Salon Divorces

Training Module:

The Salon Divorce Framework

A holistic approach to managing stylist departures with clarity and compassion

“The Salon Divorce Framework”

How to navigate stylist departures without losing your peace, profits, or purpose

– Why This Matters

• Losing an employee feels like losing part of the family

• Salon culture and income can be shaken

• Most owners are reactive, not prepared

• With the right framework, exits become transitions — not traumas

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Talking Point: “Just like a divorce, a stylist leaving is emotional and financial, but it doesn’t have to be destructive.”

Stage 1: Pre-Separation (Still Together)

• Maintain status quo

• Avoid punishment or favoritism

• Document everything (hours, sales, property, photos)

• Keep communication neutral, not emotional

  
  

Exercise: Have owners list red flags that often show up before a stylist leaves (attendance, attitude, client communication).

– Stage 2: Separation Agreement

(Exit Interview)

• Treat this like the “divorce decree”

• Create an exit agreement covering:

  • Media & branding rights

  • Client transition plan

  • Return of property/tools

  • Financial reconciliation

• Tone: Firm but fair

Exercise: Role-play an exit interview. One plays the salon owner, one the stylist. Switch roles to see both perspectives.

Stage 3: Post-Divorce (Life After Departure)

• Release resentment; don’t track them online

• Protect your salon’s culture — frame their exit positively to staff & clients

• Conduct a lessons learned review (What worked? What didn’t?)

• Focus forward: hire, mentor, rebuild

  
  

Talking Point: “A divorce is not a failure; it’s a transition. The way you close one chapter determines how strong the next will be.”

Healthy Boundaries = Healthy Business

• Every stylist exit is a chance to refine your systems

• Exit agreements are like prenups — they protect both sides

• You can honor their growth while protecting your legacy

Exercise: Draft a 3-bullet “Exit Policy” for your salon today.

Wrap-Up / Call to Action

• Don’t fear departures — prepare for them

• Use the Salon Divorce Framework as a repeatable system

• Keep your salon culture strong, even through transitions

“Now, draft your salon’s customized Exit Agreement and share it with your mentor group for feedback