By Sam Kendall, CEO of SalonIQ
Christmas can be the most magical time of the year, but in the hair and beauty world, it’s often the most intense too. Everyone wants to look their best for party season, so it’s only natural that clients try to squeeze in appointments before Christmas do’s, family gatherings, and the big day itself.
This season can bring a huge boost in business, with clients often willing to spend more than usual. In fact, a survey of 2,000 UK consumers found that almost a quarter had budgeted extra for their salon visits over Christmas, with one in six planning to spend more than £100 – well above the average festive spend of £58.80.
The pre-Christmas rush is lucrative and exciting, but it can take its toll. Salon teams often find themselves taking on more early mornings and late nights to fit everyone in, and that extra effort can quickly lead to fatigue. If not managed carefully, those long days and back-to-back bookings can lead to burnout – what the NHS describes as a state of physical and emotional exhaustion brought on by prolonged stress.
It’s a fine balance to strike, but with a little planning and the right tools, salons can make the most of the festive rush without running their teams into the ground.
Analyse your data
Planning for the busy festive season makes all the difference, and using your booking data from previous years can help you prepare for what’s to come.
Salon software makes this easy – you can check last year’s busiest days and see when bookings peaked. Research shows that around 35 per cent of Brits book their festive treatments as early as October, while a quarter wait until December. Spotting these patterns helps you plan staff rotas in advance, so you’re not caught out when things ramp up.
Last minute bookings are inevitable, but if you’ve planned ahead, you’ll have the right team in place to spread the load and keep energy levels up.
Booking made easy
When things get busy, it’s easy for admin to pile up. That’s where booking software comes into its own. It keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes, giving you more time to focus on clients.
With clear calendars for each team member, you can see at a glance who’s nearing capacity. Sending clients automatic reminders to book early, or alerts when their favourite stylist is almost full can help avoid last minute scrambles.
You could even offer small early bird discounts for those who book their festive treatments early, helping you manage demand while rewarding your most organised clients.
The key is to make booking as simple and stress-free as possible for both clients and your team. That way, everyone stays happy and the workload feels manageable.
Keeping on top of stock levels
Few things cause more stress than running out of product on a packed day. It’s an easy mistake to make when so many clients are coming through the doors, but it can throw off your rhythm and add unnecessary pressure.
Set up automatic stock reminders through your salon software to take one more thing off your team’s plate. Knowing that stock is under control gives everyone peace of mind, and helps avoid the kind of small stressors that can build up over time.
When your team isn’t juggling extra admin, they can focus fully on clients, and that’s what keeps morale high and burnout at bay.
Final thoughts
The pre-Christmas rush is one of the most exciting times in the salon calendar – a chance to boost sales, welcome back loyal clients and help people feel great – but it’s also one of the most demanding.
It’s easy to fall into the habit of taking on every extra appointment, but that can come at a cost to your team’s wellbeing. With a bit of forward planning – analysing booking trends, managing staffing levels and keeping on top of stock – you can make sure the festive period runs smoothly without overloading your team.
Christmas should feel joyful, not draining. With some smart tweaks, your clients and your salon team can both finish the year feeling their best.