What are the four passive income streams Lena recommends for hairdressers?

Lena outlines four income streams hairdressers can build beyond chair time: (1) YouTube content, which functions as a search engine and earns ad revenue while continuing to grow views long after upload; (2) Amazon affiliate links, where hairdressers earn commission when clients or followers purchase products they recommend; (3) a client mailing list, which allows hairdressers to communicate directly with their audience and drive purchases or bookings; and (4) affiliate partnerships with brands like Hairstory, which pay recurring commission on client orders without requiring inventory.

What is passive income for hairdressers and how does it actually work?

Passive income means earning money from something you created or set up once, without having to show up for each transaction the way you do behind the chair. Examples include a YouTube video that keeps collecting views and ad revenue, an Amazon affiliate link embedded in a blog post that earns commission every time someone clicks and buys, or a Hairstory affiliate link that earns 25% commission each time a client reorders — even without the hairdresser being present. There is upfront work involved, but once it's live, it generates income in the background.

How do hairdressers start a YouTube channel?

Starting a YouTube channel only requires a Gmail address — you sign up and follow the prompts. Lena recommends beginning with whatever topic you genuinely can't stop talking about, filming without worrying about production quality, and posting consistently. You don't need to show your face — voiceovers, hands-only demonstrations, or music-backed clips all work. YouTube is a search engine, so videos continue to surface for new viewers long after posting. Starting imperfectly and adjusting as you go is more valuable than waiting until everything is perfect.

How do hairdressers set up Amazon affiliate links?

Search for Amazon Associates (also called Amazon Associate Central) and sign up with your basic information, including tax details. Once approved, you can generate affiliate links for any product on Amazon and share them in blog posts, Instagram link trees, or email newsletters. When someone clicks your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission — even on items they add to their cart beyond what you originally linked. Amazon also has an influencer storefront program that requires a significant social following, but the standard Associates program is open to anyone.

How should hairdressers build and use a client email list?

Most hairdressers who book online already have a client email list without realizing it — those booking confirmation addresses are a starting point. For managing and sending emails, Lena recommends ConvertKit (which has a free plan for smaller lists) as an alternative to MailChimp, which can end up in spam folders. The most effective emails are often short, plain text messages written directly to a specific client avatar — not polished newsletters. Sending when you have something genuine to share, rather than on a rigid schedule, tends to feel more authentic and gets better results.

How does the Hairstory Pro affiliate program work as a passive income stream?

Through the Hairstory Pro affiliate program, hairdressers receive a personal referral link that earns 25% commission on every purchase their clients make through it. Clients receive 15% off their first order, and once they use the link once, they are connected to that hairdresser's account permanently — meaning future purchases earn the hairdresser commission automatically, even if the client doesn't use the link again. There's no inventory to hold and no upfront cost. Lena recommends being transparent with clients that you earn a commission when they use your link, as most clients are happy to support their hairdresser this way.

Do hairdressers need a large social media following to start earning passive income?

No. Lena's Amazon affiliate commissions started at 56 cents and grew over time without a massive following. YouTube surfaces videos through search regardless of subscriber count. And the Hairstory affiliate program earns commission based on client purchasing behavior, not follower numbers — a hairdresser's existing clients already constitute a following. The advice is to start small, stay consistent, and let each income stream build gradually rather than waiting until you have a large audience to begin.

Should hairdressers tell clients they earn a commission from affiliate links?

Yes — Lena and Wes both recommend being upfront about it. Clients who discover the commission arrangement on their own may feel misled. When hairdressers are transparent — saying something like 'when you use my link, I earn a commission and it ships directly to you' — most clients respond positively, because they already want to support the people whose work they value. Keeping it secret is what makes it feel awkward; saying it plainly makes it feel like a natural extension of the relationship.

2023 PASSIVE MONEY GOALS

Name: 2023 Passive Money Goals
Uploaded: 2025-12-17
Channel: Hairstory
Description: Hairstory's Wes sits down with hairdresser, content creator, and educator Lena to walk through four income streams every hairdresser can build alongside their chair work. Lena shares how she grew a YouTube channel from a bedsheet backdrop to hundreds of thousands of views — including a single sev...

Join Lina Waled to learn about the importance of multiple online income streams for hairstylists. We’ll talk about recommending Hairstory to clients, building an Amazon store, creating a YouTube channel, and understanding affiliate marketing. Lina is a haircutting and healthy hair expert in Toronto, Canada. Her passion is for teaching hairstyling, shags and razor cuts with a mission to elevate both a hairdresser’s skills and their bottom line. Her classes include theory, application, and trusting intuition.

