By guest beauty blog writer and licensed professional: Olympia D’Agostino, owner of Bootlegger’s Collective in Boise, ID.

Meet Olympia D’Agostino, the vibrant force behind Bootlegger’s Collective and affectionately known around town as the “Boise Blowout Babe.” With her finger on the pulse of beauty trends and techniques, Olympia brings her wealth of industry knowledge to our blog as our guest writer. Her passion for beauty is contagious, and her practical advice has made her an invaluable member of the Boise Beauty Connection community. Whether she’s sharing styling secrets or product recommendations, Olympia’s expertise is matched only by her warm personality. I’m thrilled to have her insights grace our pages and help you look your absolute best!

Dive into industry insider Olympia D’Agostino’s eye-opening exploration of the employment practices transforming beauty businesses across America—essential reading for salon professionals and clients alike.

Blurred Lines: The Misclassification Controversy in the Beauty Industry

By: Olympia D’Agostino

The other day, I saw a TikTok that sent me down a rabbit hole. It wasn’t some viral dance challenge or beauty tutorial that had me hooked. Instead, it was a conversation about something that’s been quietly simmering in the beauty industry for far too long: misclassification. You know the kind of TikTok that makes you stop scrolling and think, “Wait a minute, that’s not right”? This was one of those moments.

Everyone loves to glamorize the beauty industry—shiny blowouts, perfectly blended balayage, curated salon aesthetics—but behind the scenes, there’s a darker issue most people avoid talking about: misclassification.

This isn’t just a gray area. It’s straight-up tax fraud—and it’s happening more than you think.

Let’s get something straight: A “1099 employee” does not exist. You are either a W-2 employee or you’re not. Period. That’s like a vegan saying they still eat fish… babe, that’s a pescatarian.

You’re either an employee or an independent contractor. You can’t be both. And no matter what your contract says, the IRS doesn’t care (https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-self-employed-or-employee).

Here’s the problem:
Salon and spa owners want the control of having employees—telling you when to work, what to wear, what to charge—without paying the cost of having employees.
No payroll taxes. No unemployment insurance. No benefits. Just a 1099 at the end of the year and a whole lot of “you’re such a boss babe” gaslighting.

But here’s the truth:
If you’re not paying rent and they’re taking a percentage of your services or retail, you are not a contractor. You’re an employee.

Reality check:
If the salon or spa owner is:
• Providing the tools
• Handling the booking system
• Setting your schedule
• Paying you a percentage or hourly
• And you’re clocking in, doing the work, then leaving…
You. Are. An. Employee.
And they should be treating you like one—on paper, not just in practice.

And it doesn’t matter if:
• You bring your own tools
• You pick your own hours
• You signed something that says you’re a 1099
If you don’t have full control over your business operations, you’re not independent. And that misclassification? It’s illegal.
Want to dive deeper? Square breaks it down clearly in this comparison of 1099 vs. W-2 classifications (https://squareup.com/us/en/the-bottom-line/operating-your-business/1099-vs-w2-which-do-you-want#:~:text=a%20little%20deeper.-,What%20is%20a%201099%20employee%3F,will%20do%20for%20your%20business.).

So how does this show up in real life?
One week you’re getting paid through payroll.
The next, it’s, “Hey, we’re switching to paper checks.”
Then those checks bounce.
Owners start “changing banks,” pushing payday back “a couple days,” and suddenly you’re covering bounced check overdraft fees while they act like it’s no big deal.

Guess what?
That’s not normal.
That’s not okay.
And that’s not legal.

When payroll disappears and sketchy payment systems pop up, it’s often an attempt to dodge taxes. But when the IRS catches on—and they will—it’s the “1099 employee” left holding the bag.
Back taxes. No unemployment. No recourse. No safety net.
All while being told, “You should be grateful for the opportunity.”

Opportunity doesn’t come with bounced checks and fear of audits.
This isn’t business. It’s exploitation.

And look—I’m not here to demonize every owner. Some are simply misinformed or following a broken model.
But ignorance doesn’t make it legal.
And if you’re risking someone else’s financial well-being because don’t want to pay for all the things it takes to have a W2 Employee, you probably shouldn’t be running a business.

Yes, owning a business is expensive.
Yes, we all look for ways to cut costs.
But when your shortcuts put others at risk—especially unknowingly—it stops being smart and starts being dangerous.

If you’re a beauty pro, ask yourself:
• Do you truly have control over your business?
• Can you set your own pricing, branding, schedule, and product choices?
• Are you paying rent—or is someone skimming off your services?
If your stomach dropped just now, it’s time to reevaluate.

If you’re a business owner thinking, “Oh no, I’ve been doing it wrong”—good.
Now’s the time to fix it.
When we all operate legally and ethically, the entire industry rises.

We are not disposable.
We are skilled professionals.
And we deserve to work in environments that follow the law and value our craft.

The beauty industry can be stunning on the outside and ethical on the inside—but only if we start having the hard conversations.

So here’s me starting one.
The rest? That’s up to you.

Olympia D’Agostino’s powerful examination of employment classification issues brings much-needed clarity to a topic affecting beauty professionals everywhere. Her insights into the “Blurred Lines” of worker classification don’t just highlight industry challenges—they point toward sustainable solutions that benefit stylists, salon owners, and clients alike. As the “Boise Blowout Babe” continues to advocate for fair practices within our beauty community, her willingness to tackle difficult conversations demonstrates why she remains such a valued voice within Boise Beauty Connection. We’re grateful to Olympia for sharing her expertise and for sparking this important dialogue that will help shape a more equitable future for our industry. Be sure to follow her at Bootlegger’s Collective for more game-changing insights!