How do I start posting on social media when I'm too busy behind the chair?

Chelsea Von James recommends redefining what 'hard' actually means. Starting is often simpler than it feels — placing your phone on a tripod and recording an appointment is genuinely not hard. Her practical starting point was committing to 30 minutes each morning on content, and posting at least once a week as a non-negotiable minimum. Starting small and building consistency beats overcommitting and burning out.

How often do I need to post on Instagram or TikTok to build a following as a hairdresser?

Chelsea Von James built her following posting just once a week — spending roughly four to five hours per post on filming, editing, captions, and a cover photo. Alana Dixon notes that leaning into trending sounds on TikTok can reduce that to about an hour per post if you want to post more frequently. Consistency matters more than volume: a well-crafted post once a week outperforms sporadic high-quantity posting.

Should I be myself on social media or try to look like an influencer?

Both Chelsea and Alana emphasize that chasing influencer status as the primary goal often backfires — people who focus on what they think others want to see lose their authentic voice as their following grows. Instead, they recommend starting with what feels genuinely true to you, whether that's humor, craft, or behind-the-chair moments, and letting influence develop naturally as a byproduct. Audiences follow people, not personas, and engagement data — likes, story taps, comments — will reveal what actually resonates with your specific followers.

Are hashtags still worth using on Instagram?

Yes — but the approach matters. Chelsea Von James and Alana Dixon both recommend using two to five highly specific hashtags rather than a large pile of broad ones. Generic hashtags serve your content to unrelated audiences, which tanks engagement and deprioritizes your post in the algorithm. For hairdressers, location-specific hashtags like your city and salon type are more effective than broad terms. You can also click into a hashtag to see how many people follow it and what content is performing well within it.

Should I start a new Instagram page or keep using my existing one?

Chelsea Von James recommends starting a new page if your existing content is completely unrelated to hair — for example, if your current page is primarily about faith or family and you want to build a professional hair portfolio. However, if your personality and life are part of your brand, keeping everything on one page is generally better. Splitting your audience across multiple pages dilutes your reach, and followers often want to see the full person, not just the portfolio.

How can hairdressers make passive income through the Hairstory affiliate program on social media?

Chelsea Von James describes earning significant recurring income from Hairstory simply by showing which products she uses in her content — without hard selling. When a client or follower purchases through a hairdresser's Hairstory affiliate link for the first time, their account is permanently linked to that hairdresser. Every subsequent purchase they make — even years later — continues to generate commission for the hairdresser automatically, creating a growing passive income stream over time.

Do I need to appear on camera to grow a social media following as a hairdresser?

Appearing on camera is not required to start, but Alana Dixon notes that analytics consistently show engagement spikes when creators post their own face. People follow accounts because they like the person behind them, so even an awkward or casual selfie or voiceover-style video tends to outperform purely behind-the-chair footage. Being visibly 'a little weird on camera' often reads as authentic and relatable — and that is something audiences respond to positively.

What should I post on social media as a hairdresser if I don't know where to start?

Alana Dixon suggests starting with Instagram Stories rather than the main feed, since Stories feel lower-stakes and let you see what your audience actually engages with before committing to polished Reels. Chelsea Von James recommends filming appointments regularly and identifying the moments — a funny exchange, a striking before-and-after, a product application — that naturally tell a story. Simple educational content like how to wash, style, or maintain hair also consistently performs well, because hairdressers routinely underestimate how much their professional knowledge is worth to consumers.

FINDING YOUR AUDIENCE

Name: Finding Your Audience
Uploaded: 2025-12-17
Channel: Hairstory
Description: Hairstory hosts salon owner and educator Chelsea Von James alongside Hairstory VP of Integrated Strategy Alana Dixon for a candid conversation about how hairdressers can build a social media presence without burning out. Chelsea and Alana break down the mindset shifts required to get started — re...

Featuring Socal Media pros, Alanah Dixon and Chelsea Vonne James, join this exclusive virtual event for expert tips and strategies for growing an authentic, engaged social following while staying true to your voice.

