jumping in with both feet

fusar

Hi Guys and Gals,

Just in the process of purchasing a hair salon, as I have always wanted to be my own boss, plus my little boy is starting school in September so I need to be more flexible.

Anyway, the salon is a woman only salon, which I will probably change to unisex in order to open the market. I would also like to have a stylist for Afro hair, as it doesn't offer that service at the moment. The place is a little dated too, so needs a refurb.

I was wondering if I could get some advice please? Such as, what makes you return to a hair salon after the first visit? Have you any quirky ideas that I could offer to make their visit more relaxing and memorable? How do you like salons to look - style and colour (as I have to think about the refurb...)?

Any other advice, or generally anything I should eb aware of would be great! Many thanks in advance.
Fusar

mikewebs

I'll be honest. The one thing I like about a salon is the price - (probably a male thing) - next I like the fact that I can get my haircut quickly (cos my wife will wonder why I took so long) finally, I like the ease of parking (i am soooooooooo lazy). But seriously, just a quick trim, cut, style whatever so long as it is affordable, quick and most of all convenient.

shopaholicsan

Hi,
When I arrive at a hair salon I like to be taken aside to discuss how I want my hair whilst it is dry so that I can point out difficult to manage bits. It's also nice to be offered a drink (not cheap coffee/tea) and definitely non smoking.
Salon-wise I'm not fussy about style but it has to look and feel clean.
Hairdressers - just remember that not everyone want to talk incessantly about their holidays!!! Take your lead from the customer and if they don't seem to want to chat leave them alone!
Other than that a good cut and finish at a reasonable price.
Good luck, I hope it's successful for you.

adypem

From a male side the reason I return back is a good quality cut... this is the most important side. I don't care what colour the walls are and how many mirrors etc... as long as the cut is good, the staff friendly and the price is right.

Hope this helps..

Savvy_Sue

I'm with shopaholic!

Oh, and if you MUST have musak, keep it quiet ...

The barber's down the road often has a queue, and they provide papers. I don't usually have to wait long for my appointments (but then I do make appointments!) but if I am waiting, I'd rather have 'general' magazines or the paper than just hairstyles to look at.

And you asked what keeps me going back - right now it's the fact that I can also get my underarms waxed before or after my haircut. And the salon's easy to get to, whether or not I've got my car.

A PS about Afro hair - my regular hairdresser is black but I did once go to a 'black' salon where they clearly weren't used to doing 'white' hair, although I did ask when I went in if they were OK doing white hair. The cut took forever, the person doing it had to keep getting advice from one of her colleagues, and as they were smoking (and I'm not sure it was tobacco IYKWIM!) I came out feeling quite ill. So, to keep your Afro specialist busy while s/he builds up a clientele who appreciate their talents, might help to make sure they can do 'white' hair too ...

WhiteLily_2

I would also suggest opening on a Monday & open until 7.00pm each night - I have awful problems trying to get an appointment to fit in with my life i.e I work full time and have Monday as a day off. Ease of parking, 'relaxed ' and clean environment, good selection of mags, good genuinely friendly service, refreshments...........

Raksha

I like to be remembered........ If a stylist remembers me from last time, how she styled my hair, if it was a change from 'normal' and did I like it, do I want to try anything different this time.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT - don't take it for granted that everyone wants to walk out of the saloon with their hair set in concrete - if you want to use styling products, please ask before hand, don't just squirt, spray or slick the hair with whatever YOU feel makes it look best, ask your client, it's their hair!

Savvy_Sue

Raksha wrote: »

I like to be remembered........ If a stylist remembers me from last time, how she styled my hair, if it was a change from 'normal' and did I like it, do I want to try anything different this time.

Not sure where the OP's gone, but that's a very good point - all the stylists know me because I have what would be my fringe cut VERY short, over scissors. They've seen the boss do it, and some of them have had to do it when she is sick or unexpectedly away.

On that subject, one day when I phoned up to say my train was delayed they said in fact I could only have my haircut, not my usual wax as well, so did I still want to come? I was a bit cross they hadn't phoned me, but when I got there next time they said they hadn't had my phone no. So always asking for a contact no. so you can say "your usual stylist is unwell, do you want to rebook or go with Fred?" would matter to some people. It may or may not be best for business, depends whether you expect to have spare capacity most of the time (which I think for chaps you need more!)

I know for colouring, they have an index card box where they keep details of what they've done each time for the customer. Means they can get feedback on whether that 'worked' or not, and think how to adjust it this time around if necessary.

Raksha wrote: »

BUT MOST IMPORTANT - don't take it for granted that everyone wants to walk out of the saloon with their hair set in concrete - if you want to use styling products, please ask before hand, don't just squirt, spray or slick the hair with whatever YOU feel makes it look best, ask your client, it's their hair!

:rotfl:Will never forget the few times I had my hair 'curled' in my teens - before realising my hair just won't hold a set (and I didn't want a perm). One time I came out with so much hairspray on it was set in clumps! And then there was the beehive, where she BACKCOMBED all my hair before putting it up on top of my head, when I just wanted it 'up' on the back of my head so I wouldn't tower over my sisters! I was finding hairpins for weeks afterwards ...

Are you going to want to do children's hair? If you do, you can have some tips for that too ...

CelticStar

I think that price and well-trained staff are obviously the most important elements but I also think that a friendly atmosphere makes such a difference. So many salons have staff who are a bit 'superior' in their attitude and who look you up and down when you walk in the door as if you have no right to be there. The salon I go to is lovely, very friendly without being intrusive. The stylists will go out of their way to make you feel comfortable which makes it a really pleasant experience. Other things to consider are parking (is there any available?), good cups of tea/coffee and a good selection of magazines. I also think a previous poster's suggestion of opening in the evenings is a great idea as so many people work full-time these days that it can be very difficult to get appointments.

Good luck anyway.

rjh090384

comfortable basins!! i alwasy come out of the hairdressers with sore neck and head from bending back on those things grr!!