Hair Consultations Create Opportunities

Question: How do you spell CONSULTATION? Answer: O-P-P-O-R-T-U-N-I-T-Y …and all too often, it’s a missed opportunity! Why do so many hairdressers skip the consultation… and miss out on the opportunity to make the salon client 100% happy? Why are they seemingly content to miss out on… The opportunity to understand what the client’s frustrations are. The opportunity to educate the client about options for hair colour, texture & hairstyling aids to take home. The opportunity to identify ways to make the client happy. The opportunity to explore all the possibilities of their hair. The opportunity to inspire the client with ideas for a haircut. The opportunity to create. The opportunity to fulfill the client's needs. The opportunity to build a clientele. The opportunity to earn more money. The opportunity to learn. The opportunity to grow. The opportunity to really shine! When you visit the doctor, do they consult with you? Of course, they do… What about the architect, the builder, photographer, or graphic designer? Isn’t a consultation the first thing they do in order to understand your needs and frustrations before they recommend a course of action and appropriate next steps? Why do they do that? They do it because they are trying to identify and explore all the possibilities so they can best serve you by being in a position to be at their best. That’s what a thorough consultation does, ‘it allows you to be at your best', maximize your knowledge and your passion for hair, and then give the client the benefit of your considerable skills. Here are my 7 steps to a good hair consultation… The first step is… Start by sitting the client down at a styling station, NOT standing up at the reception area, and talk to them face to face [not through the mirror] Secondly… Ask them relevant open-ended questions, about what they have liked in the past, what they haven’t liked and why? Ask them what their frustrations are? Ask them ‘if they have anything in mind for today or do they want you to make some suggestions'… Be sincere, be curious, and be caring… The third step is to… Listen… REALLY LISTEN! Not listening is one of the biggest complaints that unhappy clients have about their stylist. At number four… Look… I read somewhere recently, ‘we look with our eyes but we see with our imagination’. So look for the possibilities, look at the face shape, be aware of their age, body, height, sense of style, the colours they wear, skin tone, makeup, hair texture, growth patterns, and hairlines… The fifth step is to… Think! [don’t miss this bit out] it’s underrated! Seriously, sometimes you need to think about it for a bit. There’s a difference between ‘not knowing what you are doing’ and needing a couple of minutes to think about the best solution. It might even be appropriate to say to the client something like, “Let me get you shampooed and I’ll think about what the best option is” The sixth step is to Discuss options, suggest possibilities, inspire and educate them with your knowledge… and then, listen some more. And the seventh step is to Decide together, recap what you are going to do, and reassure them it’ll look great! __________ 🎙LISTEN, LEARN, & GROW BY CHECKING OUT OUR PODCAST The Grow My Salon Business podcast with Antony Whitaker is the best place online to listen to insightful conversations with hairdressing industry thought leaders. Listen in as they share up-to-date, provocative, and inspiring ideas to help you grow your salon business. If you are ready to be challenged, get inspired, and make the next step to growing your salon business, it’s time to click the link below. Listen to the latest conversation here: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/ __________ → FREE 3-Part Salon Growth Training: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/3-par... → GROW Series Books (available in paperback) https://growmysalonbusiness.com/books/ __________ The best way to keep up with Grow My Salon Business online? https://growmysalonbusiness.com/   / growmysalonbusiness