Get Moving

In order to get to know the environment that best fits you, you’ll need to get moving. Research the area in which you want to work on-line. Make a list of salons that are in this area and drive around. If you see a salon that attracts your attention look around to see if a lot of traffic comes and goes. If this is a salon you think you might be interested in working for, go inside, introduce yourself, and talk with the stylist and the manager. Seeing and interacting with the stylist and salon culture will help you decide if the salon is a good fit and don’t be afraid to ask the stylist for advice while in school. Take notes. If you enjoy the salon visit, ask the manager if you can interview them at a later date. ** (Great for an extra credit project). Always remember to send a thank you note to the salon staff for taking time to talk with you. An early impression will reward you when it’s time to apply for a job.

Once you have determined the desired location area and the style of salon environment you would like to work in, get on line and review the local salons websites. Here are some key things to think about when doing your on line research:

• Do they offer the services you want to do?
• Do they use product lines you are willing to work with?
• Do they have an updated sight that will draw the clientele that best fits your personally?
• Are the salon prices in the range you desire?
• Do they offer specials to draw new clients in?
• Do they offer on line booking?
• How do they promote their stylist?
• Do they have a social network that is up to date and current? (like Facebook)

After researching in the field and on line here are a few fun activities that will help you get better acquainted with the top five salons you want to work in:

Activity #1

Call the salons and request to meet with the salon manager / owner. Relay to them that you would like to interview them for a project.

• Be early and professionally dressed.
• Ask them to show you around the salon. This is a great time to view the salon in action and ask questions pertaining to the salon environment.
• Ask them if you can take photos.
• Once you are in a private setting you can conduct the interview.
• Have your list of questions ready for them to review and a nice bullet point agenda of the meeting. This will keep everyone on task and organized for the time they will share with you.
• Remember this is a time you can ask questions that will help you inquire about what the salon will offer you as a future stylist. Here are a few questions to help guide you during the interview.
  • Does your salon offer continuing education? Color / New Trends / Advanced Cutting
  • Do you have an apprentice program? If so what are the details of the program?
  • Is there room for advancement within the company?
  • Is your salon an environmentally friendly salon?
  • What color lines do you use?
  • What smoothing and texture treatments do you use?
  • Are you willing to incorporate a color – texture line if you don’t currently use it?
  • Do you offer retail commissions? What are the guidelines?
  • What are you looking for in a new stylist?
  • Health Insurance?
  • Paid vacation days?
  • What do you expect from your current employees?
  • Do you offer a commission base or hourly base pay for new stylist?
• Get a business card, this will help you remember their name and give you their contact information for a follow up thank you reply, and a direct contact when you are searching for job placement.
• Talk to your instructor to see if you can write a paper to earn extra credit over your research. This project should reflect your evaluations from each salon. It should also give contact information and the names and address from each. Include what you liked about the salon and why you feel you would or would not like to work there.

The information you gathered will better prepare you later by giving insight of what the owner / manager is looking for in a stylist. The photos will remind you the salons atmosphere, how the stylist dressed, what the manager looked like, a great visual to trigger your meetings with the salons. Review your questions for each salon, these will remind you what you liked and disliked about each.

Activity #2

Really want to know what a salon is like? Go undercover! Book a simple service that will allow you to see first-hand the salons atmosphere and the employees in it. What to look for:

Receptionist

• Did they greet you with a smile?
• How did they interact with the stylist and manager?
• Were they professional on the phone?
• Were they talking about other clients?
• Did they seem to like their job?

Stylist

• Do they greet their clients with a smile?
• Are they attentive to their customer?
• Do they engage in other conversations across the salon?
• Is the re attire professional or up to fashion trends?
• Is their hair and make-up done nice?
• Do they up sale retail and other services while the client is in their chair?
• How did their finished style look when they were done?
• Where the styles up to today’s trends?
• What are various ages of the clientele? Young? Mature?

Your stylist / nail tech

• Did they greet you with in a professional manor?
• Did they ask you questions on what your needs were prior to servicing you?
• Where they attentive to you, and friendly?
• Did you feel comfortable?
• Did you like your service? Was the service done well?
• Would you go back to get the service again with that stylist/nail tech?

Overall review

• Do you see yourself working in this salon?
• What did you like most about this salon?
• What did you like least about this salon?
• Was everyone attentive and receptive to clients?
• Where the finished services good?
• Did everyone get along?
• Did they have a retail area?
• Was the salon clean?
• Was the salon busy?

The questions answered will better prepare you later. These references are great when you are looking for job placement. This will be your review guide. Help you recall the salons atmosphere, stylist personality’s, dress code, and an overall look back to your time under cover.