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Hairstory's Wes sits down with hairdresser, content creator, and educator Lena to walk through four income streams every hairdresser can build alongside their chair work. Lena shares how she grew a YouTube channel from a bedsheet backdrop to hundreds of thousands of views — including a single seven-minute pandemic video that has earned over $3,000 in passive income — and how those videos compound into Amazon affiliate commissions, email list growth, and affiliate partnerships. The session covers how to start a YouTube channel, set up Amazon Associates, build a client mailing list without perfectionism getting in the way, and use the Hairstory Pro affiliate program to earn recurring commission from clients who shop online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the four passive income streams Lena recommends for hairdressers?

Lena outlines four income streams hairdressers can build beyond chair time: (1) YouTube content, which functions as a search engine and earns ad revenue while continuing to grow views long after upload; (2) Amazon affiliate links, where hairdressers earn commission when clients or followers purchase products they recommend; (3) a client mailing list, which allows hairdressers to communicate directly with their audience and drive purchases or bookings; and (4) affiliate partnerships with brands like Hairstory, which pay recurring commission on client orders without requiring inventory.
What is passive income for hairdressers and how does it actually work?

Passive income means earning money from something you created or set up once, without having to show up for each transaction the way you do behind the chair. Examples include a YouTube video that keeps collecting views and ad revenue, an Amazon affiliate link embedded in a blog post that earns commission every time someone clicks and buys, or a Hairstory affiliate link that earns 25% commission each time a client reorders — even without the hairdresser being present. There is upfront work involved, but once it's live, it generates income in the background.
How do hairdressers start a YouTube channel?

Starting a YouTube channel only requires a Gmail address — you sign up and follow the prompts. Lena recommends beginning with whatever topic you genuinely can't stop talking about, filming without worrying about production quality, and posting consistently. You don't need to show your face — voiceovers, hands-only demonstrations, or music-backed clips all work. YouTube is a search engine, so videos continue to surface for new viewers long after posting. Starting imperfectly and adjusting as you go is more valuable than waiting until everything is perfect.
How do hairdressers set up Amazon affiliate links?

Search for Amazon Associates (also called Amazon Associate Central) and sign up with your basic information, including tax details. Once approved, you can generate affiliate links for any product on Amazon and share them in blog posts, Instagram link trees, or email newsletters. When someone clicks your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission — even on items they add to their cart beyond what you originally linked. Amazon also has an influencer storefront program that requires a significant social following, but the standard Associates program is open to anyone.
How should hairdressers build and use a client email list?

Most hairdressers who book online already have a client email list without realizing it — those booking confirmation addresses are a starting point. For managing and sending emails, Lena recommends ConvertKit (which has a free plan for smaller lists) as an alternative to MailChimp, which can end up in spam folders. The most effective emails are often short, plain text messages written directly to a specific client avatar — not polished newsletters. Sending when you have something genuine to share, rather than on a rigid schedule, tends to feel more authentic and gets better results.
How does the Hairstory Pro affiliate program work as a passive income stream?

Through the Hairstory Pro affiliate program, hairdressers receive a personal referral link that earns 25% commission on every purchase their clients make through it. Clients receive 15% off their first order, and once they use the link once, they are connected to that hairdresser's account permanently — meaning future purchases earn the hairdresser commission automatically, even if the client doesn't use the link again. There's no inventory to hold and no upfront cost. Lena recommends being transparent with clients that you earn a commission when they use your link, as most clients are happy to support their hairdresser this way.
Do hairdressers need a large social media following to start earning passive income?

No. Lena's Amazon affiliate commissions started at 56 cents and grew over time without a massive following. YouTube surfaces videos through search regardless of subscriber count. And the Hairstory affiliate program earns commission based on client purchasing behavior, not follower numbers — a hairdresser's existing clients already constitute a following. The advice is to start small, stay consistent, and let each income stream build gradually rather than waiting until you have a large audience to begin.
Should hairdressers tell clients they earn a commission from affiliate links?

Yes — Lena and Wes both recommend being upfront about it. Clients who discover the commission arrangement on their own may feel misled. When hairdressers are transparent — saying something like 'when you use my link, I earn a commission and it ships directly to you' — most clients respond positively, because they already want to support the people whose work they value. Keeping it secret is what makes it feel awkward; saying it plainly makes it feel like a natural extension of the relationship.