MENU
SEARCHInspired by a witty column in The New Yorker, we put our heads together with some salon owners and created a list of things that are still bad ideas for stylists, even if they are fully vaccinated.
Image created by the team at Studio Wish Salon in Twinsburg, OH.
As vaccines roll out across the country, the inoculated are embracing their new superhero abilities, such as gathering indoors with others, eating in restaurants and even boarding crowded airplanes.
These emboldened activities encouraged columnist Eli Grober to pen a few tongue-in-cheek warnings in his article, “Things Fully Vaccinated People Are Still Not Allowed To Do” for the March edition of The New Yorker. For example, Grober cautioned the vaccinated they still needed to stay mute during Group Zoom calls, that it’s still rude to not order fries but then eat your friend’s off their plate, and that it’s still wrong to hog both armrests on a plane.
The editors at SALON TODAY and MODERN SALON admired this piece of journalistic wit so much, we put our heads together with a few salon owners for a brainstorming session and created a version for the professional beauty industry.
So, for all the fully vaccinated stylists out there, here is a list of 10 things you still can’t do:
5-Second Rules
Your salon may have put in sophisticated new air purifying system, but you still can’t drop your comb then claim it’s safe because of the ‘5-Second Rule.’ That dirty comb needs to take a swim in a bath of disinfectant.
Cover Thy Nose and Mouth
It always was considered rude to cough or sneeze on top of your client’s head. You might be COVID-free, as well as masked, but it’s still rude. Step away, cover your nose and mouth, then wash your hands.
Pixabay
Jingling the Bells
Your 2020 holiday season may have been slower than normal (or if you work in a salon in California or Canada, non-existent), and you missed the ka-ching that comes along with that holiday soundtrack. Resist the temptation to play your favorite festive tunes in the salon---April is still way too early.
Black Coffee for All
Those split shifts that help your salon accommodate more clients during capacity restrictions may have you coming in earlier than normal, but that’s no excuse to use almost all of the creamer and put the nearly empty carton back in the fridge, fooling your coworkers into believing there still is creamer. P.S. Munching on your colleagues munches or snacks also is still a no-no.
Image created by the team at Studio Wish Salon in Twinsburg, OH.
Dirty and Neglected
You might be slammed with back-to-back corrective color appointments with clients who practiced a little home art over the past several months, but that does not mean you can let your dirty color bowls accumulate in the sink. Who do you think is going to wash all those bowls?
Social Beware
Now that you’re fully vaccinated and restaurants are opening up, it’s mighty tempting to call in sick and meet some good friends for lunch. But it’s still a bad idea for your career to post a picture of your reunion for everyone to see.
Image created by the team at Studio Wish Salon in Twinsburg, OH.
The Color Police
While you might think using an entire tube of color per client makes it more sanitary, it’s still a huge waste—both economically and environmentally. Mix your color safely, and return your tubes back to the dispensary.
Time for a Load
If you grab one of the last towels out of the cubby after a shampoo, you can’t act like you didn’t notice. When you get a few moments, throw in a new load, fold some fresh towels from the dryer, and help your team keep those services chugging along.
Image created by the team at Studio Wish Salon in Twinsburg, OH.
No Fur Babies
It might be entertaining to see if you can turn your round brush into a modern-day version of a Furby, but no client wants a brush with someone else’s hair touching their head. Clean your brushes in between clients.
Feeding Clients a Line
We all make mistakes, but you need to own up to them. It might be tempting to tell your client whose color result turned out too dark to “Just wash it a few times and it’ll be fine.” Or inform your client whose hair you cut seven layers in that’s it’s the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ special. But you’re more likely to keep their loyalty if you apologize and issue them a complimentary re-do.
Discover how to create a true “WOW experience” for every client by first building a culture where your team feels engaged, empowered, and inspired. Drawing on Calvin Stovall’s Iconic Framework, this blog explores how salon, spa, and clinic leaders can strengthen culture, elevate customer experience, and build a business that stands out for the long term.
Sponsored by Phorest Salon Software
The wellness industry is growing fast, and salons and barbershops already are an important part of it. In her first blog, Tracy Rado shares where the wellness dollars are heading, and how salon's can grow with this movement.
While salon sales are increasing, owners often feel they're working harder for the same or less profit. Leverage Q2 data from The KIM Report, Alain Audet reveals some of the structural changes that are dampening your growth and why your region and your salon size matters.
Weaknesses in your business are amplified during the Holiday Season. Spark Pro Global's Lucy Randall shows you five things to do now to have the strongest holiday season yet.
In Kati Whitledge's latest blog, she shares how salons have moved away from dress codes and embraced appearance standards. But by removing strict dress codes, some businesses may have unintentionally lowered their appearance standards. Whitledge helps you explain to your team why an appearance standard is important and how to smoothly implement a new appearance policy.
The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit for for-profit businesses that provides a financial incentive for eligible employers who offer health insurance coverage to their employees. Leticia Skrabut, Esq., walks you through how to claim that credit.
Developing strong work habits early in one's career supports long-term success in the salon industry. Jesse Linares offers new stylists his top five tips.
Most salon owners have no idea what these numbers are. You can hit record sales and still have a profit problem. The difference comes down to four numbers almost nobody was taught to track.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
A five-area audit every owner-dependent salon needs to run. You built something that looks successful. Now find out if it can survive without you.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
Every month you put off fixing the problem, it gets bigger, more expensive, and harder to solve.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
At Janet St. Paul Studio for Hair and Beauty, Director of Operations Natasha McMillen helps bring her wife Janet St. Paul's vision to life, elevating every system from education to operations.
Expand your color service menu with the Pinstripe technique. Brooks and Brooks' Marlon Hawkins walks you through the technique.
The strongest salons, spas, and med spas know which numbers tell the real story of their business. In this practical guide, Phorest breaks down the five essential KPIs every business should track to improve retention, boost revenue, and make smarter decisions with confidence.
Sponsored by Phorest
At Bella Style Salon in Slidell, Louisiana, Director of Operations Angela Meyer tackles inventory, team management, and guest relations. Read all about her in our latest Meet the Manager.
Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.
Planning is in full swing for the most anticipated events and promotions for the 2026 holidays. As owners share their favorite ways to celebrate, they prove that a carefully planned event can also build culture, increase client loyalty, boost sales, and set a business up for a successful 2027.
When things run amok at Mane Attraction Salon, Owners Chris and Jenny Knudsen say General Manager Sami Hernandez is their go-to resource and ultimate sounding board. Meet Sami in this installment of Meet the Manager.
