10 Effective Salon Client Retention Strategies

Attracting new clients is one of every business’ goals. After all, that’s why we have and try all these marketing tactics.

While this is essential for growth, keeping your existing customers and a steady income is what makes a business profitable.

So, let’s go over a few simple hair salon client retention strategies that will make a difference. Simple, yet effective.

Why Focus on Salon Client Retention?

Client loyalty is crucial in the beauty industry. It can be the difference between a flourishing salon and one that struggles.

Also, retaining clients is more cost-effective than acquiring new ones. According to Outbound Engine:

• Acquiring a new customer can cost five times more than retaining an existing one.
• Increasing customer retention by just 5% can boost profits by 25-95%.
• The success rate of selling to an existing customer is 60-70%, compared to just 5-20% for new customers.

When you retain clients, you earn their trust. Loyal clients often become brand ambassadors, bringing in new clients through word-of-mouth.

What Is Considered a Good Salon Client Retention Rate?

A good salon retention rate is around 60–70%. This means if you have 100 clients a month, 60 to 70 should return within a year. 

You can also check the frequency of repeat visits, meaning how often each client returns. More frequent visits show better loyalty, while fewer visits could mean they’re trying other places or growing out their hair.

To identify your most profitable clients, track sales and revenue from repeat customers compared to new ones. Ideally, the majority of your revenue should come from retained clients.

And now, the client retention strategies.

10 Hair Salon Client Retention Strategies

1. Make a good first impression

First impressions matter a lot. Make sure every guest, whether new or returning, feels welcome as soon as they enter your salon. A friendly greeting at the front desk, a cup of coffee, and comfy waiting chairs can make a big difference. 

Then, it’s up to you and your stylists to wow them with a great consultation. Train your team to listen actively and understand each guest’s unique style. When clients feel valued and look fabulous, they’re sure to come back!

2. Offer personalized services 

This is one of the most important hair salon client retention strategies. How you treat your clients can make or break your business. The salon’s vibe, communication, service quality, and overall experience all play a role in whether they come back. Make them feel part of an elite group, and they’ll be more likely to return.

One thing that makes them feel pampered is getting personalized services. 

Beyond greeting clients by name, make sure to remember how they like their hair styled, their favorite products, past purchases, and special requests. This way, you can offer tailored recommendations based on their previous visits.

This helps with rebooking and retention. And that’s the goal, right?

But simply jotting all that information down might not work. That’s why you need an app to help you with this. 

Besides being an appointment scheduling app, Goldie helps you manage your clients. You can take detailed notes on each client and for each appointment so that you remember important details for their next one.

3. Send appointment reminders

One efficient hair salon client retention strategy is to send automated reminders.

With Goldie, you won’t need to chase late customers anymore, giving you more time to focus on what you love. Schedule appointment reminders when your client books an appointment, and Goldie will send them for you.

Your clients will appreciate your reminder and won’t miss their appointments.

These reminders help you as well. Besides improving salon client retention, you can stay on top of your schedule with notifications for new bookings and upcoming appointments.

4. Ask for deposits 

To include an extra safety layer and make sure you reduce no-shows to almost zero (there are still some situations that cannot be predicted), you can ask for deposits. Goldie helps you with this, too.

If you can manage scheduling and reminders from one place, why not handle payments from the same app as well?

You can ask for a deposit when clients book online. Then, collect payments after the appointment so that you always get paid fast and easy. With Goldie’s Stripe integration, your clients can securely pay online via Payment Links or from their mobile phone or contactless card with Tap To Pay (only available in the US on compatible iOS and Android devices).

5. Start a loyalty program

We usually want to convince new people to try our services by giving them discounts or some kind of incentive that would make them book their first appointment. 

But your loyal clients deserve appreciation, too, not just the new ones! If you don’t have a rewards program, now is the time to start one.

A loyalty program is a great way to encourage repeat visits to your salon. You can offer points for every service or product purchase, which clients can redeem for discounts, free services, or special gifts.

Make sure to promote your loyalty program on your website, mobile app, social media channels, and in your hair salon.

6. Keep in touch with your clients

Most of your clients won’t visit you weekly, so you need to keep in touch through various means of communication. You can post updates and photos of our work on social media, but you can also send marketing emails or SMS updates about any new services, promotions, or products.  

Guess what app you can use for marketing communication? That’s right – Goldie!

Goldie helps salon professionals improve their marketing messages by making it easy to send personalized SMS to clients. Instead of sending group messages, Goldie sends individual texts, giving a personal touch. You can tailor messages to promote special offers, remind clients of upcoming events, or share updates, creating a more engaging experience. 

Goldie also lets you select client groups based on their last or upcoming appointments, ensuring your promotions reach the right people at the right time. This system increases efficiency, customer engagement, and salon client retention.

7. Upsell and cross-sell

Upselling and cross-selling basically introduce clients to more of your express services and products. When they find everything they need at your salon, they’re more likely to return. 

For example, if someone’s in for a haircut, suggest a deep conditioning treatment or a color touch-up. Recommend shampoos or styling tools to enhance their experience and increase sales.

And since we’ve mentioned shampoos…

8. Educate your clients on products

One way to build trust with your clients is to educate them on the products you use. Talk to your clients while they’re in your chair and tell them about your products in a way that feels genuine and caring, not pushy. 

This makes clients feel cared for and can even boost retail sales because they might want to use some of your products at home as well.

9. Listen to feedback

Gathering feedback from your clients is key to understanding their needs and expectations. 

Use their insights to elevate your services and even adjust your pricing. You’ll foster stronger client loyalty by valuing their opinions and making changes based on their feedback. This constructive feedback helps you refine the customer experience for all your guests, so it’s worth welcoming and acting on it.

10. Make your salon Instagram-worthy

While not the most important thing on the list, it also matters, and it can have quite a big influence on how clients feel when they visit you. Make your salon a place guests love not just for the top-notch services but also for those extra touches that create an unforgettable experience. Start with the ambiance—soft, warm lighting can instantly make your space feel welcoming and cozy.

Also, if possible, invest in stylish yet functional decor. This can entice your clients to take pictures while at your salon and post them on social media. They feel comfy and pampered, you get free advertising. Win, win!

Conclusion

And there you have it—ten powerful hair salon client retention strategies to keep your clients coming back. Attracting new clients is important, but retaining your current ones is the real game-changer. Not only is it more cost-effective, but it also builds a loyal client base that can spread the word about your fantastic services.