There aren't many salons that don't give away some free services occasionally. With a little flexibility you can enjoy the very best hairdressing at no cost at all!
1. Make a deal
Don't be afraid to ask - I have a very good, long term hair extension client who NEVER pays for her hair. How? She paid for her first set some four years ago before a wedding where she was bridesmaid. She loved them and came back a month later with a proposition. She said:
"Phil, I love my new extensions and my hair looks great but I can't afford your prices on a regular basis. My friends love them too and I have four who are serious about having them."
Now every time she wants a new set of extensions (about twice a year), she brings me four new extension clients. She works in a busy department store and always has my card in her purse.
PROS: I LOVE a win-win!
CONS: I can't think of any!! Make sure you're asking an owner/manager.
2. Model cuts
Everyone has to learn and young, eager stylists often offer free or very cheap haircuts to built their portfolio and level of experience. Salons closely supervise their students to prevent disasters!
PROS: Cheap/free, regular training means a continual need for models
CONS: May be set training times, can be a very long appointment, you need to be flexible
3. Recommend a friend
Lots of salons offer some kind of recommend-a-friend scheme. It's a great way of rewarding loyalty and building a stylist's clientele and Facebook fiends should find this really easy! Our scheme lets you earn up to £135 a year in free services but schemes vary a lot from salon to salon.
PROS: You still choose your stylist and appointment slot
CONS: Usually only works when you introduce new clients to the salon
4. Demos and client evenings
The best salons are continually communicating with their clients about products and services. Offering your head for a client evening or demo is a great way of getting even very expensive services for free.
PROS: Even high-ticket services like hair extensions can be offered
CONS: Not a regular need for models, you may need to give up an evening
5. New service models
When a salon takes on a brand new service they often hold in-salon training to familiarise the team with the process before carrying it out on a paying client.
PROS: Reliable models are called on again and again, can be very high-ticket services
CONS: Not a regular need for models, services can take a long time
6. Giveaways and competitions
Checking your salon's Facebook page regularly, following on Twitter and signing up for newsletters will give you a head start when giveaways happen. Also check your local paper.
PROS: Usually free to enter, you can choose which to enter and which don't interest you
CONS: You need to be quick - giveaways are always popular, you will probably end up on the salon mailing list
Phil x
