Shit I told my hairdresser

In this episode, Jason and Paula sit down with an anonymous hairstylist - "Autonomy" - who risked everything to tell her truth about a hair care company and its affiliate program.

She joined thinking it would be life-changing. She left feeling caged, silenced, and scared to speak. She threw up 3 times before hitting record.

WHAT WE COVER:

[00:00] Welcome back to Shit I Told My Hairdresser
[02:00] Why our guest is staying anonymous - and why the owner already called us about this episode
[03:00] Read the fine print - the 23-page contract no one reads
[04:00] The "chemist" claim - when did he go to school?
[05:00] Affiliate programs, diversion, and why stylists get lured in
[10:00] Love-bombed at first, forgotten if you're not a top performer
[15:00] What happens when you ask questions or push back
[25:00] White label vs. private label - what this company is REALLY selling
[36:00] Mixing California and Texas laws to confuse stylists
[38:00] Why she stayed anonymous - the scary legal verbiage
[39:00] Jason's story: Getting served a non-compete lawsuit IN HIS CHAIR, in a robe, by a fake client
[40:00] Booth renter vs. commission stylist - what salon owners CAN'T legally control
[44:00] If it feels weird, ask. If it feels wrong, RUN.
[47:00] "They tried to cage a songbird" - Paula's message to Autonomy
[48:00] SHITOLOGY SKIT: "I want to return my color" - "Then you're fired. Put your resignation in writing to our PO Box. We'll keep your commissions. See you in court."

KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR HAIRDRESSERS:
- Never sign a salon contract, non-compete, or affiliate agreement without reading EVERY page
- If you have to quit in writing to a PO Box, that's a red flag
- If returning product gets you fired, that's a red flag
- If your commissions go to arbitration when you leave, that's a red flag
- If a company mixes state laws to confuse you, that's a red flag
- Booth renters are landlord-tenant - a salon owner cannot tell you when to work, who to book, or what to charge
- Know your state laws before you sign

If you have a story and want to stay anonymous, email us. We read every email.

Keywords: hairdresser podcast, hairstylist podcast, salon owner podcast, hair industry exposé, hair product affiliate, affiliate program for hairstylists, non-compete for hairdressers, salon contract, booth renter rights, commission stylist, white label hair products, private label hair products, hair color, hair bleach, diversion in hair industry, predatory contracts, hairdresser rights, salon suite, independent stylist, hairdresser truth, shit i told my hairdresser

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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 Santos
02:00 — The biggest mistakes salon owners make
06:00 — Hiring for attitude, work ethic, and alignment
11:00 — Salon contracts, non-competes, and training investments
21:00 — Salon coaching red flags: show the receipts
25:00 — Mentorship, leadership systems, and business education
27:00 — Salon buying power and working together
29:00 — Private equity and salon consolidation
34:00 — Taking ownership of the industry’s future
37:00 — Raising salon prices and explaining the value
40:00 — Better consultations, pre-booking, and client retention
43:00 — 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.

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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 EXPOSED
We 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 PIPELINE
From 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 REPEATING
Elyse 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 US
After 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 fucking 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 ASSAULT
Jason 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 CHAIR
You'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 Advocate
IG: @elyserox00_
Support Elyse - buy her a coffee, follow her work.

HOSTS:
Jason Townsend @shititoldmyhairdresser
Paula Dahlberg @Paula_j_Dahlberg

LINKS & RECEIPTS:

1. Wella S-1 IPO Filing (SEC EDGAR): https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2125056/000162827926000484/filename1.htm
2. Follow the pod: Instagram + TikTok @shititoldmyhairdresser

SUBSCRIBE & 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

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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 left
• The 2 reasons top educators leave big corporate institutions: Identity and Income
• What is Global Hair Collective and how it works
• Why social media education (YouTube University, Instagram, TikTok) can't replace in-person hair education
• Who is in the Collective - Meet the Avengers of Hair Education
• Upcoming Global Hair Collective education events in Spain, Italy, London, and the US
• How 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.com
Instagram: @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

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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: @ShitIToldMyHairdresser
Website: shititoldmyhairdresser.com
Merch dropping soon.

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Explicit Warning: This episode contains uncensored profanity, raw salon talk, and zero filter. Just how you like it.

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