How to Keep Your Clients Coming Back (And Recommend You to Their Friends)

Getting new clients in your chair in the first place can be challenging enough, but it's not even worth the effort if they don't come back. Here are some tips and tricks to ensure your new clients will become regulars (and hopefully send more people your way, too).

Do a Thorough Consultation

Not only is a good consultation a MUST in order to understand what your client wants, but when you ask thoughtful questions, it really shows your clients that you care about your work. Unfortunately, too many stylists rush through this important step, so you can really impress your clients by asking questions they've probably never been asked by their previous stylists. If you're not sure what to ask during your consultations, I have an online course to help you out!

Provide a Luxury Experience

Of course doing amazing hair is great, but let's be honest... most clients don't know much about hair and can't notice the difference between "decent" highlights and amazingly perfect highlights. But what they do notice is if your station is clean, if you offer them a beverage, if you give a great head massage at the shampoo bowl, if you wipe the color around their hairline so it doesn't stain, etc. Stop thinking like a stylist and start thinking like a client: what would make them most comfortable and make their appointment as enjoyable as possible?

Be Honest

In a perfect world, we would never make mistakes, especially not on new clients. But this is the real world, where mistakes do happen sometimes, and trust me, your clients would 100% prefer you be honest and fix any mess-ups right away, rather than throwing curls in their hair and hoping they don't notice. They will notice... or if they don't, someone else will point it out to them. Even if you mess up or the client doesn't love their hair, if you are honest and let them feel comfortable reaching out to you with their concerns, they most likely will give you another chance and appreciate you even more for it.

Make Them Feel Important

There are probably hundreds (if not thousands) of other stylists in your area, so what will set you apart and make you irreplaceable to your clients? Believe me, it's about more than just your talent. If a client likes you for your personality, the way you make them feel, the connection you have, the stories you've shared together, that is so much more important than the hair. So, remember the things you talk about during their appointment, write down their formula, follow them on social media, make them feel important and memorable to you, and you will have a lifelong client.

Prebook Their Next Appointment

This is so simple, yet so effective. A client is more likely to come back if they book their next appointment before they leave, rather than calling to book later on. But don't just ask them, "Would you like to prebook your next appointment?" Instead, try, "The color we did today will need a touch up in about 4-6 weeks, so why don't we get you on the books for that now. Does (insert date and time) work for you?"

Looking for a luxury hair salon in Wilmington, NC?

Sam Vay Studios is a private salon suite that provides a relaxing, luxury experience with one-on-one appointments. I specialize in custom color and work with all hair types and textures. Text 910-632-0831 or fill out the contact form to book an appointment!