Watching Out for The Bad Hair Salons

It is a sad fact but the truth is not all hair salons provide the quality in professionalism and service that is required to be a quality business. There are hair salons renowned for their staff and results and there are some that just don’t seem to get anywhere and these are the ones clients need to stay away from until they have changed their tune. For anyone who has not seen Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, the show not only helps salons improve their business but also points out the negatives of the salon and its staff from the receptionist to the hairstylist. Some of the items that Tabatha points out are signs of a bad salon and clients can use the same measures to grade their salons and the following is a starting guide for things to look for.

Cleanliness is a key factor for any salon and this not only includes the inside but the outside in front of the business as well. The salon area where the client is getting the haircut should be clean with hair swept of sitting chairs and the floor. The cutting area should be free of dust, residue from hairstyling products, and leftover hair. Clients should also check out the tools themselves to insure that brushes, cutting tools, and styling tools are all cleaned well. Dirty styling tools are a major sign of a bad salon as the stylist has not taken the time to clean their tools.
Professionalism is another key component to a good salon and this cannot be faked as it requires knowledge of hairstyling and a refined manner. Most salons have employees with different levels of experience in the business, some who are much better than others at the trade. Although it is not a sign of bad salon to have a novice as a hairstylist, because they are trying to learn, it is a bad sign if no one on the hair salon’s staff has more than 3 years of experience. The staff’s mannerisms towards customers are also important and those that disregard the client’s goal hairstyle or do not follow guidelines for styling are bad signs. A good stylist will make sure that the end result is directed toward the client’s desire at the time and not just what the stylist thinks. An example from the show is a hairstylist who was coloring a client’s hair and getting all the residue on the client’s face and another where the stylist disregarded the clients overall goal for their hair. Mistakes like this show lack of professionalism and clients can focus in on this easily. A good hairstylist will cater to meet the client’s needs and perform their job without major flaws and it is easy to spot hairstylist who struggle with this just by watching them cut or color a client’s hair.

Professionalism also requires looking at the staff’s credentials which includes the schools or academies they attended, any special training, and awards. There are plenty of good hairstylists with good credentials but some salons have a few staff that really has no credentials except maybe a beauty license. A salon that does not provide credentials for their staff is a questionable one that should be avoided. Clients have a right to know the education and experience of people working on their precious hair.

As a last tip for clients looking for a salon, make sure to research on the salon and its staff before committing business to them. Even if it requires visiting the salon to check it out and having a chat with the staff as well.