Originally published on LinkedIn, 17 December 2025.
Let’s talk about something most salon owners whisper about behind closed doors… but never actually say out loud.
Hiring a therapist who also works for themselves.
There it is. The big, terrifying, “absolutely not” red flag for most salon owners. 🚩
And honestly? I get why. We’ve ALL been burned before.
But the industry is shifting — and if we don’t shift with it, we’ll get left behind.
This is the rise of the Hybrid Therapist Era, and I’m here for it.
Let’s Start With the Trauma… Because Yes, It’s Real
Every salon owner has a story. THE story. The one about that therapist. I call them the dickheads and they go straight into the dickhead bin!
joined your team
used your salon as a free marketing funnel
built up a client base
undercut you
slid into clients’ DMs
and suddenly had a “spare room empire”
It’s painful because it feels personal. And it takes YEARS to build:
✨ a loyal client base ✨ a strong brand ✨ a great team ✨ smooth operations ✨ gold-standard training
So when someone swoops in and treats your hard-earned business like a stepping stone, it stings. And THAT is why so many salon owners shut down the idea of hiring hybrid therapists completely.
But… Here’s the part we need to talk about.
Most therapists are NOT like that.
In fact, the GOOD ones - the talented, ambitious, honest, hardworking ones, are the ones you WANT in your salon.
And they are the ones who are craving hybrid work more than anyone right now.
Why the Hybrid Therapist Is the Future
The world has changed. Employees want different things. Flexibility. Autonomy. Stability. Income. Community. Growth. All at the same time.
It’s not entitled, it’s evolution and here is what today’s therapists are saying:
“I love the salon environment… but I still want my own thing.”
“I want more earning potential… but also guaranteed income.”
“I want freedom… but not isolation.”
“I want multiple revenue streams… but I miss working in a team.”
And do you know what? They’re not wrong.
This generation is smart. They’re business-minded. They’re talented. And they’re creating careers on their terms.
Why wouldn’t salons want that energy?
Why Mooeys Embraces Hybrid… Without Getting Burned
Here’s what we do differently:
1. We have crystal-clear, non-negotiable contracts
Poaching = gross misconduct = see ya. No drama. No debate. No second chances. We protect our salons and our franchise partners fiercely. (And fun fact: we’ve never actually needed to enforce it.)
2. We lead with mutual respect
Hybrid therapists aren’t “risky”. They’re often INCREDIBLE:
skilled
motivated
loyal
entrepreneurial
responsible
relationship-focused
And guess what? When you respect someone’s ambitions, they respect your business right back.
3. We don’t clip wings
If someone wants to fly, we fly with them. Support them. Celebrate them. Help them thrive — with us or beyond us. And if they ever leave?
They leave well. They leave respectfully. And they leave knowing the door stays open (providing those boundaries weren’t crossed of course).
4. We’re a culture-first company
People don’t want to leave Mooeys. They enjoy coming to work. We create connection, fun, banter, belonging and progression.
A hybrid therapist thrives here, because our culture supports them.
5. Karma ALWAYS gets the dickheads!
Always. I’ve watched it happen for 20+ years. And it’s delicious!
The Best Part? Hybrid Creates a Bigger, Better Talent Pool
Salon owners say: “I can’t find good therapists.”
But sometimes the GOOD therapists are avoiding salons because:
they think they won’t be allowed to have their own clients
they think they’ll be judged
they think the salon will restrict or control them
they think they’ll lose the flexibility they love
There’s a whole untapped group of brilliant therapists who would THRIVE in a salon…but don’t think salons want them. And THAT needs to change.
Hybrid Isn’t a Risk — It’s a Competitive Advantage
Imagine having:
therapists who LOVE their craft
therapists with entrepreneurial energy
therapists who bring creativity, not chaos
therapists who are grateful for stability
therapists who value your brand
therapists who WANT to be part of a team
That’s the hybrid therapist. And the salons that embrace them will win the next recruitment wave.
My Final Thought…
People want flexibility. People want connection. People want multiple income streams. People want balance.
And the salons that adapt — the ones that evolve with the new workforce, are going to be the salons that THRIVE.
At Mooeys, we’re already there.
Because when you hire with heart AND strategy, you don’t just fill roles. You build a culture. A community. A happy herd.
What’s YOUR take?
Would you hire a hybrid therapist? Would you consider being one? Have you been burned, inspired, surprised… or all of the above?
I genuinely want to know. Hit reply or drop me a message and let’s talk about it 💛