause before answering a service or scheduling requestThe difference between an automatic yes and a chosen yesSimple language for saying you are unavailable without overexplainingWhy professionalism does not require unlimited access to you You can also connect with Ashley inside The Energized Hairdresser community or explore one-on-one coaching for deeper support with people-pleasing, boundaries, energy, and building a salon career that supports your life.

  3. Jul 13

    How to Slow Down as a Hairdresser Before Your Body Forces You To

    How Do You Even Afford to Slow Down?This question came straight from the comments, and it deserves a real answer. Because it is not dramatic. It is math. How does a hairdresser actually afford to slow down when they are paid per service, there is no PTO, there are no sick days, and every day away from the salon means less income? That is what Ashley is sitting with in this episode. She shares what slowing down looked like for her because she did not choose it. Her body did. And there is a big difference between choosing to slow down and being forced to stop. When a hairdresser makes the decision themselves, they can adjust their schedule, look at their numbers, and create a plan. When the body makes the decision, there is no control over the timing or the terms. There is no calmly deciding to take Fridays off for a while. The body simply says, “Nope. We are done. Figure it out.” So maybe the real question is not, “How do I afford to slow down?” Maybe the better question is, “What is continuing at full speed already costing me?” In This Episode, Ashley Talks About:What it looks like when the body forces a hairdresser to slow down before they are readyWhy a depleted stylist and a supported stylist are not providing the same experience, even when the service costs the client the same amountHow to get honest about business numbers, including what it actually costs to open the salon doors each dayWhy pricing transparency protects both the stylist and the clientThe slow, cram, slow, cram cycle and why working harder is not the solutionWhy a lunch break is still a lunch break, even when a client wants a three-hour service in a two-hour appointmentWhat hairdressers should begin planning now before the back-to-school rush and holiday season arriveThe Question to ConsiderIs the current salon schedule supporting the stylist’s life and body? Or is the stylist continuing to push until the body makes the decision for them? Slowing down does not always mean dramatically reducing hours or walking away from income. It may mean understanding the numbers, pricing services clearly, protecting breaks, adjusting client count, and building recovery into the schedule before exhaustion takes over. The Line to Sit WithHairdressers cannot afford not to slow down. The body is going to collect what it needs either way. It gets to decide when. The stylist gets to decide how much. Resources MentionedListeners are invited to join The Energized Hairdresser community on Skool. This is where Ashley continues these honest conversations about salon schedules, energy, boundaries, food, business, and life behind the chair. Join the community: www.skool.com/theenergizedhairdresser Keywordshairdresser burnout, salon owner burnout, how to afford time off as a hairdresser, hairstylist exhaustion, salon energy, working behind the chair, hairdresser health, stylist self care, salon business tips, hairdresser pricing, how to price salon services, salon profitability, salon client count, booth renter tips, independent hairdresser, cosmetologist burnout, beauty industry burnout, hairdresser work life balance, slowing down as a hairdresser, salon schedule, The Energized Hairdresser, Ashley Gillan, hairdresser podcast, hairstylist podcast, beauty professional wellness, health coach for hairdressers, fueling your body behind the chair

  4. Jul 6

    The Home Reset: What Happens After You Leave the Chair

    So today's episode is one I actually pulled back up, because when I first put it out I framed it as a nervous system episode, and it is that, but honestly it's more than that now. It's about what happens after you clock out of the salon and your body is still buzzing like you never left, or you're just completely empty and don't have a drop left for your own family. Nobody really prepares you for that part, you know. We get into why salon life keeps your nervous system in a constant state of go, the noise, the people, the time pressure, all of it stacking up without you even realizing it. And then we talk about what it actually looks like to come down from that, little resets between clients, what to do before you even walk in the door at home, and why home is supposed to be your soft landing but for so many of us it turns into a second shift instead. This one is for you if you've ever gotten home and felt like you couldn't settle, couldn't hold a conversation, or just needed everyone to leave you alone for a minute. There's nothing wrong with you, my friend. Your body has just been carrying a lot, and we're gonna talk through some real, doable ways to support it. This episode reflects my own experience and training as a certified health coach, not medical advice. Always check with your own provider about what's right for you. 00:00 — Why I'm bringing this episode back 01:33 — It's not just physical tiredness 03:17 — Your body needs support, not shame 04:39 — The invisible mental load of being a hairdresser 07:03 — There's nothing wrong with you 09:25 — How salon life shifts through the years behind the chair 11:51 — What nervous system dysregulation actually looks like 15:49 — Why you feel wired and tired at the same time 18:56 — Why salon life keeps your body in an activated state 27:33 — Simple ways to regulate during a real salon day 33:31 — Supporting your body with food and water 36:15 — Building awareness before you snap or crash 37:18 — Creating an after work transition ritual 39:44 — This week's one small thing Join us in the Skool community: join here Website: www.energizedhairdresser.com Instagram: @theenergizedhairdresser Lyv Wellness: Learn more Keywords nervous system regulation, salon burnout, hairdresser mental load, dysregulation, behind the chair, decompression, low-lift routines, working mom hairdresser, salon life stress, home and health, energized hairdresser

