Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you knew you should’ve said “no,” but you didn’t?

Maybe you had that gut feeling — you know, the one that’s like a little red flag waving in your mind — yet you pushed it aside, convincing yourself it would be fine?

Or maybe, like me, you’ve had the same challenging experience repeat itself over and over, and each time you wonder, “Why haven’t I learned my lesson yet?”

Oh yeah… I’ve been there. In fact, it just happened again last week, at the hair salon. 😂

The Perfect Salon Experience… Or So I Thought

I was feeling hopeful. Fresh start, fresh hair. I had done all the research — checked out local Facebook groups, stalked Instagram accounts, and found a stylist who came highly recommended for blonde hair. No red flags. Everything seemed perfect.

And, at first, it was. The stylist was lovely. We had a nice chat, and she seemed super efficient as she worked. She applied the color to my hair, wrapped it up in foils, and let me get to work on my laptop. It was smooth sailing.

I thought, Wow, she’s fast. She’s got great energy. Maybe I’ve found the perfect colorist in Ohio! But, as you can guess, the universe was about to throw a curveball.

The Dreaded Toner Moment

After the color finished processing, we moved to the sink. I was just starting to relax when I heard it: “I’m just gonna mix up the toner.”

Cue the alarm bells. 🚨

You see, I’ve been down this road before. Every time a stylist says they’re going to put toner in my hair, it’s been a disaster. My old stylist in Austin knew better than to use toner on me, and I thought I’d learned my lesson. But for some reason, in this moment, I second-guessed myself.

Maybe she knows something my other stylists didn’t.
Maybe this new formula will look better with toner.
Maybe I was wrong in the past.

I didn’t speak up, and I let her apply the toner.

The Big Reveal (And the Disappointment)

As she blow-dried my hair, I kept thinking, I just want to see it in the mirror. I’m not one for the big reveal — I prefer watching my hair dry, so I can gauge how it’s turning out. But she turned me around and… my stomach sank.

It wasn’t what I asked for.

It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t what I wanted. And you know what? That’s all that mattered. I couldn’t hide my disappointment. It was one of those things I couldn’t quite put into words — I just knew something was off.

I was honest with her, and she was gracious enough to give me her personal number and offered to fix it. I left the salon thinking maybe I could get used to it. But after a few hours and a look in my own mirror, I knew it wasn’t going to work.

The Follow-Up Appointment (Round Two)

So, I scheduled a follow-up appointment. Fast-forward four days (and some purple shampoo), and she admitted, “Maybe I shouldn’t have used the toner…” (Duh, right?)

She tried to fix it by adding a gold rinse, but guess what? I still hated it. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Now, I have to go back for a third round with the salon owner, who’s promised to consult with me and fix it. If not, I’ll be starting from scratch. It’s a classic blonde champagne problem — not really a problem, but taking up way more time than I’d like.

The Lesson: Why We Need to Listen to Our Gut

But here’s the thing — it could have all been avoided if I had listened to my gut in the first place.

How often have you ignored that inner voice that told you something wasn’t right? Maybe with a client, a situation, or a relationship? How often do you keep repeating patterns, telling yourself, This time will be different?

I’ve had that same pattern show up in many areas of my life, and I want to share something important with you.

Getting Comfortable with Saying “Stop”

Recently, I did some deep work with a colleague on my own boundaries and trauma from past client experiences. During our session, we practiced saying “stop”.

And you know what? Saying “stop” out loud felt incredibly foreign to me.

It got me thinking about how many times I’ve held back to avoid conflict, been afraid to speak up, or just wanted to keep the peace — even when it meant ignoring my own needs. Maybe you’ve been there too?

I can’t be the only one who struggles with saying no when it really matters. There’s this underlying fear of upsetting others, especially in business or relationships. We’re taught to be accommodating, not to “rock the boat,” or, heaven forbid, come off as “bossy.”

But here’s the thing: If we don’t speak up — if we don’t honor our own boundaries and listen to that inner guidance — we end up letting others dictate our lives, sometimes in ways that aren’t even visible to them.

The Power of Saying “Stop”

So, I want to challenge you, friend: How often do you ignore your own truth to avoid conflict or make others happy? Are you comfortable with saying “stop” when something doesn’t feel right? Whether it’s with your clients, family, friends, or even your hairdresser?

What would happen if we all got more comfortable with that word? Imagine:

• You attract clients you actually love working with.
• Your relationships improve because you’re being true to yourself.
• Your health thrives because you’re not tolerating things that drain you.
• You finally feel like your voice is being heard.

This week, let’s practice speaking our truth more — maybe by simply saying “stop” when it’s needed. Whether that’s setting a boundary, speaking up in a situation, or simply honoring what we want and need.

Sending love and truth (and hopefully better hair soon!),

P.S. If you enjoyed this post, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Hit reply and let me know if you’ve ever been in a situation like this, or if something stood out to you. If this is your first time reading, I’m thrilled you made it all the way through! 🙌