Friday, September 28, 2012 2:38 PM

Tempted by the lure of an online deal for a haircut & color?
Check what CONDITIONS APPLY.

Are there advantages to a cheap online deal?
For many the cost of a haircut and color is now out of their reach so they may either leave their current salon in search of a better deal, start to color at home, or just settle for a cheap and cheerful trim at the local mall but ultimately they will end up with an unsatisfactory result especially if they are used to having it done well.
Searching out a deal online may be a great alternative.
• Allows you to go to a salon that you would not normally be in your price range.
• You may be able to revisit a salon you had previously left due to your budget
• You can get a good cut & color for a third of the normal price.


Are all online deals created equal?
Daily deals offer
Dinners, auto repair, house washing, massage, beauty treatments, tanning studios et al.
What they all have in common is…

CHASING REPEAT BUSINESS

An online bargain hunter will most usually take a one off deal unless they can be enticed back but chances are, when the deals stop flowing, will move on to greener pastures.

Tell me about ‘Conditions apply ‘
Each service has its own. The ones that apply to a hair salon would be based on
1. the experience of the operator providing the service
2. the color service being provided.

Hair color may be a semi permanent rinse that complements your existing shade or could be a full head of foils using 3 different shade variations.

It is very important that you understand what the word COLOUR means when it is attached to a ‘GRAB A DEAL.’

For a salon to provide a complex color service involves a large amount of product and may take up a lot of time for a colorist to perform, so the  ‘bargain’ service provided would have to be fairly simple and would have to exclude things like
• Color correction
• Full head bleach and tone
• Full long hair highlights
• High fashion techniques.


What about the person who will be doing my hair?
From a salon perspective ‘Grab a deal’ is a great way for a new stylist to build up clientele. This is the biggest challenge a stylist faces. Being new on the floor, with no track record, means you rely on networking and referrals to prove your worth.

So, the down sides of the on line ‘grab a cut and color’?
Looking good? Feeling confident? Then your hair style must be fab. Right?
This is achieved by building a relationship with a stylist who is good at what they do and proud of their skills. They get to know you, your hair and what tones and color are most suited to you.
Continually changing hairdressers, looking for the best deal, you will never find what you are looking for (as in any relationship) and the most obvious outcome will be…….

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!

You cannot expect a professional stylist with years of experience to get inspired by a client who is looking for a bargain. In fact it’s really a slap in the face for them after all the time and effort they have invested in their craft.

How do hairdressers feel about the on line bargain hunters?
Hairdressers endeavour to be cheerful and obliging at all times but why should they give their skills away for a song?
If there’s an opportunity to showcase their skills and attract more clients and business, then that is a good outcome for all. However if they find their appointments filled with bargain hunters then that’s when they may question their career choice.

Know what it is you are expecting.
Make sure you understand
• The experience of the operator performing the service
• The limitations of the color service being offered

If this is a possible introduction to a new salon then great! You may return on a regular basis and become a loyal client.
This is ultimately the goal of all the deals that are offered on line.

If your primary motivation is to save money then please understand what it is that you will be paying for and the limitations and conditions will affect the final result.

Hairdressers take pride in their craft and their clients are their walking advertisement.
In order to achieve a mutually satisfying relationship both customer and stylist need to be on the same wavelength so consultation with your stylist BEFORE you begin the service is a must.

Do not be afraid to ask questions and be realistic about what the outcome will be.