Well, you are on the right track.... Hair salons come a dime a dozen, but if you can offer services that other salons dont offer, then you will be head of the class...just some things at the top of my mind.
1stly i went to a salon faithfully every 2 weeks, so it is true that no matter how much you go to a salon, your hair health depends on how well you take care of your hair at home, not at a salon. I had nice swingy hair but i kept having to get trims often because of breakage. So I need a stylist to recommend/sell products to be used at home, based on my hair goals and my hair condition.
I want my stylist to specialize in haircare, and not hair styling. cause the majority of the time when i go to a salon, i don't care about a style, i just want my hair to be deep cond and rollerset.
Communication is important, i want my stylist to ASK me what are my hair goals. And she should write down my customer profile so when i visit she'll remember what my hair likes, and what i want. She should tell me the condition of my hair and what products she think i should use at home and how often. I have never been told by a stylist nor anyone for that matter, about protein and moisture balance, nor about moisturizing daily/often stops breakage. I didn't know this and it upsets me that this is the 'secret' that stylists keep from you. they tell u to moisturize, but no one said to do it dialy.
So she should be vocal and be able to clearly convey the fact that the only thing that grows hair is 'habit', and likewise the only thing that destroys hair is 'habit'. I've never been told this...i had to find out the hard way. And a stylist should communicate her method BEFORE performing a chemical service. Like I want to know if you can do my relaxer in 12mins like i like it and if you are fast and careful not to overlap. Some stylists don't believe in doing 12mins..theyll leave in for like 25mins and plus they like to overlap...so i need to make sure we are on the same page...
I understand time is money,
so it may not be wise for her to have a 24/7 line, but it would be nice for her to have an email so i can email her if one day my hair is breaking badly etc etc. And her response wait should be no longer than 2 or 3 days.
Someone suggested a hairbook that showed progress. I think this would be sooooo beneficial to a stylist because it would motivate clients to keep coming back. I think one look at this book and BAM, she'd have customers for life. Or perhaps hang before/after pics on the wall! that is a great idea.
And yes customer service is important, I want the staff to be friendly. U ain't gotta be my best friend, but a friendly hi at the door is appropriate. I would like to feel comfortable talking to you about my hair without you rolling your eyes. And you doing my hair without chatting on the phone or gossiping with erbody there. that is important. The entire ambiance of the salon should be warmth and prosperity.
And by all means, please use salon quality products!!! I went to my usual salon (hair cuttery) and they usually use mizani, dudley, or arosci products on black hair.... how about this woman pulled out a can of the Isoplus oil sheen, which is the HEAVIEST sheen i have ever used. Man i was bobbin and weavin trying to stop her from spraying my hair...
HTH!