Beauty Salon Etiquette for Busy Clients: How to Make the Most of Your Appointment Time

Proper beauty salon etiquette has a much bigger impact on a business’ bottom line than most people realize. At beauty salons, the relationship between stylist and client grows on a symbiotic success – with the expertise of your staff, clear communication of the administration, and the client’s respect for your time. Without key salon etiquette guidelines, your time blood, sweat, and tears spent on marketing are in vain.

So, how can you as a salon help busy clients make the most of their appointment time? And no matter whether you are a wellness space salon or an express one, clients value their time and your professionalism.

We’ve prepared detailed insights, including practical ideas on how you can implement the etiquette that is loved by your clients – and make sense to your staff.

What is General Beauty Salon Staff Etiquette That Clients Expect?

As a rule of thumb, clients expect salon staff to be professional, attentive, and skilled. The welcoming atmosphere is also key.

But before we dive deeper into what makes genuinely authentic etiquette for your own salon, there are common rules for all.

Think of these key aspects:

• Put faces to the brand with well-groomed hair, clean uniforms, and a fresh appearance.
• Punctuality when it comes to starting appointments on time and notifying clients of delays.
• Active listening and understanding preferences before making suggestions. 
• Respect client privacy and don’t share personal information.
• Great communication skills, with the ability to handle concerns.
• Be human and be discrete, whether regarding beauty treatments, personal conversations, or client information.
• Sanitizing tools, fresh towels, and a clean workstation; if you have them, you show respect for the client’s well-being.

Salon Policies for Client Etiquette

This is where you can start adding more authenticity to your beauty salon etiquette, as well as creating more definite rules, out of respect to your clients and staff.

To keep the beauty salon atmosphere just right for everyone, including guests and children of your clients, make sure to have a few ‘chapters’ of conduct in place.

You can peruse them in booking confirmations, the salon website, and displayed at the reception.

• Cancellations and rescheduling – to make the most out of the appointment time, think of a 24-48 hour cancellation policy to allow rebooking. Automated appointment reminders can reduce no-shows.
• Guests and children policy – some salons allow children, while others discourage them unless they have an appointment. If guests are not allowed or they can somehow influence the schedule, make sure clients are aware of these rules.
• Phone and noise control – if the 100% relaxing atmosphere is crucial in your salon, remind clients to keep phone use to a minimum.
• Arrival time – let your clients know that the best time to arrive is 5-10 minutes early to check in. They may need to use the restroom or enjoy a welcome drink to set themselves in the mood of the best appointment.

You may also want to have a digital welcome screen or printed policy brochure at reception. This will look as a gentle sign of letting guests know of salon etiquette.

Respecting Appointment Times – How Modern Salon Booking Software Helps

Salon appointment software can be the central time-saving and productivity machine for your salon operations, thus, the etiquette that values time.

Clients don’t feel rushed, the staff knows what’s ahead, and delays are most likely to be reduced. Scheduling software like BookingPress delivers a whole range of tools to make everyone in your salon happy about the process.

With the smart client self-scheduling, there is no overlap in the schedule, the staff has enough time to clean and reset, and clients feel that their time is valued. This is the magic of such software.

It also sends automated reminders to increase the chances clients will show up for their booked experiences. The system sends text/email reminders to clients, and sometimes even to staff.

You can even employ waitlist features and give the spot in case another appointment is cancelled. Joining a waitlist in case of last-minute cancellations is also automatic, no lifting a finger is needed.

The appointment booking system also supports a so-called multi-staff coordination, when a hairstylist, nail technician, and esthetician don’t get double-booked by mistake. The list of tools is very helpful:

• Let clients choose the duration of the appointment online.
• Sell extra beauty services (upsell).
• Generate invoices for clients.
• Cancellation management tools.
• Transactions control.
• Customer data control.
• A schedule of upcoming bookings is visualized in a calendar.
• Customizable booking widget options.
• Calendar integration (Apple Calendar, Outlook, Google Calendar).
• Client history tracking to speed up consultations.

You may even complete translations of online bookings with a POS terminal in your salon.

Beauty Salon Etiquette Tips to Save Time

These small but effective etiquette rules may not be just efficient for your business but also help clients feel you care.

Pre-appointment preparation required for your types of services can save everyone a lot of time, and thus you show your professionalism and planning skills. For example, you might need to ask clients to arrive with clean, dry hair for color treatments or no makeup before a facial. This saves valuable appointment time.

Moreover, let them know in advance about the payment methods available in your salon. Having payment methods ready (card, cash, or tipping options) are crucial for a quick checkout, so that the next client doesn’t need to wait.

Also think of a dedicated coat and bag storage space to prevent any clutter. An area near the entrance with hooks, lockers, or elegant shelving for clients’ personal belongings would be awesome, which is also helpful for preventing any security concerns.

Practical Tips You Can Use

What about some interior design ideas and extra perks you can offer? The space has a great influence on the entire workflow.

That’s the reason why the right salon layout and design elements can reinforce good etiquette.

Reception and check-in area:

1. A stylish but minimalistic check-in desk with the staff managing a screen with the booking software integrated. Moreover, many salons already have self-service screens for quick check-ins.
2. A welcome sign with etiquette guidelines (framed or on a digital display).
3. A comfortable waiting area with cozy seating and light refreshments like tea, coffee, or fruit-infused water.

Workstations and flow:

1. Spacious and uncluttered stations to prevent overlapping clients.
2. Clearly marked stylist sections with a small shelf for client belongings.
3. Soundproof dividers or curtains for privacy in spa areas.

Color scheme choices:

1. Soft, neutral tones like beige, pastel pink, sage green, or muted blue are able to create a calming environment for a salon. Of course, if it’s a barbershop, it may follow your brand colors.
2. Accent walls with wood elements or greenery add a natural touch.

Parking and accessibility:

1. Client parking spots close to the entrance.
2. Clear signage for accessible entry points and easy drop-offs.

Concluding Thoughts about Beauty Salon Etiquette & Appointments

Beauty salon etiquette is poised for a renaissance because modern clients seek more than just great hair or facial treatments. Busy clients need thoughtful touches – a fresh coffee? An attentive stylist? A calm, phone-free ambiance? All these and even more. Turns out, the salon interior, booking software, and salon policies all help build a valued salon etiquette that will only benefit your business and busy clients.

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