MENU
SEARCHChristina Kirkey, owner of Pinup Studio, develops The Stylist Playbook, and it's working. For the first time, every one of her team members is on track to hit their annual goals.
As salon leaders, we all want the same thing: team members who are motivated, responsible, and empowered to grow both personally and professionally. But, as any owner knows, providing your stylists with the tools to track, measure, and actually see their progress can feel overwhelming and time-consuming.
That’s where the TheStylist Playbook came in.
I originally created this tool for my own team at Pinup Studio in Raleigh, North Carolina. I wanted something simple, editable, and consistent that would help my stylists take ownership of their numbers, goals, and habits.
And, it worked! For the first time since I became an employer, every stylist on my team is on track to hit their annual goals — and while the playbook can’t take all the credit, it has been one of the biggest coaching tools we’ve ever used.
The playbook works as much as you work it. It isn’t a strict rulebook but a guide that brings clarity and accountability to the stylist’s hands. It covers yearly, quarterly, and monthly goals, along with space for tracking daily/weekly numbers, content ideas, and more. And because it’s editable, salon owners and solo stylists can customize it to fit their own brand and needs.
The most powerful part is how it’s impacted my team. Here’s what they had to say:
“I love how organized you can be while setting goals for the rest of the year! Having it be customizable for you!”
“I love the daily/weekly numbers. It’s a great way to track your progress (or relapse) each month. It’s easy to see your struggles and weaknesses, not just service numbers, but retail, rebooking, and average ticket. I use the calendar to write down posting ideas, whether I use them that month or spread them out within the next few months.”
“I love having everything I need in one place instead of searching for numbers online or going back through notes on my phone for goals and such.”
At the end of the day, the Stylist Playbook is about giving stylists responsibility for their own growth and freeing salon leaders from having to reinvent the wheel. It’s simple. It’s effective. And most importantly, it works.
If you’re a salon owner or independent stylist looking for a plug-and-play tool to track numbers, set goals, and stay accountable without spending hours building systems from scratch, you can learn more and grab the Stylist Playbook here: https://stylistplaybook.myflodesk.com/stylistplaybook
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
