The Bridal Hair Club Podcast

Ever spend HOURS researching something for your business, only to end up more confused than when you started? 🙋🏼‍♀️

After a full day of coaching calls inside The Bridal Hair Club, I noticed a common theme: so many talented artists are getting stuck in analysis paralysis.

Whether it's raising your prices, choosing a CRM, updating your website, or introducing a new service, the fear of making the wrong decision can stop you from making ANY decision.

In this episode, we're talking about why overthinking is holding your bridal business back, the hidden cost of doing nothing, and five practical ways to finally start moving forward.

PLUS, I'm sharing a sneak peek at my upcoming November 23rd live Hair Extension Rentals class, where I'll walk you through everything you need to confidently introduce this additional revenue stream into your business!

Follow @thebridalhairclub on Instagram for more details coming next week.

Because here's the thing: Your business doesn't need another six months of overthinking. It needs you to start. 🤍

Join The Bridal Hair Club: www.thebridalhairclub.com

Want to work with brands but have no idea how they actually find creators — or what makes them choose one person over another?

In this episode, I’m getting the inside scoop from my sister, Hannah McClenaghan, a Digital Account Associate at Talk Shop, an integrated communications agency that works with brands to bring campaigns to life.

Hannah is one of the people actually searching for, vetting and communicating with creators for brand campaigns, so I asked her allllll the questions we’re usually wondering from the other side.

We’re talking about:

• How brands + agencies actually find creators
• What they look at when they land on your Instagram or TikTok
• Why making yourself searchable matters
• Whether follower count matters as much as you think
• Engagement, niche, location + content quality
• What can make a brand immediately say yes — or no
• Media kits, cold pitching + what information brands actually want
• How much creators can get paid for brand partnerships
• Exclusivity, usage rights + negotiating your rates
• Why being easy and professional to work with can lead to MORE opportunities
• How bridal hair + makeup artists can use their expertise to stand out from traditional creators

And maybe the biggest takeaway? You don’t need to completely reinvent your content or become a full-time influencer to start opening the door to brand partnerships.

As bridal hair and makeup artists, we already have something incredibly valuable: expertise, authority and an audience that trusts our recommendations. This episode is about learning how to turn that into another potential income stream — while still creating content that actually feels like YOU.

If brand deals have been on your 2027 vision board, this one’s for you!

Want to raise your bridal hair prices but aren't totally confident your business is ready for it yet?

This episode was inspired by this month's Office Hours inside The Bridal Hair Club, where almost every coaching call came back to the same questions: Am I charging enough? What should I be charging? Can I raise my prices — and will people actually pay them?

While I can't give every listener personalized pricing advice, I can help you look at one huge piece of the puzzle: Does the client experience you're providing match the price you want to charge?

In this episode, I'm sharing 7 practical ways you can elevate your bridal client experience — most of which cost little to nothing to implement. We're talking about creating a ridiculously clear booking path, making sure your website supports your pricing, elevating your bridal preview experience, improving your communication, anticipating questions before your clients have to ask them, personalizing your systems and showing up professionally on the wedding morning.

Plus, I'm giving you a simple client journey audit you can do in your own business to find the friction, confusion and missed opportunities that might be keeping you from feeling confident about your prices.

You don't need to overhaul your entire business overnight. Pick one or two touch-points, make them better, and keep building an experience you're genuinely proud to charge more for.

Want personalized support with your pricing, packages and business? Every second week of the month, Bridal Hair Club members can book a free 30-minute Office Hours coaching call with me so we can dig into your business together.

Join The Bridal Hair Club here:
https://www.thebridalhairclub.com/the-bridal-hair-club

It’s that time of year when everyone starts posting how many weddings they already have booked for next year… and suddenly you’re counting yours wondering, “Wait… am I behind?”

But here’s the thing: the number of weddings someone else has booked tells you absolutely nothing about how your business is doing.

In this episode, we’re figuring out how many weddings you actually need based on YOUR business — your revenue goals, your average booking value and, most importantly, how much you actually want to work.

We’re chatting about:

Because the goal isn't to have the busiest bridal business. It's to build one that makes the money you want it to make without working every single weekend of your life.

Grab your calculator for this one, my queens. We’re looking at the numbers 👑

GUEST EDUCATORS THIS MONTH IN THE CLUB @hairstylesby_charlotte and @shannonsarabridalhair

Want to be part of The Bridal Hair Club? Join us!

