This article is your daily game plan, a suggested list of duties to keep your salon running smoothly and ensure a great impression is made on every client, every day.

Every business has some kind of operations and procedures, a list of duties, if you will. It helps the flow of business for the day run smoothly.

Set yourself up for success, reduce your controllable stressors, and have a win/win day!

A daily game plan for the beginning of your day…

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Arrive to work a little early

If it is at all possible, you want to get to work a little early. By early, I mean at least 15-30 minutes. This allows you to get things turned on, put away your coat and lunch, and maybe unpack a bag.

You could also use this time to finish putting yourself together. Either way, it allows you to set up a game plan for your day without any stress or time pressure. Don’t torture yourself by setting yourself up right out of the gate for a bad day.

Whether at the beginning of the day or at lunchtime, you want to be present and ready for your client before your client arrives.

Also, keep in mind that some clients notoriously arrive early. With these people, you’ll need balance. Be professional and arrive early, but don’t sacrifice your boundaries.

Clock in and out

If you don’t punch a time clock at work, then download an app on your phone and make sure to clock in and out every day that you are in the salon.

This can be calculated in your Daily Numbers, so you know what your hourly rate works out to be.

And don’t delay on this one. You want the most accurate numbers you can get. It helps you set your prices to your worth.

Turn on the heat

This utility is just as important as electricity and water. Don’t keep the temperature extra low because it’s expensive and you are trying to save money.

You have paying clients with wet heads in the salon all day. They don’t deserve to be shivering cold as a part of their salon experience. Nor should they anticipate having to wear layers in order to stay warm for their service.

The salon experience should be one of pampering and relaxation. How many people do you know are relaxed and in bliss when their teeth are chattering?

Let there be light

Lights should be obvious. Don’t forget to include any atmospheric lamps.

Turn on the wax pot

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Turning on the wax pot is imperative. This Must be done first thing every morning as a part of the arrival duties. Wax usually takes an hour to melt so it is ready to provide service.

My personal fan favorite is the Satin Smooth Double wax pot, and I like the Flex Wax by GiGi. No strip papers are needed and with its low-temperature melting point, it’s easy on the skin. There are several brands of single pots too. Be sure to look at the temperature adjustments, and price may be a factor for you.

Unpack your bag

Once you get a few things underway, like the lights, heat, and wax pot then you can focus on your personal things and any chores before the first client arrives.

So, unpack your bag, put your lunch in the fridge, and hang up your coat. It’s time to get set up and ready.

Rotate laundry

Laundry is a time-consuming chore. In my salon, we have to do anywhere from 2-4 loads of laundry a day. Start the day by rotating laundry making it easier to keep up with during the day and you are less likely to be waiting on it at the end of the day when everyone is tired and just wants to go home.

Put away clean dishes

Keep the dishes put away. They have had overnight to dry and you will want the room in the dish drain for the current day’s dishes, so get them out of there.

Check the answering machine

Another great reason to show up a little early. Mumbly messages that get left on the answering machine are easier to hear before the music gets turned on or there are too many people bustling around making a lot of noise.

Maybe return some messages, make a couple phone calls, or send some texts, before you get started for the day.

Unlock the door

You can often times unlock the door a little early, even before opening time, as long as you don’t flip the open sign yet.

Just know that sometimes clients don’t pay attention to whether or not the open sign is on/flipped, and they will help themselves in early anyway.

Sweep the floor

You can sweep the floor at night before you leave and get a pile. Sweep it again first thing in the morning and you will get another pile.

So, all of the previous days’ activity that is floating around in the air settles overnight. Remember that your environment is making an impression on everybody who comes in, all day, every day. Make it a good one.

Pull any full garbage’s

Pulling garbage is something that ideally should be done at night as part of the closing list, but in the event that one got missed, or someone forgot, start fresh everyday.

Nobody likes to throw something away and open the lid to yesterday’s smelly gunk.

Flip the open sign and turn on the music

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Flipping the open sign and turning on the music are the two morning chores that are forgotten most often in my salon. No music can create awkward silence, especially when some people have not had enough coffee.

And don’t forget to flip the open sign and/or turn on your neon. I have a super cute one where the scissors open and close. Get one just like it HERE (neon OPEN sign). Not all clients even pay attention, but some do, and you are potentially turning away business if this isn’t done. Can’t pay your bills that way.

Some duties and chores that can be done all day, at any time of day…

This suggested list of duties can be done at any time of day by anyone in the salon. Especially if working for someone as an employee, I would suggest referring to this list before scrolling your phone.

Wipe down the backbar

Giving attention to the back bar is a chore that can be done any time of the day. It should be done anytime there is a slop of water or product.

Everyone should be in the habit of cleaning up after themselves as they go. Because it will minimize the maintenance cleaning and the deep cleaning. Make a habit of having good habits.

Fold and put away towels

Towels can be done any time all day. And they should be done by anybody who has a free minute, whether they dirtied the towels or not.

Even as an independent contractor or booth renter, you should act as a team player and help your co-workers succeed.

