A supportive salon environment helps keep staff happy and motivated, it also helps boost salon revenues

Words: Relin Hedly

Long working hours of serving customers at a salon disrupts the work life balance of an employee, leaving little room for relaxation. The nature of the job demands not just high proficiency, but also a great service attitude, keeping them in a ‘switched on’ mode at all times. This sometimes, can be a  cause for burnouts leading to lack of focus and inefficiency. With the festive season fast approaching, the salon staff, eager to service clients, will look forward to a supportive management creating an environment that motivates and inspires them to perform to the best of their ability at the workplace.

Encourage and motivate staff

There are several initiatives that can be put into practice to encourage wellness on the shop floor: 

  • Open communication: Keep the communication channel open so that they can approach you whenever they need, not only for support on the bad days, but to motivate them on good days as well.
  • Relieve and release stress: Be mindful of any signs of stress and help the salon staff cope with it effectively. If the situation worsens, direct them to a healthcare professional. Timely cure is always better than a prolonged diagnosis.
  • Wellness & Fitness: Several salons and spas engage and encourage their staff into practicing wellness activities such as yoga and meditation, as well as some other forms of exercise. Such initiatives helps them calm down physically and mentally. Practicing it in-house motivates and helps them keep the rest of the day moving smoothly.
  • Upskilling: Offer training opportunities to upskill salon employees and help them grow. This step will boost the salon business further.
  • Appreciate: Take every opportunity to appreciate your employees. It goes a long way in building the business. Celebrate every staff achievement however small it may be. Happy staff is equal to happy clients, and happy clients will keep coming back to boost revenues.
  • Fun activities: Engage salon staff with fun activities like swimming or games that can cheer them instantly on the shop floor itself. The possibilities are endless. Team building outdoor activities can also be arranged during the off days.

Wellness practices at salons

With Wellness at the Heart of Kapils Salon, Kapil Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director of Kapils Salon India Ltd., reveals the ways wellness has been incorporated into their salon culture. 

“I believe that when our people are physically, mentally and spiritually healthy, they are empowered to perform better and live more fulfilling lives. With this philosophy at the core of our culture, we have incorporated several wellness initiatives for our employees and students. We provide Mediclaim and ESIC facilities to support the health and security of our employees.

We have also created a dedicated Fitness Zone at our Head Office and Academy, which employees and students can use freely, including during work hours. We want fitness to become a natural part of everyday life rather than something that is always postponed.

Beyond physical fitness, I consistently emphasize the importance of mental and spiritual well-being in every interaction with our employees and students. We encourage them to develop positivity, resilience, balance and a strong sense of purpose.

For us, wellness is not just a programme; it is a way of life and an integral part of our organizational culture. When we take care of our people, they become healthier, happier and more confident ambassadors of Kapils Salon.”

Qurat Syed, Founder, Lemon Salon shares her perspective. 

  • Create a positive, supportive work environment where team members feel heard and appreciated. Encourage open communication and regularly check in with teams to understand their challenges and needs.
  • Focus on physical wellness by encouraging staff to take appropriate breaks, stay hydrated and be mindful of posture and ergonomics during long hours of standing and repetitive work. 
  • Training teams on correct working techniques also helps reduce physical strain.

“At Lemon, we believe that taking care of our people is just as important as taking care of our clients. Salon work can be physically and mentally demanding, so we try to build wellness into our everyday culture rather than treating it as a one-time initiative.”

Sayed believes that mental and emotional wellbeing is equally important. The salon encourages a healthy work-life balance, celebrates team achievements and milestones, and creates opportunities for team bonding and appreciation. “As with any salon, our people are our biggest asset. Our wellness approach is ultimately about creating a workplace where employees feel respected, valued and motivated to grow.” 

When teams feel good, confident and supported, that naturally reflects in the experience they create for the clients. A positive salon environment is a boon for salon revenue. It leads to staff retention and productivity. Staff satisfaction at the salon leads to increased productivity and client retention in the future.