Firstly, technical proficiency is PARAMOUNT! You’ve got to know your way around hair, have a deep understanding of various cutting, colouring and styling techniques, and stay up to date with the latest trends and innovations in the industry. This is non-negotiable.
Continuous education is also imperative in this industry. With fashion trends and techniques frequently changing, you have to stay on top of your game in order to succeed.
I consider everything an opportunity for education: Found a spare five minutes in your day? Watch a colleague finish their haircut. Scrolling on your phone in the evenings? Watch a YouTube tutorial on a technique you don’t feel confident in.
Education doesn’t always have to mean booking an expensive course that requires travel and time out of the salon, utilise the inspiration around you to ensure you are always learning!
Understanding what your clients want and making sure you’re on the same page is vital. Effective communication is key – the ability to actively listen to your clients’ preferences helps create a personalised and satisfying salon experience.
Good communication also aids in providing accurate advice and managing client expectations. Remember, building strong relationships is crucial for client retention and word-of-mouth referrals.
I truly believe one of the most important tools to ensure a thriving career is time management. It’s not just about knowing how to wield a pair of scissors or mix colours – it’s about orchestrating a symphony of appointments, style transformations and customer satisfaction within the confines of a ticking clock.
Effective time management doesn’t just benefit the stylist, it also ensures that the salon operates like a well-oiled machine. Smooth transitions between appointments minimise disruptions, allowing clients to enjoy a seamless experience from start to finish. This creates an environment where clients can relax, trust the process and leave the salon feeling pampered.
A successful stylist’s day is often a jigsaw puzzle of appointments, each with its unique set of demands and expectations. Managing the flow of clients while ensuring each one feels attended to and valued requires a deft touch – it’s like being the conductor of a bustling salon orchestra, where every note (appointment) must be hit just right. In my experience however, time management can be made even more easy for you if you have an effective salon software system like iSalon.
Lastly, are you pricing correctly? If you know Mrs Smith always takes you an extra 15 minutes because she has hair down to her knees, charge for it! That’s 15 minutes less that you can fit another service in. Your prices should coincide with your timings to ensure you are earning fairly for the work you are creating.
Creating a service button on your booking system called ‘Extra Time’ can help you to price accordingly for those slightly larger jobs. It creates a simplified supplement that you can add on at the point of sale per 15 minutes extra needed, and it will show the client’s appointment history so that your receptionist can see they must find a space large enough to have that service in the future.