Getting ghosted sucks — but not because they hurt your feelings. Because you just wasted precious admin time on an inquiry that may have never been a realistic booking in the first place 😅

In this episode of The Bridal Hair Club Podcast, I’m breaking down exactly how I’ve built my bridal inquiry process to help me turn more of the right inquiries into booked weddings — and why my conversion rate is now so high when I’m actually available.

We’re talking about:

Why I want brides to see my pricing before they inquire

The questions I ask to figure out how serious someone is about booking

What information I collect upfront to eliminate unnecessary back-and-forth

How I use my inquiry form to determine whether I can actually accommodate the wedding

Why more inquiries isn’t always the goal — better inquiries are

How to audit your own inquiry-to-booking process and find where potential clients are dropping off

Because sometimes you don’t need more leads. You just need a better path from “Are you available?” → BOOKED.

Want to see exactly how I’ve set mine up?

👉 Take a peek at my Parla Hair Inquiry Form

Then audit your own process: What could your brides know before they inquire that would save you both time later?

In Part 2 of my conversation with Jillian Susten, co-owner of Glossed, we’re talking about what happens when you start thinking beyond just taking more weddings.

We get into building online education and memberships, creating communities people actually want to be part of, finding the balance between client work and growing something new, and the pressure to constantly create more for your members.

We also talk about something I think every stylist needs to hear: not everything you do needs to make you money immediately.

Sometimes bringing in a model, practicing a new technique, creating content, collaborating with another stylist or simply trying something that might completely flop is still moving your business forward.

And because Instagram loves to show us everyone’s most Pinterest-worthy work, we also get into the reality of bridal styling: sometimes you don’t have the perfect hair, extensions, timeline or conditions — and that doesn’t mean you’re a bad stylist.

This one feels like two bridal business friends sitting down, comparing notes and reminding each other that we’re all still figuring it out 🤍

Find Jillian on Instagram @glossedbyjillian

Learn more about The Glossed Society

In Part 1 of my conversation with Jillian Susten, co-owner of Glossed and founder of The Gloss Society, we’re talking about what it actually looks like to build and manage a team in the bridal industry.

Jillian has built a team of 14 hair and makeup artists while personally taking on close to 100 weddings a year — so she knows a thing or two about managing a LOT of moving parts.

We chat about:

How Jillian grew her bridal team (and whether she’d do it all over again 👀)

Training stylists to represent your brand, work ethic and standards

The control-freak struggle of delegating and outsourcing

Why keeping your team booked, paid and happy has to factor into your business decisions

Pricing as a team vs. a solo stylist

Package pricing vs. à la carte — and why there’s no universally “right” answer

The responsibility that comes with having other artists working under your name

Balancing weddings, business, motherhood and everything in between

Why your version of “scaling” doesn’t have to look like someone else’s

Jillian and I have taken two very different approaches to growing our businesses — she’s built a large team, while I’ve intentionally stayed solo and expanded into education instead.

And that’s really the takeaway from this episode: there’s no one right way to build a successful bridal business. You get to create one that works for your goals, your life and the amount of responsibility you actually want to take on.

Connect with Jillian:

Follow Jillian on Instagram: @glossedbyjillian
Learn more about The Gloss Society and join here: https://www.glossedbyjillian.com/plans-pricing

And we’re not done! Jillian will be back next week for Part 2, where we’re talking all about online education, memberships, content creation and what it looks like to build another revenue stream alongside a busy bridal career.

Follow The Bridal Hair Club Podcast so you don’t miss Part 2! 🤍

You can be fully booked, have thousands of dollars coming into your bank account…and still have no idea how your business is actually doing. 😅

In this episode, we’re going on a Money Date — something we’ve recently introduced inside The Bridal Hair Club to help you get to know the financial health of your business without needing to become an accountant.

I’m breaking down the numbers I think every bridal hairstylist and makeup artist should be tracking regularly — not just at tax time when you’re scrambling to remember what happened six months ago.

We’re talking about the money that’s already hit your bank account and the money you can expect to come in over the next few months (or even next year!).

In this episode:

Because the goal isn’t to track numbers just for the sake of tracking them.

It’s to be able to look at your business and answer:

What’s coming in? What’s going out? What’s left? What’s coming next? And am I on track for where I want this business to go?

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Deep Focus Playlist
My go-to background music when I need to sit down, focus and get some admin done.
Listen on Spotify

Try The Bridal Hair Club FREE for 7 Days
Want to take a peek inside the Club? The Business Tracker isn't included in the free pass, but you will get access to the Express Pricing Calculator, Pricing Deep Dive Seminar, Email Template Suite, styling education, the discussion board and more — plus you’ll be able to see all of the resources waiting for you when you become a member.

