Salons may be temporarily shut down, but that doesn’t mean the industry is. Though we’ve never faced a situation quite like the coronavirus pandemic before, it’s reassuring to know that we’re not alone, and even industry veterans are dealing with the same set of unprecedented challenges.
To better prepare for another month of salons being shuttered, we went straight to the source and checked in with salon owners, to find out how they are coping with the closures. Their responses are definitely inspirational and offer a message of hope for both stylists and clients, as well as practical advice on the next steps in rebuilding and how to keep your head high at this present moment. From connecting with clients on social media, to keeping positive, and preparing their kits, one thing is for sure — salon owners are still putting in work.
Connect on Instagram Live
"It's definitely a challenging time - and a lot of us have been suffering both financially and creatively. As hairdressers, our livelihood is surrounded by connecting with people and making art. When you take that away, it can seem lonely. However, it's important not to let this time stifle those creative juices — in fact, you should take this time to do the opposite and bring everything you have to the surface.
Since my team and I can't see our clients and everyone has hair questions right now, we are connecting with them using Instagram LIVE. It's an incredibly useful tool right now and a really fun way to really bring the community together. We encourage questions and we try and address as many as we can. We are really trying to convince our clients to hold off on any at-home haircuts, however, trimming your ends is completely fine! We all need to come together right now. This will pass and we will only come out stronger on the other side."
"It’s normal to feel uncertain right now. However, my father who has been a hairstylist for more than 50 years reminded me that he has been through multiple recessions and catastrophic events, yet, the beauty industry always bounces back and prevails. At Phenix Salon Suites, we ensure that we continue to support the Lifestyle Professional by providing weekly online education and engaging our franchisees in many programs that lend support to those working in the industry."
"Through weekly zoom team meetings my staff and I have been able to come up with a plan for the future! We started by calling all of our clients to check-in. We’ve been truly overwhelmed by how much they care and the support they’ve given us. Based on our client’s needs we’ve been all making videos along with short messages for our clients, like how-to videos with simple ways clients can style their hair while at home during this time. Most importantly, the staff and I have been rethinking what the salon life will be like when we finally get back to work, to ensure our safety as well as that of our clients."
- Michael Albor, Matrix Artistic Director, owner of The Loft Salon Boston & South
via Instagram
Stay Fearless and Create
“To all the salon owners out there, stay fearless!” – Nikki & Riawna
“Use this time to create.“ – Nikki
“I really think after all of this we're all going to come out so much better. We're strong. We have to hit that bottom, bottom low in order for us to really appreciate life. You’ll really appreciate your hairstylist. Really appreciate that restaurant that you can just go to at any time. That coffee from your favorite coffee shop that you crave every morning. It's like we took all of that for granted. Everything happens for a reason. I believe it.” - Riawna
"I’m using my time on activities to help stay positive. I’ve been using this occasion to go on a juice fast, practice an hour of yoga a day, and I’m reading a lot to nourish my mind. The silver lining of this situation is that the only thing my life doesn’t have is time, so I’m focusing on the luxury of having time."
- David Mallett, celebrity hairstylist and founder of the David Mallett salons in Paris and New York
via Instagram
Don’t Give Up
“My advice of encouragement is to pray and meditate and know we are all in this together. Try and stay in contact with your clients via email, text or phone call. And most of all, don’t give up!”
“Just remember we’re all in this together! I know it, my team knows it, peers I’ve spoken to know it and stylists and colorists reaching out to me on Instagram know it – we are going to be so busy coming out of this quarantine era! Get your kits ready because all our wonderful clients will be running to see us with a true understanding of how valuable we are. These times have shown us how much our clients appreciate us and how much we appreciate them!”
"It's been an interesting time to say the least. We are trying to find ways to keep our clients happy, while also helping our business. A lot of our clients were emailing and DM'ing us questions about how they could do their own color at home. We saw a demand for solutions, so we started offering curbside pickup for our existing clients. Clients can order single process retouches, which we will mix beforehand, and come and pick it up! And to take it one step further, and so we don't completely leave our clients in the dark, they will receive a video tutorial via text that details how to apply the treatment. It's a great way to connect to our clients and help them through this unprecedented time."