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Hairstory hosts salon owner and educator Chelsea Von James alongside Hairstory VP of Integrated Strategy Alana Dixon for a candid conversation about how hairdressers can build a social media presence without burning out. Chelsea and Alana break down the mindset shifts required to get started — redefining what "hard" actually means, anchoring content creation in a personal why, and committing to a manageable posting cadence rather than an overwhelming one. The discussion covers hashtag strategy, whether to start a new page or evolve an existing one, how to use engagement data to guide content, and how Chelsea has generated significant recurring income through the Hairstory affiliate program simply by showing what she uses behind the chair.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start posting on social media when I'm too busy behind the chair?

Chelsea Von James recommends redefining what 'hard' actually means. Starting is often simpler than it feels — placing your phone on a tripod and recording an appointment is genuinely not hard. Her practical starting point was committing to 30 minutes each morning on content, and posting at least once a week as a non-negotiable minimum. Starting small and building consistency beats overcommitting and burning out.
How often do I need to post on Instagram or TikTok to build a following as a hairdresser?

Chelsea Von James built her following posting just once a week — spending roughly four to five hours per post on filming, editing, captions, and a cover photo. Alana Dixon notes that leaning into trending sounds on TikTok can reduce that to about an hour per post if you want to post more frequently. Consistency matters more than volume: a well-crafted post once a week outperforms sporadic high-quantity posting.
Should I be myself on social media or try to look like an influencer?

Both Chelsea and Alana emphasize that chasing influencer status as the primary goal often backfires — people who focus on what they think others want to see lose their authentic voice as their following grows. Instead, they recommend starting with what feels genuinely true to you, whether that's humor, craft, or behind-the-chair moments, and letting influence develop naturally as a byproduct. Audiences follow people, not personas, and engagement data — likes, story taps, comments — will reveal what actually resonates with your specific followers.
Are hashtags still worth using on Instagram?

Yes — but the approach matters. Chelsea Von James and Alana Dixon both recommend using two to five highly specific hashtags rather than a large pile of broad ones. Generic hashtags serve your content to unrelated audiences, which tanks engagement and deprioritizes your post in the algorithm. For hairdressers, location-specific hashtags like your city and salon type are more effective than broad terms. You can also click into a hashtag to see how many people follow it and what content is performing well within it.
Should I start a new Instagram page or keep using my existing one?

Chelsea Von James recommends starting a new page if your existing content is completely unrelated to hair — for example, if your current page is primarily about faith or family and you want to build a professional hair portfolio. However, if your personality and life are part of your brand, keeping everything on one page is generally better. Splitting your audience across multiple pages dilutes your reach, and followers often want to see the full person, not just the portfolio.
How can hairdressers make passive income through the Hairstory affiliate program on social media?

Chelsea Von James describes earning significant recurring income from Hairstory simply by showing which products she uses in her content — without hard selling. When a client or follower purchases through a hairdresser's Hairstory affiliate link for the first time, their account is permanently linked to that hairdresser. Every subsequent purchase they make — even years later — continues to generate commission for the hairdresser automatically, creating a growing passive income stream over time.
Do I need to appear on camera to grow a social media following as a hairdresser?

Appearing on camera is not required to start, but Alana Dixon notes that analytics consistently show engagement spikes when creators post their own face. People follow accounts because they like the person behind them, so even an awkward or casual selfie or voiceover-style video tends to outperform purely behind-the-chair footage. Being visibly 'a little weird on camera' often reads as authentic and relatable — and that is something audiences respond to positively.
What should I post on social media as a hairdresser if I don't know where to start?

Alana Dixon suggests starting with Instagram Stories rather than the main feed, since Stories feel lower-stakes and let you see what your audience actually engages with before committing to polished Reels. Chelsea Von James recommends filming appointments regularly and identifying the moments — a funny exchange, a striking before-and-after, a product application — that naturally tell a story. Simple educational content like how to wash, style, or maintain hair also consistently performs well, because hairdressers routinely underestimate how much their professional knowledge is worth to consumers.