Long Hair
and Updo Hairstyles
by: Stuart Simpson
You have
long hair and you are ready for an updo or “long hair” service
and you go to a full service salon and what – they don’t offer
“long hair” service. Guess its not so full service after all. So
you go to another beautician and they don’t know what to do
either. Why is that? Some of the reasons hairstylists don’t
offer “long hair” or updo service is because:
None of
their clients have long hair Never learned how Takes too long
Learned, tried it, but got out of practice and forgot Too
confusing
To the
hairstylist, watching is easy. But when you are actually doing
the work, it becomes confusing. It’s hard for a hairstylist to
get and keep clients. If you are able to offer total hair
services, including long hair, then you’ll be keeping new
clients instead of sending them away. One way to help you get
over some of the points listed above is to practice on a wig or
mannequin. When you are in-between appointments, this will offer
you practice to gain confidence and allows you to display your
work to your customers.
If you are
good at long hair, then you need to be the hairstylist that your
competitors send their customers to. Advertise that you do long
hair. There are plenty that don’t do long hair and this approach
may get you the client list you need.
Let the
bridal shops know you are available, along with the formal dress
shops. Girls going to prom always want fancy hairstyles. Offer
your services free to the bridal show as a promotion for your
business. This helps you gain more updo customers and helps the
bridal shop. Win-win.
You can
also create a photo album of the mannequins you have been
practicing on, or on customers. This will give prospective
customers your ability and creativity level. Another idea is to
work with a clothing store on their special event or sale days –
and offer your services to attract customers. You can make these
books up inexpensively with a digital camera and color copies.
Have them bound with some of your business cards and ask if you
can display them at the bridal shops.
Complimentary cards are very good, too. You can offer a discount
on the back of the card. When a client gets their hair done,
then give them some cards to hand out when they are asked where
they got such a cute hairstyle. This works especially well at
high schools before proms and dances. As always, if they don’t
need long hair services, they will probably pass the card onto a
friend.
How much
should you charge or expect to pay for long hair or updo
services? Well, its different all over the country, but in
general, the price should be at least $5 over the normal
hairstyle whether it’s a shampoo and blow-dry. Be prudent in
your pricing as if you get a client that will only require 15
minutes for a braid or a quick updo, then you may not want to
charge more.
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