To a lot of women out there, beauty salons are more than just places to get their hair and nails done. More often than not, these spaces are sanctuaries where they can seek relaxation, have some quality ‘me’ time, and spend time with close friends. This reality is one of the many reasons why a lot of women have that one specific salon they go to and swear by.

Unfortunately, there are instances where you may need to search for a new salon. Such cases can include moving to another state, having your favorite stylist retire, or finding out that the salon you frequented closed down. If you are one of those people who are on the lookout for a new salon, here are some tips that can definitely help you choose the right one:

Consider cost and location

The first two things you have to consider when picking out a new salon are the costs and its location. Although your hair deserves all the love and care the world can offer, allotting half a month’s rent for a single salon trip isn’t sustainable or ideal. If you want good hair days to be an everyday thing for you, opt for a salon that you can afford to visit regularly. Eunice Lucero of All Things Hair emphasized that the best hair salon would be the one that you can get to within an hour, and that has services that are well within your budget.

Look into the technician qualifications

One of the foolproof ways to steer clear of bad haircuts and botched hair-coloring jobs is to ensure that you are getting services from a qualified professional. According to color specialist and salon owner Christopher Fox of L’Oréal, the qualifications for hairdressers come in four different levels. Since Level 1 is generally not considered as a standalone qualification, you would want to pick a salon that has Level 2 and above stylists. Level 2 stylists are those that can cut and color hair unsupervised. Level 3 and 4 are more professional stylists that will be able to attend your every need.

Check for business licenses

Aside from looking into the qualifications of the stylists and the beauticians themselves, it is also a good idea to check the licenses of the salon you are eyeing. Since registering under a certain business structure is a crucial part of starting a salon, you will want to get services from one that has the right licenses and permits. Not only are such salons much more credible and trustworthy, they also tend to deliver better customer service. This is because they are regulated and recognized by the government. If you see that a salon here in Florida is registered as an limited liability company, you know that the establishment has filed Articles of Organization with the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations. This means the salon is an official business within the state, which means you are much more protected as a consumer.

As tempting as it may be to forego checking licenses and technician qualifications, it is something you shouldn’t avoid. You definitely don’t want to suffer the same fate as Cherie Carline. She ended up having scalp burns, as well as brittle and frizzy hair that fell out, after going to a salon that hired unqualified and under-skilled hairdressers.

Pay attention to cleanliness

Despite the loosening regulations across the globe, we are still very much living in the midst of a pandemic. This reality makes it all the more crucial for you to zoom in on cleanliness when choosing a salon. After all, such spaces can present serious pandemic-related risks -- not just for you but also for the technicians themselves. To ensure that your salon trips are as safe as they can be from here on out, pick a salon that has established safety measures. These can include regularly sanitized equipment, mandatory face-mask wearing, scheduled appointments, limited customers and technicians at any given time, hand-washing stations, and spaced-out stations with barriers.

Considering the costs and location, checking qualifications and licenses, and paying close attention to cleanliness will help you find the perfect salon for you. To make sure that you are able to maintain a good relationship with your chosen salon, make it a habit to show the stylists ample appreciation and respect for all the work that they do.

Post solely for the use of inscapebeautysalon.com By June Trinidad