If you’re growing a beauty business and thinking about hiring a team, congratulations. It means your business is expanding, your diary is full, and you’re ready to take things to the next level.

But let’s get real. Building a team isn’t always as glamorous as it looks on Instagram.

As a beauty business mentor and salon owner for over 16 years, I’ve helped hundreds of salon, clinics and training academies grow their teams, and I’ve experienced the highs and heartbreaking lows myself. From staff walking out unexpectedly, poaching clients, to toxic work culture that drained the life out of my salon, I’ve seen it all.

If you’re looking for honest advice on building a strong, loyal, and high-performing team, this blog is for you.

Why Hiring in the Beauty Industry Is So Hard

One amazing team member can take your salon to the next level. One wrong hire can completely derail your momentum, stress you out, and even cost you thousands in lost clients and reputation damage.

The truth? Most salon owners aren’t trained in leadership. We’re lash artists, nail techs, brow specialists, not HR professionals. But if you want to scale, you must learn how to manage people, build culture, and protect your business.

5 Lessons Every Beauty Business Owner Needs to Know About Team Building

1. Culture Comes from You

Your salon’s culture is defined by what you allow. If gossip, lateness, or entitlement is becoming the norm, it starts at the top. The way you show up as a leader sets the tone for everything.

– Set clear expectations
– Lead with consistency
– Address issues early

2. Protect Your Business with the Right Systems

From training agreements to gross misconduct policies and data protection, your paperwork is your power. Don’t wait until things go wrong to get contracts and policies in place.

At KG Business Mentor, we help business owners implement foolproof systems so their teams are aligned, legal boxes are ticked, and boundaries are clear.

3. Don’t Take It Personally

When someone you’ve invested time, money, and trust into leaves poorly, it hurts. I’ve had team members start businesses down the road using my branding ideas, or worse, try to damage my reputation.

But with the right mindset (and some strong boundaries), you’ll bounce back faster and stronger. Trust me, the right people will come.

4. Team Drama Will Cost You More Than Money

A toxic culture doesn’t just affect team morale, it affects your clients. We’ve all been to salons where you can feel the tension. That energy drives clients away. It’s why I coach business owners to lead like CEOs, not just service providers.

The moment I removed emotion from team management and led with confidence, everything shifted.

5. There Are Amazing Team Members Out There

For every bad experience, there are dedicated, loyal team members who will treat your business like their own. Your job is to attract and keep them, by offering growth, clarity, support, and a solid leadership presence.

Hiring staff in your beauty business is one of the most empowering, and emotional, parts of growth. It will test you. But when done right, it frees you up, increases profits, and builds a brand that works without you.

At KG Business Mentor, I help beauty, hair, and aesthetic businesses scale their teams, boost their profits, and create freedom through smart systems and confident leadership.

👉 Ready to build a team that actually works?
Explore my coaching programs, mastermind, and free resources here:
🔗 www.kgbusinessmentor.com