How To Beat the Salon Summer Slump

Photography: Courtesy of Amanda Quinlan for Hairroin Salon

Whether it’s summer vacation, back to school, or after the holidays, the salon industry experiences its fair share of slow times when clients are out of town or aren’t booking appointments as often due to their busy schedules. When bookings start to slow down, there are several things beauty pros can do to boost revenue during the off-season.

Ahead, we spoke with several industry pros who shared their top tips for increasing profitability during slower periods.   

Photography: Courtesy of Janine Jarman & Hairroin Salon

Update Your Service Menu 

To ramp up revenue, especially during the summer, Hairroin Salon (@hairroinsalon) owner Janine Jarman began offering a reimagined perm service and launched Curl Cult, her own perm line of curl retail products. Jarman, who has curly hair and has leaned into using perms to help solve her clients’ texture issues, felt the need to reimagine the traditional perm process, odor, and environmental impact.

The 90-minute, in-salon texturizing service doubles as a protein treatment and improves how hair looks and feels while providing natural-looking body, bounce, and curl. Results last between three to six months and grow out without the harsh demarcation lines of traditional perms. “By providing my clients with an elevated and solution-oriented service that enhances their natural texture, it gives them the option of not having to heat style their hair, especially in humid or dry climates,” Jarman says.

“It’s a great way to ensure they have a consistent curl pattern and aren’t stuck wearing their hair in a bun all summer long. And training my team to be curl-capable has helped transform our salon business and helps my stylists engage with their clientele in various ways—from inviting them in for styling sessions to retailing products for at-home care.” 

Photography: Courtesy of Nicole, Carla, and Nikki at Harper Salon by Tiffany J Photography

Stay Connected 

At Harper Salon (@harperonmelrose), staying connected is crucial for co-owners Carla Gentile, Nicole Hartmann, and Nikki Pittam, who have Monday morning meetings where they go over the prior week’s activities as well as what's coming up. During the week, they stay closely involved with their stylists and support team, remaining in the loop on both challenges and accomplishments.

“One of the things we feel is really important during the summer slump—but also just as a commitment to our business—is to stay on top of the daily happenings in the salon,” Gentile says. “The success of our team closely aligns with the relationships we as owners cherish with each other and with our staff.”   

Connect With Clients on Social Media 

Maintaining a regular publishing schedule on social media, sharing relevant content, and interacting with clients is a great way to revitalize your salon’s online presence. It can be challenging to focus on your salon’s digital footprint during busy peak seasons, making quieter periods ideal for boosting online visibility and growing your follower count. You can catch up on posting video tutorials, client before-and-after pictures, salon business tips, and any lifestyle content that supports your personal brand.

“We find that connecting with our clients through social media helps bring people back in,” Pittam says. “It’s a gentle reminder to not forget to squeeze in personal care between trips and time off, whether it’s a funny video of the salon or a photo of clients. Being in their feed and showcasing why they come to our salon is a great way to keep the connection.”  

Photography: Courtesy of Janine Jarmin & Hairroin Salon

Host Pop-Up Events 

Hosting pop-up events in your salon offers a fun and unique experience, helping to boost brand awareness, attract new clients, and bring in existing clients who want to test out new products and services. “To promote business in slow times, we bring in pop-ups for a few days a month, such as a lash tech, barber, massage therapist, and tattoo artist, focusing on someone who offers different services than what's on our salon menu,” Hartmann says. “We work with them to create an arrangement that benefits both of our businesses while offering something special to our clients.” 

Lean Into Education 

Summer slowdowns offer a golden opportunity to level up your skills and boost your career. Use this downtime to invest in digital or in-person continuing education to expand your technical know-how, inspire your creativity, and refine your business practices. SalonCentric Education makes it easy to transform your talent with a whole host of classes catering to every beauty pro’s needs. Check out what’s on tap for this summer, like these in-demand classes: 

Intro To Redken Shades EQ Toning Perfected

Expand your toning expertise with insider tips, customized formulas, and application techniques from Redken. Learn how to best use Shades EQ Gloss to tone, correct, and refresh with confidence on clients of all levels. 

Joico Blonde Life: Lighten & Tone to Perfection

Learn to pre-lighten, highlight, melt, and gloss your blondes to perfection with unique patterns, formulas, and blending effects from Joico that offer gorgeous, reliable results every time.