No credit card. No strings attached. Come poke around and see if the Club is for you!

Get Your Free 7-Day Club Pass →

Keep making moves — but keep having fun while you’re doing it. 🤍

If you've ever spent the week before a wedding answering the same questions over and over again, showing up to a dark hotel room with no outlet, or finding yourself hunched over styling hair on a dining room chair... this episode is for you.

In this episode, I'm sharing one of the biggest time-saving systems in my bridal business: my Wedding Prep Email Template.

This simple email goes out before every wedding and answers your bride's questions before she even has to ask them. It sets expectations, prevents common wedding morning headaches, and helps create a smoother, more organized experience for everyone involved.

We'll walk through exactly what I include, why each section matters, and how one email can reduce stress for both you and your bride.

In this episode:

Resources Mentioned:

✨ Download the FREE Wedding Prep Email Template and customize it for your own bridal business.

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be so grateful if you followed the podcast and left a review. It helps more bridal hairstylists discover the show and build businesses that feel organized, profitable, and a whole lot less stressful 🤍

If I could go back and give my younger self one piece of advice as a brand-new bridal hairstylist… okay, maybe ten 😅

In this episode, I'm sharing the biggest lessons I've learned after years in the bridal industry—from the mistakes that cost me money, to the decisions that completely changed my business.

We'll talk about why learning the admin side of your business is just as important as learning new hairstyles, why watching tutorials isn't enough (you actually have to practice!), when it's worth investing in branding, why undercharging is practically a rite of passage, and the mindset shifts that helped me grow into the stylist and business owner I am today.

Whether you're in your first wedding season or you've been styling for years, I hope this episode helps you avoid a few headaches—and reminds you that every successful stylist started exactly where you are.

If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to follow the podcast and leave a review. It helps more bridal hairstylists discover the show! 🤍

Have you ever looked at a booking and thought…

"I'm giving up my entire long weekend for the exact same amount of money?"

Or found yourself setting an alarm for 3:00am because a bride wanted an extra-early start… only to earn exactly what you would have made for a regular 7:30am booking?

If so, this episode is for you.

Today I'm sharing the three pricing add-ons that have made the biggest impact in my bridal business—not just by increasing my average booking value, but by helping me create healthier boundaries and actually enjoy wedding season more.

Inside this episode, we'll cover:

The truth is, not every wedding asks the same amount from you. Some bookings require bigger sacrifices, more planning, and more inconvenience—and your pricing should reflect that.

🎁Free Download

I've created a free guide with my favourite bridal add-on charges, suggested fee ranges, and examples of exactly how I write these charges into my contract so clients know what to expect from day one.

Download it here

If this episode helped you, I'd be so grateful if you left a rating or review—it helps more bridal hairstylists discover the podcast and build businesses that feel profitable, sustainable, and enjoyable.

See you next week! 🤍

After a four-month break, Kira is back with a deep dive into extension rentals — one of the most profitable, client-loved add-ons a bridal stylist can offer. In this episode, she covers why rentals elevate a bride's look (fuller, longer-lasting styles with more versatility), how to start small and build inventory gradually, which suppliers to trust, how to price rentals for real profit, and the legal boxes to check before you launch.

Whether you're brand new to extensions or looking to refine your current offering, this episode gives you a clear roadmap to turn rentals into a reliable revenue stream.

In this episode:

Resources mentioned:
@bfbhair
@bombayhair
@saltandpinehairextensions
@philocalyhair

TRY THE CLUB FOR 7 DAYS FREE! Sign up here:https://www.thebridalhairclub.com/the-bridal-hair-club-7-day-free-pass

Connect with Kira + The Bridal Hair Club on Instagram:
@parla.hair and @thebridalhairclub

Sorry for keeping you hanging the last couple weeks 😅 — but this one’s worth the wait.

In this episode, we’re talking about imposter syndrome. The kind that shows up right before a wedding morning. The kind that whispers you’re not good enough… that you’re doing something wrong… that everyone else has it figured out except you.

Because the goal isn’t to never feel it again.

The goal is to recognize it faster… protect your peace… and snap yourself out of the spiral before it starts running the show.

Inside this episode, we cover:

Because once you can spot it, it stops feeling so personal… and starts feeling manageable.

