A new year is a time to let go of old habits that don’t work and embrace new ones. Whether you’re aiming to take your retail game to the next level or get more clients this year, knowing the latest salon business trends and applying them to your salon practices may help you reach your goals sooner than expected.
2018 is a good year for our #HolisticHairTribe as we’ll see a rise in clients, and yes including men, looking for healthier alternatives. Technology-driven business models will also gain momentum. Learn more about them below as well as the other trends that will dominate 2018!
2018 Salon Business Trends
Natural and Organic Salon Products
Now more than ever, consumers are becoming more aware of the benefits of reducing their chemical exposure – and rightly so! With a growing number of bloggers and influencers (and video streaming behemoth, Netflix) constantly sharing information about the toxins commonly found in our food and personal care products, it’s not surprising consumers will be more actively searching for brands that use organic ingredients this year. In fact, the demand for organic beauty products is projected to reach $13.2 billion this year according to the Transparency Market.
While 100% organic hair color isn’t possible (yet), introducing potential clients to your holistic hair products and practices is the best way to reduce their toxic exposure (and yours)! Professional ammonia-free color brands like Oway’s Hcolor or Original & Mineral’s CØR.color line are filled with high percentages of biodynamic and organic ingredients, innovative color technologies and an extraordinary low chemical content.
Due to recent ingredient innovations and a demand for more health-conscious formulations, these hair color lines still achieve impeccable results and will surely make any doubter a lifelong client.
PRO TIP: Take advantage of this demand for cleaner products by beefing up your retail offering. Check out these discounted hair styling packages.
Holistic Salon Treatments
Apart from natural salon products, 2018 will also center on wellness and mindfulness. With the heightened awareness on the link between mind and body, clients will be looking to include holistic salon treatments in their regimen, which will not only make their hair look healthy, but also their overall well-being.
PRO TIP: Incorporate soothing scalp treatments such as our Herbs & Peel treatment and new Head.Spa, as well as aromatherapy in your salon menu to attract holistic-minded clients.
Eco-Friendly Practices
With the wildfires, floods, and catastrophic hurricanes becoming all too common in the US, especially last year, the national conversation on climate change has noticeably begun to shift. Now, consumers actively seek businesses that promote eco-friendly practices. From cruelty-free, toxin-free products to zero-waste packaging, clients are becoming increasingly conscious of how their purchases affect the environment.
PRO TIP: Set up a Refill Station in your salon so both you and your clients can work together to reduce salon waste.
Instagram Marketing
With more than 800 million active users, Instagram continues to be one of the top platforms to promote your business, next to Facebook. As the social media giant continues to upgrade its features (users can now shop products with a single tap on a photo), more and more businesses are looking for ways to integrate Instagram in their marketing strategy.
As hair stylists, Instagram is the best platform to share and promote our work. Also, many clients nowadays prefer a salon with an active business page where they can see the before-and-after pictures. For the latest social media marketing ideas for hair salons (including a killer Insta-strategy), check our free training video: [5 Untold Secrets of A Successful Social Media Strategy For Salons & Hair Stylists].
PRO TIP: According to a 2012 study, social media plays a huge role in influencing a consumer’s purchasing behavior. Use this to your advantage by regularly updating your Instagram page.
Live Videos & Tutorials
Today’s customers are no longer content with traditional marketing. They can tell when they are being sold something from a mile away. What they crave is a more perceptible, interactive form of content that will allow them to make effective decisions.
Statistics indicate that “millennials”, who are expected to become the most influential customer demographic this year and the years to come, consume more digital videos than the average customer, which is why industry experts are predicting that we will see a surge in video content and live broadcasts in 2018.
PRO TIP: This is a perfect opportunity for your salon and your team of stylists to showcase what you can offer. Post live hair painting and hair styling tutorials to capture the interest of your target demographic. Videos nowadays get more likes and shares from people on Facebook, so this could also be a great way to advertise your salon.
Continuing Education
As customers become more informed of the current trends as well as the benefits and dangers of certain ingredients, the salon industry has become more education-focused. From 2-day education retreats to advanced color classes to webinars, you will notice an increase in professional development courses this year.
PRO TIP: Always keep an eye out for Simply Organic’s education classes. We also offer free online trainings and webinars for holistic hair stylists like you. More classes will be added soon.
Men’s Products & Services
2018 will see a boom in male grooming products and services especially now that men’s perception of self-care is undergoing a paradigm shift. Many are seeing the benefits of improving their body image and appearance, which opens up new opportunities for salons looking to expand their service menu this year.
PRO TIP: Original & Mineral and Oway are releasing their male-focused product lines this year – stay tuned!
Mobile Payments & Online Booking
With millennials becoming a growing customer demographic, they will be looking for salons and stylists that will allow them to book and pay for services with their phones.
NFC or near-field communication allows two devices to exchange information through an NFC chip. Apple and Google have recently launched NFC-powered Apple Pay and Google Pay which allows mobile phone owners to pay for goods and services without swiping their credit cards. In light of the massive credit card breaches that occurred last year, NFC is a step in the right direction.
PRO TIP: Integrating NFC technology in your business transactions will help you gain more clients and keep your salon ahead of the curve. Additionally, setting up an online booking system will not be only convenient for clients but for you as well. Instead of spending time on the phone booking customers, you can have more time to relax or do other tasks.
Which of these salon business trends will you be implementing this year? Sound off in the comments below!