Remember that their mess is making an impression on your clients and your mess makes an impression on their clients too. Learn to work together and have each other’s back.

Stay on top of your client cards

Not filling out your client cards is a habit that will bite you over time if you get behind. Make notes while your client is still in the salon, so you don’t forget anything.

File your cards away where they live so you can easily find them on your client’s next visit. If you fall behind on your client cards, you are just setting yourself up for stress and guesswork.

Track your business numbers

Business numbers are important to keep up to date on. Whether you do your numbers daily or weekly (never longer), do yourself a solid and never fall behind.

Because this activity is such an important precursor to doing your taxes, you do not want to be lazy here. Imagine falling behind and having to calculate up to 365 days’ worth of numbers before you can even start calculating your taxes. 10 out of 10, no fun! Ask me how I know, I’ve done it.

Dust the retail shelves

Dusting is a chore, along with folding towels, that is never-ending in the salon. I don’t care when it was done last, if someone has opened a door, turned on a heater or a blow dryer, or moved 1 bottle on a shelf, it needs to be done again. There is ALWAYS something that can be wiped down.

Put in a supply order

A helpful suggestion here is to keep a running tab of things you come across in your day-to-day activities that need to be replaced with your next supply order.

Keep your list at the front desk, in your station tower, or your dispensary cupboard. Heck, keep one in all three.

You will either pay for shipping on each order done online, or you are paying with your time and gas to go to a supply house to pick things up. Either way, the more things you can get all in one order the more time and money you will save. Keep a running list.

Clean a drawer or cupboard

Unless you are in the first year of your career and still building your clientele there will be little to no time to be on your phone.

“If you have time to lean, you have time to clean.” Clean out drawers and cupboards that few people see. And don’t forget your roll-about or trolly.

De-hair your roll-about

Even if you only do one tray here and there, making it a regular habit to check one now and then keeps the accumulation of dust, lint, and hair in check, and out of your station.

Clean your tools

Take care of your tools and they will serve you longer. You spend good, hard-earned money on your tools, take care of them like they are gold. They are your money makers.

Oil your sheers, de-hair, and disinfect your clippers. Make extra sure they are kept dry so they don’t rust. Keep the hairspray off your irons. Nobody likes their hair curled with an iron that has an inch of crusty, baked-on hairspray. Umm Gross!

Here is a great post I made with a list of tools I use and recommend. Tools Of The Trade

Get the mirrors and chrome

Keeping these surfaces clean makes the whole salon look cleaner, brighter, and more open. It contributes to the wow factor of the first impression. Don’t forget the hand mirrors and windows if needed.

Clean the wax pot and surrounding floor

For those who use a wax pot, practice the art of taking the wax out of the pot without making a stringy mess.

Otherwise, do wipe things down either with diluted acetone (be careful, this will take off printing and cloud clear and shiny plastics), or an oil.

Water the plants

Don’t forget your foliage friends. They may get neglected and thirsty. Pick off the dead leaves so they always look happy and attended to. Anything that looks neglected will leave a bad impression.

A daily game plan for the end of the day…

I have a final suggested list of duties for the end of the day, at closing time. Some of these items will be a repeat of the opening duties done in the morning.

Reset your station

Turn off your hot tools. Clean, sanitize, and put away any other tools. Clean off your chair and sweep up around your work area.

Rotate the laundry

It’s fine to leave towels running in the dryer when you leave for the night, but unwise to leave them in the washer overnight. Try to rotate your last load of laundry early enough that they can get tossed into the dryer before you walk out the door.

Make sure you always check the lint trap and clean it out regularly. The last thing anybody wants is a potential fire destroying your livelihood over a little bit of dryer lint.

Sweep the floor

I know this has already been mentioned in the opening routine, but you can never sweep the floor too many times. Always do it before you leave at night.

Pull garbage’s

Garbage should never sit overnight. Get the main can, the nail room, the bathroom, beside the wax pot, and anywhere else you have a garbage can. ESPECIALLY if there has been a perm done. Take! It! Out!

Wash the dishes

Always clear out the sink at the end of the night. Once the dishes are out, wipe the basin clean. Don’t leave chemical residue from color and bleach in there.

Reset the till

Pull income from the till and get a bank deposit ready.

Batch out your credit card machine

Batch out your credit card machine daily. And for the love of God, don’t forget to adjust for your tips. You will only batch out forgetting to adjust for your tips one time. It will hurt your feelings to lose all that money, and you will never forget it again.

Calculate your books

Don’t get lazy. Do yourself a favor and stay on top of this chore. The bookwork can be drudgery, but it only takes a minute, unless you fall behind. I promise you would rather swallow razor blades than dig yourself out of that hole.

Here is a post that goes into more detail about tracking your numbers. The Business Side of Things.

Pay Yourself First!

I teach every girl that comes though my salon to pay herself first. Keep a stash of cash anywhere you choose, in the salon, in your car, at home, in a bank account, anywhere, but pay yourself every single day that you work.

So, treat yourself for all your hard work every day, even if it’s just 5 or 10 dollars. