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Top Tips for Offering Afro Services in your Salon
Posted by
Kate
Dated: September 20, 2008 4:47 PM
The rapid growth of the Afro hair sector may make you considering adding services for Afro and mixed race hair to your service menu; but does your hair salon have the demand for ot and are you equipped to appeal to this new market?
Simon Russell-Roberts, franchisee of TONI&GUY, Gloucester Road, London, offers his top tips for introducing Afro services to the salon.
- Research the market
If you're considering adding Afro services, do your research first. Assess the likely demand in your area, look at salons already catering for Afro hair, read relevant magazines, visit specialist hair shows, attend awards and speak to seasoned Afro stylists. The more you understand the market and how it works, the better you'll be able to determine the feasibility of diversifying into this area and the success you'll achieve as a result. - Get the team on board
Once you've completed your research, get your team on board. Decide whether it's
practical to recruit a qualified Afro specialist, train your existing staff, or both. Stylists who have not worked with this hair type before may have misconceptions, so it's important to dispel any myths right from the start. Organising demonstrations and model nights to give them the chance to work on Afro hair will help break down those barriers. - Choose the right products
To successfully care for Afro hair, you need to use the right products. Always pick an established brand that is committed to research and development, and provides a good range of relaxers as well as shampoos, conditioners, custom-blend treatments, and styling and care products. We chose the Mizani range as it is specifically designed to care for Afro, mixed-race and excessively curly hair and is salon-exclusive. By stocking a premium line, you make the products aspirational, as well as giving the salon a unique selling point, which helps attract clients and increase retail sales. - Make training a priority
Training provides the skills and understanding to help your business thrive, therefore make Afro education a priority. A good manufacturer will send an expert to provide intensive product training and offer external courses on technical services such as relaxing. I would also recommend appointing a product ambassador as the ultimate Afro specialist in your team. They can then monitor market and product developments, organise workshops, and transfer their knowledge to the team to keep everyone well informed. - Market your services
Finally, there's little point offering Afro services if nobody knows they're available, so it's important to promote yourself. Take advantage of PR support offered by your product supplier to raise local awareness; and use point-of-sale materials, displaying them prominently to attract passers-by. Don't forget to inform your clients, as their friends or family may have curly hair and be interested in your new services, too. If you can build up a great reputation in your area for catering for this hair type, you'll widen your target audience and provide a welcome boost to your bottom line.
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Comments (2)
Posted by Kariana
Dated: September 23, 2008 10:13 AM
Mixed Chicks makes a great product for mixed race hair. It is a simple system, but very effective.
website: www.mixedchicks.co.uk
Posted by stephen Lacey
Dated: October 31, 2008 12:20 PM
I would like to inform hairstylists & salon owners of a product called
iw-diy it is a hair exstention product that is dangerous & should not be used on any clients untill it has properly been tested & proven to be safe. I Stephen Lacey was asked to demonstrate a proto type by Raymond Bird of iw-diy.co.uk this is the web based company that is selling this product. The product i tested was unsafe & I in no way endorse its use on afro or european hair. It tore the models hair out. I am shocked that Raymond Bird has posted this on the net on various site as a step by step video which has been cleverly edited to look like I am endorsing the product. Raymond bird edits the fellowship of hair magazine.
This product is not safe......
Stephen Lacey