Beauty Salons

Finding Good Beauty Salons

If you're looking for a good beauty salon, you have a few options. Some people suggest asking friends, colleagues, and acquaintances for references. Others suggest asking strangers if you see someone whose hair or nails you like.

Whether or not you are referred to a salon, however, there is usually some trial and error. The salon your second-cousin raves about might not be the right fit for you. When checking out potential places, you may want to consider the services offered, location, hours, pricing, the atmosphere, and qualifications and training of the staff.

Services Offered

The services a salon offers vary. It may be primarily a hair shop, offering few other services, or it may be a full-service salon offering everything from waxing to body wraps. It's important to determine exactly what you're looking for. The following are services beauty salons may offer:

• Hair: Cuts, styling, formal hair styles, coloring, hair highlights, perms, relaxers, deep conditioning treatments, hair extensions.
• Hands and Feet: Manicures, pedicures, polishing, artificial nails (acrylic, gel, and more), paraffin wax treatments, massage.
• Cosmetics: Formal or bridal make-up, make-up lessons, airbrush make-up, false eyelash application.
• Body: Tanning, spray tanning, massage, waxing, hair removal, body wraps, body scrubs, aromatherapy.
• Face: Facials, peels, masks, microderm abrasion, paraffin wraps.

Increasingly, beauty salons are offering more services as standard options. Some even offer minor cosmetic enhancements or surgeries at their facilities by medical professionals.

Location

Even if all you are looking for us a place to get a good haircut, it's important to find a location that's easily available to you. Since professional stylists recommend getting your hair cut at least every four to six weeks to keep hair healthy, you probably want to find a place convenient to your home or work.

Hours

In the same vein, you want to choose shops that are open hours to reasonably accommodate your schedule. Even a raved-about salon won't fit the bill if it's only open obscure hours and you can never get an appointment.

Pricing

Beauty salons range from low-key, highly affordable stores to upscale salons with higher price ranges. There are many great salons available that you don't have to break the bank to visit. Alternately, you may want to avoid going to a place that is too cheap, particularly if you require more involved services. You want to be sure the staff is skilled and the products of professional quality.

Atmosphere

While a high price tag may in turn mean a more luxurious atmosphere, a good beauty salon should at the minimum be clean, brightly lit, have plenty of mirrors, and have courteous, professional staff. Look for the atmosphere that's right for you. It may be a family-friendly team of stylists in a contemporary beauty shop, or it may be an upscale salon complete with wine and canapes. As long as the atmosphere is comfortable and right for you, that's what matters.

Qualification and Training

For top beauty salons, you may want to ask whether the stylists and employees have attended any international beauty shows and whether they have been trained at acclaimed beauty schools. After all, if you're paying the price tag, you want to be sure you are getting top-quality service.

Even for lower priced beauty salons, you should still consider the training and qualifications of those who will be cutting your hair or manicuring your nails. At a minimum, stylists, cosmetologists, manicurists, and estheticians, should: have been trained through an accredited beauty school or program; be knowledgeable in and practice proper health, safety, and sanitation standards; and preferably have passed appropriate state board examinations.

Your Relationship with Beauty Salons

Many people develop excellent relationships with their stylists. When or if your stylist or other beauty salon service provider leaves, you can inquire as to the location they are transferring to, or you can stay with the same salon with a new stylist. While this is a personal option, if you have received good care and service at a particular place, chances are high you will get the same quality even with a new stylist.