What Is a Hair Salon?
A hair salon is a business that offers haircuts, styling, and coloring services for clients. It may also provide hair and scalp treatments, and offer nail and waxing services for women. Hair salons are usually larger than barbershops and cater to a broad clientele. Services offered vary by location, but most offer a range of women’s and men’s haircuts, highlights, color, and styling services.
Most hair salons have a variety of stylist stations, each with a mirror attached to the wall. The client sits in a padded chair and discusses the style and color he or she wants with the hairdresser. Each stylist works on a particular section of hair at a time, using his or her own specialized tools to create the desired look. Hairdressing stations are typically neat and clean, with a supply cabinet filled with hair products nearby.
Some salons accept walk-ins, while others are appointment-only. Those that accept walk-ins may have a designated waiting area and are usually more likely to give the client his or her preferred stylist, if available. However, the disadvantage to a walk-in salon is that the stylists can sometimes get busy and become booked up quickly, so a client without an appointment might have to come back another day.
Many hair salons sell their own line of professional hair care products, which are usually arranged attractively on shelves in the waiting room or a corner of the salon. The products are generally priced more than you would find at a drugstore or supermarket, and may include shampoos, conditioners, styling gels, sprays, and special hair treatment products.
Most salons offer a variety of styling services for women, including up-dos and formal styles for weddings and other events. Some salons even offer hair straightening and chemical waving services. In addition, some offer hair extensions and other wigs to help make the hair look thicker or fuller.
Hair coloring is one of the most common salon services, and can be a great way to cover grays or add a pop of color. A salon will use professional grade dyes that are less damaging than do-it-yourself box colors and will be able to give you the exact shade you want, whether it’s just a touch of color or a drastic change.
Some salons have nail and waxing services in addition to hair styling and cutting, while others focus exclusively on hair. Those that offer nail and waxing services are often called beauty parlors or hair boutiques, and they are usually more expensive than those that only offer hair salon services. The reason for the higher price is that these salons are more upscale and generally have spa-like atmospheres, with complimentary services like hand massage during visits and snacks and beverages. They are generally also staffed with cosmetologists who are highly trained in providing these additional services. They work on commission only or on a salary plus a percentage of sales, depending on the salon.