How to come up with creative hair salon names

Coming up with hair salon name ideas is never easy. Is it memorable? Will it offend anyone? Is it unique? Does it match your theme? With so many factors to take into account, get ready for countless hours of burning the midnight oil in search of the ideal salon name. Or simply continue reading to learn how to come up with the right name for your salon in at least half the time!

Getting started

One’s career in the hair and beauty industry doesn’t just start on a whim - it’s something you truly have to have a passion for in order to stay in the game for the long run. You’ve gotten through a beauty school, done your research and are ready to take a big step into the world of business. You know where you’d like to open your salon, what treatments you’d like to offer and how you plan on operating - all that’s left is tons of paperwork that require your salon’s name. And sure, you can go with the generic “Hair by ______”, but does that really make your business stand out? It might not matter in the case of paperwork, but what about your clients? Surely you’d like to catch their attention.

Does it match your business theme?

You’re planning on starting a hair salon that truly stands out. Not some hole-in-the-wall or a mom-and-pop salon, no, you’re giving it 110% creativity. You’ve got a rugged, steampunk design with copper pipes coming out of the walls, glass tubes filled with hair gel and some vintage cogwheels here and there. Now, how to name a hair salon with this kind of theme? Let’s go with “Hair by _____”. That was a joke, please, refrain from doing that. Hair salon names must go hand in hand with the theme of the business! After all, with a universal name like that, how are potential clients supposed to expect a steampunk interior? Names like “Hair by ____” are fairly vague - sure, clients can expect to get their hair done in such a business, but certainly don’t expect copper wiring and piping coming out of the walls.

In this case, we recommend you go with something along the lines of “Copper Cogs Hair”, “Steam Seat Salon”, or our personal favourite, “Steamfunk Hair”. Potential customers who are on the lookout for a more unorthodox salon experience will be able to easily hone in on your business. Additionally, this also works with other themes, such as luxury hair salons, children’s salons, etc.

Is it unique?

One of the most important factors that needs to be taken into account when coming up with hair salon name ideas is whether or not they’re unique. Now let’s go back to our favourite example, “Hair by ______”. If you’re opening your salon in a large metropolitan area, Google “Hair by” and count how many results you get in your neighbourhood. Surprised? Now, how are your potential clients going to find your salon’s social media pages? And if your name is fairly common, don’t expect to see too many followers on your accounts. Coming up with unique hair salon names can be difficult, but here are some things to take into account:

Focus on the theme: as mentioned previously, look back at your theme and search for ways to implement it into your salon’s name. Examples include “Nuts and Bolts Hair Salon”, “Shear Opulence” or “Hair Bear Salon”.
Make it punny: salons with a punny name might not exactly be considered posh, but for owners who don’t mind, a good joke is always a great way to grab someone’s attention. Try going with “Cut Up and Dye”, “Through Shear Will”, “The Hair Affair”, “Cut It Out” or “Breaking Bald”.
Use your name (creatively): which sounds better - “Hair by Jane Plain” or “J.P. Shear Opulence”? Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we’ll bet on the second option. Using your initials not only helps to posh up your salon's image, but it also gives you creative elbowroom when designing your logo!

How NOT to come up with salon names!

Finding a hair salon name can actually be very entertaining - especially if you’re coming up with some great ideas on the fly. However, there are some things you need to be wary of. Although you’ve just hit creative enlightenment, if you utilise vulgar slang, use trademarked names (or copy and paste a neighbouring salon’s name onto yours) or hate speech, you can land in hot water. You might discover a term or phrase that would seemingly fit with the overall theme of your salon, but only to learn after signing off all the paperwork that it might actually be offending your customers.

Another common mistake you should avoid doing when it comes to creating hair salon names is utilising trademarked names or the names of other businesses in your area. Going with names such as “The Hilton Hotel Salon”, “Louis Vuitton Hair” or “Pravana Hair Studio”, when you clearly have no association with these brands can end with a court hearing and any number of fines. Also, there’s always a chance that the business name you choose might be similar to that of your competitor’s, who happens to be in the same town as you. Before you claim your business name as your own, do some local research and find out if it’s truly unique. Worst case scenario is that your competition with the same name has a poor reputation, and your potential clients might associate you with them.

A creative salon name says a lot about a business, as does how it is being run. Whether your salon is a synthwave dream (vibrant neon lights, electronic music) or an upscale and posh hair studio worthy of being graced by none other than Kim Kardashian, it still needs to run like clockwork - which is why you ought to look for software for hair salons. With Booksy, you’re in the captain’s seat - appointment reminders, client bookings, inventory levels, reports, promotions and marketing campaigns are all automated, allowing you to keep coming up with those creative hair salon names. Keen to give us a go? Your free account is just a click away - sign up today and start managing like never before.