I didn’t grow up going to hair salons. When it was time for a haircut, we would pack up the minivan and head out to my aunt’s hairdressing shop. For years, she would give me the exact haircut I wanted, and I never had to worry.
Then my aunt started working less, and I didn’t have as much time to drive out to her shop. I bounced between my mom’s new hairdresser, the salon in the local beauty supply store, and back to my aunt’s shop whenever I needed a haircut. It worked, but it definitely wasn’t the best solution.
Choosing the right salon simplified my life and makes all the difference. Your salon experience doesn’t have to be about just hair, either. If you’re interested in getting facials, or if you need your makeup done professionally, some salons offer a wide range of services. But of course, doing your own skincare and makeup is always a great, cost-effective option.
Whether you’re unhappy with your current hairdresser, you want to get a facial for the first time, or you’ve never been to a salon before and you’re eager to try one out, here’s what you should know about choosing the right salon, and tips for what you can find at salons and spas.
Set Your Budget
It’s easy to spend a lot of money on a haircut. According to You Probably Need a Haircut, “The average price of a women’s haircut was $66” in 2021 when looking at prices from independent salons, not hair salon franchises like Great Clips. As you’d expect, You Probably Need a Haircut discovered that the average haircut in New York City cost $118, but in Indianapolis, it was only $40. Who’s moving to Indiana?
When you’re setting your budget, you should research the average cost of a haircut in your area as your first step. Once you know about what to expect, look at your budget and see how much more (or less) you can comfortably afford. It’s important for your personal finances to do this step first. You don’t want to end up at a salon where you have to pay much more than you expected!
Ask Your Friends
Just like when you’re shopping for any other service, whether it’s a new roof installation or a new doctor, you should ask your friends for their recommendations. Pro tip: ask a friend who has hair that’s similar in texture to yours or a friend whose hair you really like which salon they go to. If you get any recommendations you like, put them on your list!
Visit Salon Websites
Your next step is to start your online search. Google “salons near me” and read the results. Once you’ve found a few that look appealing, start visiting their websites. Is their website easy to use and clear? Does it answer all your questions?
Most importantly, do they offer the services that you’re looking for? For example, if you’re interested in a salon but they don’t do facials, which is what you really want, then you need to take them off your list.
Read Google Reviews
You’ve narrowed down your list and you’re excited to take the next step. Before you do, hit pause and start reading Google reviews. Google reviews can be a great source of information. Reading about people’s personal experiences – which stylists they liked (and which stylists gave bad haircuts) – is helpful.
But Google reviews can also be misleading. Remember: one person who had a negative experience, or a handful of people who had negative experiences, should not outweigh thousands of positive reviews. Try to take negative reviews with a grain of salt.
Also, look at the number of ratings or reviews the salon has. If they have 3 reviews and all 3 are positive, that’s great! But if they’ve been online for 10 years and they only have 3 reviews, then that may not be a good sign. But if the salon has 2,000 ratings and most of them are 5-stars, and the majority of their reviews are positive, that’s a great indication that this is a salon you can trust.
Book a Consultation
After looking at Google reviews, you should have narrowed down your list even more. Once you have your top two, it’s time to book your consultation! Call the salon that you’re leaning towards and ask if you can come in for a consultation.
Experts recommend that you visit with a stylist or aesthetician before you come in for the actual appointment. You can discuss what needs to be done with your new stylist and get a feel for the salon at the same time! Check and see if the floors are clean and if the prices match what was posted online.
Visiting in person is the single best way to find out if the salon is a good match for you. If the salon wasn’t what you were looking for, then go ahead and book a consultation with the next salon on your list. The chances are good that the second salon will be a much better match!
Independent Salon vs. Hair Franchise
The main difference between an independent salon and a hair franchise like Supercuts is price. However, if a franchise gives you a bad haircut, you could end up spending more to fix the cut than you would if you had visited the independent salon in the first place.
Investing in yourself is a wise decision. If your budget’s tight, that’s understandable, and it makes the most sense to go to the salon with the best value. But if you have more to spend, you’ll benefit from spending the time and money to go to an independent salon with highly-trained professionals.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “When you look good, you feel good.” Your hair and skin are majorly important parts of looking good. If it’s in your budget, spend on services that will help you feel better about your appearance.
Look for Specialty Salon Services
A haircut is great, but what else is out there? There are actually plenty of specialty salon services to choose from. There’s a wide range of hair color services, from your typical all-over color to a root smudge, and there are plenty of techniques for lightening your hair in different styles – if that’s what you’re interested in!
There are hair treatment services, hair texture services, hair extension services, and of course, special event styling services. When you’re choosing your salon, think about what you might be needing soon (a specialty style for a wedding? a totally new color?) and make sure to factor that into your research.
Unique Salon Experiences
You’ve got the basics of what a salon offers down. Maybe you’re looking for a salon that goes beyond the basics. Well, what else is out there?
Nowadays, you can book a “silent hair appointment.” Just like the name implies, your stylist won’t start a conversation during your appointment. According to All Things Hair, “A hair salon experience is just as much about the energy of the appointment as it is about the results.” So if the energy you want to experience during your haircut is the quiet, relaxing type, look for a salon that offers a silent appointment.
What About the Spa?
Many independent hair salons will not offer facials or nail appointments. Bigger franchises like Beauty Brands and Ulta may be able to expand to these services, but your local hair salon won’t always be able to offer non-hair services to the high standard they can for hair services, so they might not offer them at all.
That’s where the spa comes in. If you’ve found a local independent hair salon that you love but they don’t offer the other services that you’re looking for, start researching the spas in your area. Follow this same process – ask your friends for recommendations first! – and get ready to ask some questions.
Types of Spas
It’s good to know that there are four types of spas: day spas, destination spas, resort and hotel spas, and thermal springs spas. Unless you’re planning to get your next facial on vacation, you’re probably going to want to look for a day spa.
Day spas usually offer facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, wraps, and scrubs. It may make more sense to purchase a spa package than an individual service, so don’t forget to look closely at pricing if budget is important.
Types of Facials
Each spa or studio will have its own names and prices for different types of facials. However, knowing what types of facials there are can help you be more informed before you book an appointment.
Six of the most common types of facials are acne facials, ageless facials, signature facials, dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels. You may want to start with a signature facial if you’ve never had one before because as the most basic type of facial, they’re the gentlest on your skin.
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