The good stuff, all in one place.
People ask me constantly what I actually use, behind the chair, to run this website, and to keep my head on straight. So here’s the honest list. Some of it is free, some of it is paid, and all of it is something I really use and would hand to a friend.
A few of these are affiliate links, meaning I earn a little if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Plenty of what I use has no affiliate program at all, and it’s here anyway. I only ever list things I genuinely use and love.
Not sure where to start?
If you’re just finding In My Salon, don’t start with the tools. Start with the path. I lined up my best posts in the order that actually builds on itself, so you skip the overwhelm.
What runs my business online
I’m a tech nerd, by hairstylist standards. This is the setup that lets one person run a website, a booking system, an email list, and a marketing engine without losing her mind.
WordPress
The most powerful, customizable way to truly own your website instead of renting space on someone else’s app.
Vagaro
All-in-one booking, calendar, and client tracking. Basically the entire front desk living in one easy app.
Kit
Your email list is the one audience no algorithm can take from you. If your social vanished tomorrow, this is how you’d still reach people.
- EWWW Image Optimizer — keeps your images light so your pages load fast.
- Redirection — catches broken links and 404s before they quietly cost you traffic.
- WPCode Lite — lets you drop in little code snippets without breaking your site.
I run a good few more than these. The full plugin stack, with exactly how I have each one set up, is going in a free guide I’m building. Get on the list →
What I use to film and make content
The unglamorous gear behind the posts. None of it is fancy, all of it earns its keep.
My filming light
Good light is most of the battle. This is the one I set up to film services and content without everything looking dim and yellow.
My phone holder
Holds my phone steady at the right angle so I can film a service start to finish without needing a third hand.
How healthy is your salon business?
Take the free Salon Business Audit and score the five areas that make or break an independent salon: your website, getting found, client experience, your systems, and your money. About ten minutes, no spreadsheets, no judgment. At the end you’ll know your score and the one thing to focus on next.
Free. I’ll send your audit straight to your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime, no hard feelings.
My not-so-secret weapon
I believe in being honest about how the work actually gets done.
Claude & ChatGPT
I’m a hairstylist, not a copywriter or an SEO expert. I use these to tighten my writing, untangle topics miles outside my lane, and think problems through out loud. They don’t replace knowing your craft. They just help me punch above my weight on the business side.
Google Search Console
Free, straight from the source, and the truest picture of what people actually search to find you. I check it more than I check Instagram.
Free from Google
The tools I can’t work without
Twenty-plus years in, these earned a permanent spot at my station. Heads up: most of these brands don’t run affiliate programs, so there’s nothing in it for me here. They’re just what I use and love.
Dyson Professional
I made the switch and I’m not going back. Fast, genuinely lightweight on the wrist after a full day, and gentle enough that my curly clients’ hair thanks me for it.
Hatori Shears
A good pair of shears is everything, and I’m a Hatori girl. Want a pair? My guy can connect you with someone in your area. Just mention my name.
Text: (415) 933-0842
YS Park
There’s nothing more that needs to be said, but: YS Park makes the best clips and combs on the market. Trust me on this one.
What I’m reading and listening to
I read fiction and listen to non-fiction. Not a rule I live by, just something I’ve learned about myself. Both of these give you a free month if you want to try them.
Want this kind of thing in your inbox?
Got a tool I should try or a topic you want me to cover? Email me at inmysalon@gmail.com.