  5. Jun 29

    The Home Reset Every Hairdresser Needs

    In This EpisodeAshley talks about: Why hairdressers are not just physically tired after work, but overstimulated from holding conversations, managing emotions, solving problems, standing all day, and being “on.” How home clutter and unfinished tasks can compound exhaustion after a long salon day. Why your house does not have to be spotless to feel peaceful. The difference between a perfect home and a supportive home. How to create low-lift transition rituals after the salon. Why your nervous system needs a bridge between client mode and home mode. Simple ways to reduce friction in your home with drop zones, laundry systems, dinner plans, and clear surfaces. How homemaking can be supportive without meaning you disappear inside everyone else’s needs. Why your home is a movie, not a picture — lived in, moving, functional, and real. Practical Home Rhythms to TryStart with one. Do not make this another project. 1. Create an after-salon transition. Before walking inside, take a few breaths, drink water, or give yourself a five-minute buffer. 2. Build a landing spot. Have one place for your keys, water bottle, salon bag, shoes, snacks, or planner. 3. Pick one recovery zone. Maybe it is your bedside table, one kitchen counter, your laundry room, or a chair that stays clear. 4. Simplify salon-night dinner. Boring counts. Taco bowls, rotisserie chicken, rice, frozen veggies, eggs and toast, leftovers, or partner-led dinner all count. 5. Do a tiny closing shift. Start the dishwasher, clear one surface, put shoes away, or set a five-minute timer. Not a full house reset — just one supportive action. If you are overwhelmed by all the things you feel like you should be doing and you do not know what to pick, this is exactly what we work through inside Energized Rhythm. Energized Rhythm is a six-week live coaching program for hairdressers who do not need another tip — they need support, rhythm, and real-life systems that help them take care of themselves in an ever-demanding career. Cards are open for just a few more days, and we start July 6. Click here to join keywords- hairdresser burnout, nervous system support for hairdressers, home routines for busy stylists, salon life exhaustion, after work decompression, hairdresser self care, overstimulated after work, home reset routine, Energized Hairdresser, salon-proof routines, hairdresser energy, life coaching for hairdressers, Energized Rhythm

  6. Jun 22

    My Experience on a GLP-1

    My GLP-1 Experience, Body Image, and What Actually ChangedIn this personal episode of The Energized Hairdresser, Ashley shares her honest experience with GLP-1 medications, body image, weight loss, and what actually changed when she stopped chasing “skinny” and started learning how to support her body. This conversation begins back in 2022, around the time Ashley was diagnosed with thyroid issues and first heard about Mounjaro. At the time, she believed the medication might be the answer she had been looking for. But after losing weight quickly without changing her food, movement, or habits, she realized something important: medication may help with appetite, but it does not automatically teach you how to eat, nourish yourself, manage stress, or build a life that supports your health. Ashley opens up about nausea, shame, weight regain, emotional eating, drive-thru treats, body image, and the deeper question underneath it all: Why did I want to be skinny so badly? This episode is not about judging GLP-1 medications or telling anyone what they should or should not do. It is about the gap between losing weight and actually learning how to care for yourself. It is about behavior change, nervous system support, nourishment, coaching, accountability, and the work of learning to trust yourself again. If you have ever felt like your worth was tied to your body size, or like you knew what to do but could not figure out how to actually do it in real life, this episode will feel like a deep breath. In this episode, Ashley talks about:Her personal experience with Mounjaro and semaglutideWhat happened when she lost weight without changing her habitsWhy appetite suppression does not automatically create behavior changeThe shame and confusion that can come with body image and weight lossHow emotional eating and restriction were connected to deeper self-worth beliefsWhy “eat more protein” is not always enough guidance for a busy hairdresserThe difference between knowing what to eat and knowing how to eat in real lifeHow salon stress, burnout, and nervous system overload affect food choicesWhat began to change when she invested in coaching and accountabilityWhy this journey is no longer about chasing skinny, but about building self-trustKey TakeawayJust because something helps you feel full does not mean it teaches you how to nourish yourself. Real change came when Ashley stopped looking for the shortcut and started asking better questions: What do I actually need? Why am I chasing skinny? How do I support my body during real salon days? What would it look like to feel proud of my choices instead of controlled by shame? A gentle reminderThis episode is Ashley’s personal experience and opinion as a certified health coach. She is not a doctor, and this episode is not medical advice. Please do your own research and talk with your healthcare provider about what is right for you. Listen if you have ever thought:“I just want to be skinny.”“I know what to eat, but I cannot seem to do it.”“I am tired of starting over.”“I feel ashamed of how I eat when no one is watching.”“I need support, not another plan.”“I want to feel good in my body again, but I do not want to hate myself into change.”Connect with AshleyCome hang out inside the Skool community for more honest conversations around energy, food, body image, salon life, and learning how to support yourself as a whole human behind the chair.