We’re going deeper into practical strategies inside this month’s Club Call in The Bridal Hair Club. If you want more confidence behind the chair and more clarity in your business decisions, this is exactly where we’re continuing the conversation.

Join here:https://www.thebridalhairclub.com/

BONUS: Sign up for an annual membership before May 4 and you’ll get access to the final class of the Totally Average Hair Tour Virtual Class included for free (a $197 value) 🎉

Everyone sees the wedding mornings, the reels, and the finished styles… but none of that works without what’s happening behind the scenes. And spoiler alert: NO ONE HAS IT ALL FIGURED OUT!

In this episode, I’m opening up the full operations side of my business — both my bridal hairstyling company and my education platform — and walking you through the exact systems, programs, and support that keep everything from completely falling apart.

If you’ve ever thought:
“HOW are people running weddings and an online business at the same time?”
…this is the episode.

You don’t need to be more talented.
You need better infrastructure.

Inside, I break down:

the CRM that runs my inquiries, invoices, and contracts

how I manage client communication without constant back-and-forth emails

the platform I use to host my membership and online education

what support roles actually changed my stress levels

the systems that let me step away from my phone without panicking

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Get 20% off your first month or year of Dubsado:
https://dubsado.com/?c=parla20
Use code PARLA20 at checkout

Thinking about hosting your own online education? Start with Kajabi:
https://app.kajabi.com/r/H6CmW62c

And if you want to learn my styling workflow in real life, tickets for the Totally Average Hair Tour are still available (including the virtual option):
https://www.thebridalhairclub.com/the-totally-average-hair-tour

I hope this episode gives you relief — because the goal isn’t to work harder.
It’s to stop relying on memory and start relying on systems.

This week I’m doing something a little different.

I’m walking you through my styling flow — the mental roadmap I run every single time someone sits in my chair. Not the hairstyle itself… the decisions behind it.

Because honestly? Most stylists don’t struggle with ability.
They struggle with order of operations.

In this episode I’m breaking down:

how I assess the hair before I even plug in a hot tool

how I decide which products to use (and when)

what tools I warm up first — and why

how I prevent backtracking, frizz, and styles collapsing halfway through the morning

how to think ahead so you’re not panicking at minute 42 of a 45-minute timeline

I’m basically letting you inside my brain while I style. Expect some questionable analogies, a few “wait that actually makes sense” moments, and a completely different way to approach wedding mornings.

The goal isn’t to memorize steps.

It’s to build a repeatable system so you’re not guessing anymore — whether the hair is fine, thick, humid, cowlicked, or doing something it absolutely did not do at the trial.

If you’ve ever felt confident in trials but chaotic on wedding days… this episode is going to click.

In this episode of The Bridal Hair Club Podcast, I’m chatting with Cate (@catehairmakeup on IG), a Colorado-based bridal hair and makeup artist who’s traveling for weddings, building trust with her clients, and leading with inclusivity.

We dive into:

Serving the LGBTQIA+ community with intention and care

Creating a signature style that attracts the right brides

Consultation strategies that build instant trust

Booking trends and what today’s brides are really looking for

Why reviews matter more than ever

The power of bridal trials (and how they boost client confidence)

Personalized service that elevates the entire client experience

Switching from HoneyBook to Dubsado and choosing the right CRM

This conversation is all about inclusivity, connection, and running a bridal beauty business that feels aligned, intentional, and profitable.

If you’re a bridal hair stylist or makeup artist who wants stronger client trust, better booking systems, and a standout experience from inquiry to wedding day — this one’s for you.

Don’t forget to follow the show and leave a review 🤍

Pricing is back on the table — because honestly, it never really leaves 😅

In this episode, I’m revisiting pricing after a reel unexpectedly popped off and opened up a lot of opinions. I’m sharing a transparent look at my 2027 pricing, how I arrived there, and the actual factors that went into those numbers — not vibes, not comparison, not internet noise.

We’re also talking about one of the biggest traps I see artists fall into:
👉 letting hairstylists and makeup artists in other cities, countries, and markets tell you what your prices should be.

Spoiler: they don’t run your business. You do.

If you’ve ever felt shaken after reading comments, DMs, or “advice” from artists who aren’t operating in your market — this episode is your permission slip to zoom out, trust your numbers, and price based on your reality.

In this episode, I’m sharing my best pieces of advice for fellow bridal hair and makeup artists — the stuff you only learn after years of wedding mornings.

