After twenty years working in the salon, I’ve learned a lot about what works at the chair, and what doesn’t. No matter how long we’ve been doing hair, a career-minded hairdresser should always want to improve! Often, the best lessons come from 'mistakes' we make, and we grow from them, adapting our technique or habits.

Here are the five lessons I have learned (and RE-learned) over the years that I wish I had mastered early on:

Be Prepared to Work

Our schedule can be very hectic when managing all the tasks loaded into a busy salon day. Stylists who arrive to work early and organize their day in advance are more relaxed as they work and usually produce higher numbers. Arriving early gives us time to check color or retail inventory, time to prep our workstation, time to return messages and forecast our salon schedule…before the day begins. Even if our schedule is not fully booked, habits like this (especially if developed early) will help us throughout our career.

Be Present in the Salon

Having gaps in our schedule is something we all put up with, but a new stylist may have lots of free time during their shift. What we choose to do with that time makes a huge difference in how our day goes, and how the salon flows in general.

Spending too much time in the breakroom or on our devices can lead to time wasting in the workplace, which some salon owners consider “time theft.” Instead, we can spend valuable time between clients practicing techniques on a mannequin, forecasting our salon schedule, or if our client is processing color, educating them about retail or a possible add-on service opportunity. We could even shadow/assist a busy stylist to take some pressure off them and see what we can learn. At the very least, there is always laundry to be done or something that needs cleaning!

Customer Service is its Own Side-Hustle

People’s lives and schedules are very busy, and, to survive in today’s marketplace, we need to demonstrate flexibility and excellent customer service - personally managing the needs and expectations of the client whenever possible.  Today’s consumer seeks a higher level of “concierge” customer service and will respond more positively when dealing directly with their stylist – without layers of salon messages or missed calls from reception.

This can be accomplished through simple, yet effective gestures such as being accessible via social networking or text, handling guest issues/complaints personally, and returning messages promptly. When clients feel they have direct access to us, their trust level will increase, which opens new doors to expanded services, referrals, and retail – all of which are especially important in the first few years when we’re building our book.

Stay Flexible and Informed

The Internet and social networking have given us access to art and inspiration on a global scale, and client expectations can be influenced by anywhere on earth. A new stylist must have an “Everything Goes” approach to their craft if we want to build a diverse clientele. This means being aware of the latest trends, techniques, and images to which our clients are being exposed. It is always important to practice new ideas regularly – but especially so at the beginning of our career.

Appreciate the Craft and Build Up Your Fellow Stylists

We’ve never had more free access to information and imagery about hair, and it is vital that a great stylist – whether new or old – learns as much as possible. When we have a diversified eye, any firm opinions about hair “rules” and “art” will relax, allowing us to appreciate the craft more deeply. It’s impossible to say whether any hair is “good” or “bad” – it’s all in the eye of the beholder! All the great stylists I’ve known work toward a unified culture of hairdressing that supports diversity in technique and theory. We can support this concept by always speaking positively about other stylists’ work or ideas, whether in person or online. Adopting this habit early will open so many doors as our career moves forward.

To learn more about Linares or book an in-salon class with him, click here. Linares also leads monthly online classes for Sam Villa Partner Schools. Each SkillsUp Student Training focuses on the skills students crave beyond the daily licensure curriculum.

Sam Villa is Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of the Sam Villa Company, established in 2007. The company is a leader in ergonomic tools, advanced education, and a culture that empowers the professional beauty community.  Built on the core values of integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, Sam Villa is more than a brand—it's a movement redefining the future of the industry.