Salon Business, Client Consultation, and Professional Practices
Consultation
A consultation covers the client's history, previous chemical services, allergies, medications, lifestyle, and goals, plus a patch or strand test when indicated. Explain realistic outcomes, obtain consent, and record everything - service performed, products, processing time, and recommendations. Good records protect the client and the licensee.
Business basics
Know the structures: sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, and corporation. Compensation can be salary, commission, or booth rental, and misclassification (calling someone an independent contractor while controlling their schedule and prices) is a legal trap. Budget for insurance, licensing, continuing education, and overhead, and price services to cover cost of goods, time, and overhead while still earning a profit. Retail sales and rebooking drive income; marketing and referrals build the client base.
Professional practice
Follow OSHA bloodborne pathogen and hazard communication standards, keep the salon license and individual licenses posted, respect confidentiality, maintain boundaries, and refer medical questions to a physician. Ethics means honest pricing, no hidden upcharges, and refusing services that would harm the client.
Traps
- Quoting prices without accounting for product cost.
- Giving medical advice or diagnosing.
- Discussing one client's business with another.
- Skipping documentation after an adverse reaction.
Rule of thumb
Document what you did, what you recommended, and what the client declined - if it is not written down, it did not happen.