From hiding the AC remote in the bridal suite, to figuring out the best place to park, I’m dishing the dirt I wish I could’ve told my younger self… so now I’m telling you.

If you want smoother mornings, fewer headaches, and more confidence walking into every wedding day, this one’s for you.

Don’t forget to follow the podcast and leave a review if you’re enjoying the episodes — it seriously helps more bridal artists find the show 💛

In this episode, I’m getting very real and pulling back the curtain on a few moments I’d honestly love to forget… but learned the most from:

The worst negative review I’ve ever received from a bride

The time I showed up with the wrong hair extensions and had to problem-solve FAST

And my ongoing struggle with budgeting… because apparently I like to learn things the hard way

No perfectly curated highlight reel here. Just real-life lessons, a little self-deprecating humour, and reassurance that one mistake doesn’t define your career. If you’ve ever spiraled after a client issue, questioned yourself, or thought “how am I even running a business?” — this one’s for you.

If you’re loving the podcast so far, make sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more stylists find these convos, and I’m so grateful for the support 💛

January always sounds inspiring. New year. New goals. New energy.
But let’s be real—this time of year can feel heavy, especially when everyone’s posting their 2025 highlight reels and you’re… in your slow season.

In this episode, I’m chatting about how to:

Keep moving toward your goals without burning yourself out

Protect your peace when comparison creeps in

Stay productive during a slower booking season

Set yourself up for stronger, steadier cash flow next year with smarter payment options for your clients

We’re talking vision boards, realistic expectations, financial strategy, and yes—officially announcing The Totally Average Hair Tour (coming to a Canadian city near you this spring 👀).

If you’ve been feeling behind, unmotivated, or quietly stressed about money right now—this one’s for you.

This week, we’re following up exactly where we left off in Episode 4. Last week was very “let’s complain and commiserate” — today is all about what we can actually do when a bride asks to add a second artist on a small booking.

Because yes… the “your paycheck being cut in half” analogy is real — and I’m breaking down what I meant by that, why it happens, and how to prevent it moving forward.

Inside this episode, I’m sharing:

3 options for handling second-artist requests without losing income

My personal SOPs when I bring in a second artist

How to protect your pricing, your boundaries, and your workflow

If you’ve ever felt stuck, awkward, or guilty when this comes up… this one’s for you.
Let’s make this feel clear, confident, and profitable. Always.

🎙️ New episodes drop every Friday — follow so you never miss one!

Business bestie Rebecca Rose Beauty is on the pod—and fair warning, we laugh a lot in this one.

We’re breaking down some of our biggest bridal red flags, sharing our unfiltered takes on early start time fees, getting ready in hotel rooms, and swapping a few of our funniest + most unhinged wedding day stories from behind the scenes.

If you’re a bridal hairstylist or makeup artist who’s ever thought:

“Is this a red flag or am I overthinking?”

“Should I be charging for this…?”

“Why does every hotel room feel like a maze at 6am?

…this episode will make you feel VERY seen.

🎙️ Hit play, have a laugh, and let us know your hot takes...like what’s your biggest bridal red flag lately?

You’re gonna want this one in your ears before your next wedding weekend.

Brides aren’t checking email the way they used to… but they are checking Instagram 24/7.

Let’s talk about the new era of brides, how they want to communicate, and how to tweak your booking flow so you stop losing inquiries in junk mail.

I’m giving you my exact pre-booking workflow + the secret weapon inside the Club that writes it all for you.

Psssst if you want access to the club, all you gotta do is join us!

In this episode, we talk about the early days of lugging kit bags, figuring out rides to weddings, saying yes before I had a system, and building confidence one messy trial at a time.

If you’re out here trying to make this bridal biz work without everything perfectly set up, you’re not alone. There are always solutions, and they usually start with asking for help, getting creative, and refusing to give up just because it’s inconvenient.

This isn’t a highlight reel — it’s a story about scrappy beginnings, resourcefulness, and trusting that your business will evolve if you keep showing up.

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram and DM me with your origin story -- I seriously want to hear from you!

We’re getting real about pricing today — the numbers and the nerves behind them. I’m sharing how I went from guessing my prices based on what everyone else was charging… to confidently owning my rates, knowing my expenses, and building pricing that feels good long-term.

We’ll talk about market research, why you can raise your prices literally any time, and the difference between a la carte and package pricing in the bridal world. I’ll also walk you through a simple pricing calculator you can use to finally stop guessing and start charging with intention.

DOWNLOAD THE PRICING CALCULATOR