When You're the Boss… But You Feel Like the Only One Who Doesn’t Have It Together
By The Salon Social Collective

There’s a strange kind of silence that creeps in once you’ve “made it.”

You’ve got the salon, the logo, the clientele, maybe even a waitlist. People admire what you’ve built and so you smile, nod, and keep showing up like you’ve got it under control.

But behind the scenes? You're holding up the whole damn roof with caffeine, grit, and a smile that sometimes feels more like a mask.

No one tells you how lonely leadership can be.

Because being the boss comes with an unspoken rule: don’t complain. Don’t show weakness. Don’t admit that some mornings you question if you’re even good at this anymore.

But let’s get real:

You can love your salon and still feel like it’s swallowing you some days.
You can post confident Reels and still cry in your car between clients.
You can be the strong one and still desperately need someone to ask, “How are you really doing?”

If you’re nodding quietly, here are five gentle reminders for your heart (and your to-do list):

1. You’re not the only one faking calm.
Comparison is a liar. That salon owner smashing goals on Instagram? She has slow days too. We just don’t post those. Stop assuming everyone else is doing better—you only see their curated highlights, not the panic-texts to their accountant.

2. You don’t have to know it all.
No one handed you a CEO manual with your ABN. Leadership is messy, learned on the go, and usually under the hum of the salon kettle. Give yourself grace. Google is part of the process. So is trial and error. So is asking for help.

3. You need more than strategies - you need sisterhood.
Sometimes, the best medicine isn’t a new booking system. It’s a message that says, “Same here.” Find (or create) a space where you can take off the boss hat and just be. Human. Imperfect. Learning.

4. Growth doesn’t have to be lonely.
We romanticise the “solo hustle,” but the truth is, building something meaningful is so much sweeter when you’re surrounded by people who get it. Not just celebrate your wins but understand your why.

5. It’s okay to want more than just success.
You didn’t start your salon to feel trapped by it. You started it to feel proud, free, alive. If the loneliness is weighing more than the freedom right now, that’s your nudge to re-align. To seek connection as seriously as you seek profit.

The power of being in business isn’t just being in charge. It’s choosing who you grow with.

And babe, you deserve a room that feels like a hug...not a hustle.

A quiet heads up: We’re working behind the scenes on something just for salon owners like you Salon Secret Sessions. A space where conversations like this are normalised, not hidden. If you’ve ever craved real talk, smart strategies, and a safe community… it’s coming.

Until then take care of the woman behind the business.
You’re doing better than you think.

Kat x