  7. Jun 15

    The Mental Load Nobody Talks About Behind the Chair

    Summary: In this episode of The Energized Hairdresser, Ashley talks about the invisible mental load hairdressers carry behind the chair and at home. From remembering client formulas, managing conversations, planning dinner, tracking schedules, and holding emotional space all day, this kind of exhaustion is not just “being bad at life.” It is cognitive labor. Ashley breaks down what the mental load actually is, why it feels heavier for hairdressers, and how it can lead to decision fatigue, emotional depletion, and burnout that sneaks up on you. She also shares practical tools to help offload the mental clutter, including weekly brain dumps, default dinner plans, delegation, transition cues, and 60-second resets between clients. This episode is a reminder that your brain is not meant to be the only storage system for your life, your business, your clients, and your home. You are allowed to build systems that support you. CTACome hang out inside The Energized Hairdresser community on Skool. It is a place for real conversations, support, questions, and practical tools for hairdressers who are trying to build a life and business that does not leave them empty. Keywordshairdresser mental load, cognitive labor, salon burnout, decision fatigue, hairdresser wellness, nervous system support, emotional labor behind the chair, salon life, work life balance for hairdressers, overwhelmed hairdresser, salon systems, hairdresser self-care, household mental load, energy management for stylists

  8. Jun 8

    Make the most of summer: the working mom behind the chair

    Does summer feel more like something to survive than enjoy? Between a full book, kids at home, and vacations to plan, it's easy to let another summer slip by feeling exhausted. In this episode, Ashley gets real about balancing mom life and life behind the chair — and how to be intentional enough to actually enjoy these 8 weeks. In This EpisodeThe summer mindset shift Stop "shoulding" all over yourself. Pick a lane, pour your energy there, and let other areas run on autopilot for a season.Protecting your energy IS a business strategy. A depleted stylist loses creativity, patience, and passion for the craft.Ask yourself: at the end of this summer, what do I want to have felt?Kids at home: the real talk Involve your kids in the flow of your life — give them jobs, bring them along, let them help in the salon.Think in rhythms, not rigid schedules. Family meals, bedtimes, and wake-up times help you drive the bus.Ask your family what they want for dinner. The mental load doesn't have to fall on one person.Summer camps and childcare don't make you a bad mom. They make you a sustainable one.Pre-vacation work prep Book vacation days first, then build your schedule around them.Don't run yourself into the ground before you leave — a pre-vacation push is fine, but six 12-hour days is not.Pre-book regulars for when you return so you come back to a full book, not an anxious scramble.Give yourself a buffer day before you leave and after you return to decompress, do laundry, and settle back in.Write down your top 3 business priorities and put everything else away. Summer is not the time to rebrand or overhaul your systems.Health & making the most of it Ditch all-or-nothing thinking. Try all-or-something — build one simple habit this summer and do it imperfectly.Pick one thing per week that fills your cup and put it on the calendar like a client appointment.Summer bucket list: a beach or lake day, a phone-free family meal, a slow morning where you sleep in and don't apologize for it.Joy isn't a luxury — it's how you regulate your nervous system.Join the CommunityFeeling like you're doing this career alone? Come hang out in the free Energized Hairdresser Skool community — deeper conversations, weekly Ask Me Anything sessions, and real support. Join here: https://www.skool.com/theenergizedhairdresser/about Next week: The mental load hairdressers carry, and real tools to help you put some of it down. Instagram: @theenergizedhairdresser

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About

This podcast is for hairstylists, beauty professionals, and salon owners who are starting to wonder how much longer they can keep doing this. Not because they do not love it. Because they come home after a full day behind the chair with absolutely nothing left, for dinner, for their kids, for themselves, and nobody ever taught them how to actually take care of themselves inside of this career. Hosted by Ashley Gillan, certified health and life coach and hairdresser with over 20 years behind the chair, this show covers the three things every stylist needs to thrive: Hair, Home, and Health. Hair - the craft, the career, and the mindset it takes to keep loving what you do long term. Because you did not build this career to burn out inside of it. Home - the rhythms, routines, and relationships that restore you when you walk out the door. Because what happens at home affects everything that happens behind the chair. Health - real talk about fueling your body, balancing your blood sugar, supporting your hormones, and recovering from the physical and emotional demands of salon life. No diets. No restriction. Just systems that actually fit your life. Topics covered include hairdresser burnout, salon nutrition, blood sugar balance for stylists, nervous system regulation, salon business and pricing, stylist mental health, home routines for working moms, and building a sustainable beauty career. This is not a perfect wellness podcast. It is a real conversation about what it actually takes to show up well, behind the chair and beyond it. If you are a hairstylist, colorist, booth renter, or salon owner, you are in the right place. 👉 Subscribe and come hang out with a community of stylists who actually get it. 💬 Want more support? Join us inside The Energized Hairdresser community on Skool for weekly coaching, real conversation, and tools built for salon life. www.skool.com/theenergizedhairdresser 🌐 Free resources, episode guides, and wellness tools at www.energizedhairdresser.com

Information

  • Creator
    Ashley Jo Gillan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Ashley Jo Gillan