5 Tips For Staying Organized In The Salon
5 Tips For Staying Organized In The Salon
With approximately a zillion things going on during an average day at the salon, it can be a serious challenge to stay organized. Between back-to-back clients, dozens of products, and haircolor everywhere-- by the time 6 pm rolls around it often looks like a hair hurricane went off around you.
But not only does a messy station send a message to your guest about the quality of your work, it can also affect your ability to do your job. "Your station speaks to your guest the same way the exterior and interior of the salon does — Chaos slows anyone down,” says Redken Artist Lindsey Olson, who goes above and beyond to ensure her station is always spic and span. "Stats say that most guests feel rushed when they go to the salon, so staying organized is ultra important. It shows professionalism and preparation.”
Here, Lindsey shares her tips on how to keep your station as organized — and efficient — as possible. The first step? Having a place for everything, and keeping it there.
Create An Organizational System
You don’t necessarily need anything fancy, but your station should have a basic drawer and shelf space designated for your products, brushes and styling tools. “I keep all tools in their own space until I need that tool,” says Olson as a way to keep the counter clear.
Plan Ahead
There’s a reason why the phrase, “the early bird gets the worm” has become such a cliché: Because it’s true. "I arrive early before my day and I look through my schedule. This includes looking to see what each guest received last time to prepare me more for who I will be working with that day,” says Olson. "I look at their product history as well. I always make sure to ask about the products and services they purchased last time to check in and make further recommendations.”
Manage Your Time Wisely
The best way to have a good day is to plan, plan, plan ahead. "Take time to know your day — if you feel you never have time to set up, consider making small changes to allow yourself the time you need.” says Olson. "One option is to team up with your colleagues and agree to have each other’s backs throughout the day. Second is to make sure you are booking yourself enough time with each guest. This will maximize both your experience and your guest’s experience with you.” Make sure you know when a guest needs a three hour appointment versus a one hour appointment so that you both have the best experience, and neither one of you feels rushed, disappointed or run down by the end of your time together.
Make The Transition Between Guests Seamless
You may only have a few minutes in between appointments, but it’s still important to give your space a once-over. “I wipe my station down and put all tools back before setting up for the next guest,” says Olson. "Make sure to put styling tools, clips and combs back into their organized places.” That way, when each guest arrives, they’ll feel like the station has been set up just for them.
Only Mix What You Need
Mixing too much at once is a recipe (… no pun intended) for a major mess. "I only mix up what I need at that moment,” says Olson. If I am doing lightener, and a Shades Eq Gloss, only the lightener comes with me for application at first. I mix the glaze after I am completely done with lightener. That way, if using them separately in the application, no haircolor is sitting on my tray for 30 minutes before I need it. It can be wasteful and adds clutter.” Plus, having too much stuff on your counter looks sloppy, and breeds chaos into your process.
Most importantly? Don’t discount how much easier some simple organization will make your daily life. “You will be much more efficient and professional as you go through your day,” says Olson. "Not only does being organized show your guest how prepared you are, but it also helps you get the most out of your day. What is important is to always go past expectations and actually wow each guest, and organization is a big part of that.”
