4 Etiquette Tips For A Day At The Beauty Salon
Are you planning on splurging and treating yourself to a day of beauty? Or did you recently receive a gift certificate for a salon day as a birthday or holiday present? A day at the beauty salon can be relaxing and a lot of fun, but if you don't often indulge, you may have some questions about the etiquette rules for a salon day. Take a look at some tips that can help you ensure that your day is a treat.
Arrive on Time
Plan to leave early enough to ensure that you'll arrive on time, or even a few minutes early. This is not only the polite thing to do, it helps you as well. When you're rushing to make your appointment on time, you'll arrive feeling stressed and harried, and it will take that much longer for you to relax and get into the flow of the day.
If you must be late, call as soon as you realize that you're not going to arrive on time. Your salon will hold your appointment for you. If you have to cancel, though, you should do so at least a day in advance. Some salons will charge you for a missed appointment if you cancel without any notice.
Be Considerate
Most salons won't mind if you bring your lunch or a snack in with you, or if you need to use your cell phone during your time. But it's important to be considerate of the other clients in the salon as well. Bringing in a sandwich is fine, but don't bring in takeout curry, or anything with a strong odor. If you bring a drink, be sure that it has a lid—you don't want it to get knocked over on the nail tech's counter.
When it comes to your cell phone, try to restrict yourself to text messages if possible, and keep your ringer set low or turn the phone on vibrate. Some salons have a "no calls" policy, but most will just ask that you keep any phone calls brief and keep your voice down.
Speak Up
Don't wait until your hair, nails, or wax job are done to express dissatisfaction. If you don't like the way a service is going, say something right away. That way, your stylist or technician can make adjustments immediately so that you walk out of the salon with a look that you're happy with. If your beautician refuses to change course when you speak up, ask for a manager right away.
If you simply don't realize that you don't like the look you're getting until it's all over with, you should still say something before you leave the building. Salons don't want dissatisfied customers, and they'll do their best to make it right if they can. Just try to stay calm and in control while you explain the problem.
Tip
One of the most important things you can do if you enjoyed your day of beauty is to make sure that you tip. A 20% tip is a good place to start, but you should be prepared to go up if you got special treatment – for example, if the salon squeezed you in last minute or if the manicurist threw in a hand massage.
You can leave a tip at the counter or put it on your card to be divvied up among the staff that helped you, but the most efficient way to make sure that everyone gets a tip is to bring cash and hand it out yourself. Calculate a tip for your hairstylist, nail technician, and your esthetician, and give the person who shampoos your hair a few dollars as well.
If you have any specific questions about the services you'll be receiving, it won't hurt to call the salon the day before your appointment and ask. They want you to have a great time and come back again, so they'll be happy to give you whatever information you need to make your appointment a great one.
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