How To Navigate Your Salon For The Holidays

Whether you are calmly dreaming of a White Christmas, dashing through the snow, or feel like you’re heart’s an empty hole like Mr. Grinch, we know that the holiday season can be a real strain on a salon. That being said, we at FHI Heat have some tips to survive your busy holiday schedule. As a trained professional, you have certainly been through this before, but it is always a good idea to refresh your ideas about surviving the next few weeks. Although it might be the most wonderful time of the year, for a stylist in the trenches, the holidays can leave you feeling fatigued, stressed, and even sick if you are not careful with your time management. At FHI Heat, we understand the importance of shining during the holidays, and we also realize that there are a few easy ways for you to keep all the lights and garland on the tree without everything ending in a garbled mess. 

Make a list, check it twice

As the owner and manager of your salon, it is you that must set the tone for not just surviving the holiday season, but thriving during it. To that end, it is imperative that you create a master checklist for what needs to happen over the next few weeks, and who will be in charge of each moving part. Just like a maneuver, the military might plan, you need to over-plan and overschedule in order to make everything go off without a hitch. And please be realistic about your needs and the needs of your guests and employees. 

Now is the time to take more breaks, not fewer. Your employees are busy preparing for the holidays too, when they are not at work, and everyone could use a few moments of peace. And with more clients trying to get their hair in top shape for the holidays, consider hiring some temporary help to assist at the front desk or behind the chair. This attention to your employees will pay dividends, as everyone will be more relaxed and rested. This will in turn lead to better customer service, which will certainly set you up for success during this season and beyond. 

Create realistic bookings

We understand the temptation, especially after the difficult year we have had in the salon business, to overbook, maybe because you have experienced some Covid no-shows lately, or maybe just because you are counting on the extra cash flow. Please resist the urge to do this. If you make the choice to overbook, you are setting yourself and your staff up for failure. Stylists will already be overworked during this time of year, and you don’t want frustrated customers waiting in the lobby and raising everyone’s blood pressure. 

Prepare schedules and inventory well in advance

In order to make the most of the busy holiday time and show the utmost respect to your clients and employees, make sure that you prepare the schedules well in advance. Your employees need time to shop and deck the halls for their own families too, and will really need to be able to count on their schedules. This forethought will go a long way in keeping the holiday cheer going in your salon and for your employees. 

Another important element is to keep track of ordering your inventory and making sure that you have products on hand that your customers might want to purchase for last-minute gifts. Theholiday extravaganza features many items that your clients might want to pick up, from hair dryers to hair spray products. This will help your customers who come in to get themselves ready, and they will appreciate your thoughtfulness. 

Treat yourself and your team

Let’s face it: the holidays can go one of two ways. It might be “the most wonderful time of year” for some of your customers and employees, but it also might be a difficult time. If you take time to treat yourself and your team, you will be more likely to put the “merry” into the holiday season. Consider fun treats or a party for your employees. Put hot chocolate and cookies in the back for break time. Add little stocking stuffers or white elephants for your employees to win throughout the season. Your employees have had your back all year long, and now is the time for you to say thank you. 

Another way you can treat yourself is by using high-quality tools in your salon, those that are made well and ergonomically designed. ConsiderThe Curve Pro Styling Iron and theElite Professional Series Accelerate 2200 Dryer, among many others. These tools use cutting-edge technology that will help you to create beautiful hairstyles in a fraction of the time, and keep your arms and wrists from being overworked. 

Breathe

When all else fails, breathe. Although it may seem daunting to get through the holiday season and all it entails, nothing lasts forever, and the hustle and bustle you are experiencing now will soon be replaced by the calm and quiet of January. Take a few minutes inside your busy days to stretch, relax, and simply to breathe so that you can make it to the other end of the holidays unscathed. 

With a few tips from FHI Heat, all will be merry and bright for your salon this month, and you can avoid the feelings of being a Grinch and saying Bah Humbug. Remember the reason for the season and the reasons why you got into this business in the first place. At the end of the day, use your hair skills to make your clients more beautiful and happy, and you will be adding to the joy of the season.