Beauty trends - do's and don'ts

Like most specialists who are actively involved in the hair & beauty community, you’ve probably come in contact with some out-of-this-world trends. Chances are some have caught your eye (in a good way), whereas others might have left you questioning their creators’ sanity. For the aspiring hairdresser, nail tech or massage therapist who is looking to introduce fresh ideas to their menu, following the latest industry trends is where it's at - but how do you choose which ones make it onto your list of treatments?

The best sources of inspiration

Before you throw in garden brows or axe hair cutting onto your treatment list, do some research. The best places for finding new ideas are where other hair & beauty professionals hang out, which is on forums and Facebook groups. If you’re already actively involved in any number of these groups, then ask members what latest trends work for them and which ones should be avoided. Chances are they’ll share some of their experiences, thus helping you evaluate which treatments are worth looking into. It’s also important that you stay open-minded in these groups. You might think that the pendulum haircut is unique and innovative, however, upon sharing your thoughts on it, you receive negative comments - but don’t let that get you down! Instead, ask for their input. As for trends that are praised by other professionals, make sure to take note of them - especially ones that complement your current treatments.

The right trends for your business

After hours of researching, you’ve finally compiled a list of potential trendy treatments you’d like to include on your menu, but exactly how do you decide which one makes the final cut (pun intended)? Well, you should ask yourself these questions:

Is the treatment relatable to the others on my menu?
Is the treatment going to lower my level of professionalism?
Do I need additional certifications in order to perform the treatment?
Will this treatment help fulfil my goals?

When introducing a new treatment to your menu, it shouldn’t stand out from the rest of your options like a sore thumb. If you’re a certified nail tech, adding a trendy holiday beard glitter treatment or garden brows to your menu wouldn’t look right. Additionally, if you run a luxury hair salon and decide on offering tattoo freckles , your level of professionalism might be greatly diminished in the eyes of your clients. Or let’s say you’ve fallen head over heels for that trendy unicorn hair look. It looks amazing and you know that this treatment will complement your unicorn nails - but then you realise that you’re not certified to work with harsh hair chemicals. And lastly, will this new trendy treatment help fulfil your goals? And by that I mean attracting new clients, standing out from the competition, or making a name for your business in the industry.

Becoming a trendsetter

Let’s say you’ve been surfing the web for hours, looking for trendy services to add to your menu, but to no avail. They’re either too complex, you’re not certified to perform them or they’re completely opposite of your business image - but don’t let that stop you from going full-on creative! Instead, go over your current menu and begin formulating your own trendy treatment. Don’t forget to keep in mind the previously-mentioned points in order to avoid any issues down the line. It would also work in your favour to ask staff and loyal clients what they think about your latest idea and if it's worth investing in. Once you’ve calculated the predicted expenses, your charging price and completion time, invite clients for a test run! Using Booksy, go into the Customers section and find a specific group of customers you’d like to invite to try this - it's recommended that you select your most loyal clients, as they’ll most likely provide their honest opinions about your creation. After your test run was a success, it’s time to present your latest hair or beauty trend to the world! However, you’re not done just yet! Although your loyal clients loved your latest creation, they’re just a small test group when compared to your entire target audience. So what can you do? While your treatment has gone public, track your sales in Booksy - for both your latest service, as well as your overall earnings. It’s recommended that you do this for at least a month in order to see if sales continue to rise. Most importantly, take advantage of a reliable salon system that will help you get the word out about your latest treatments and track their sales - grab your Booksy account today!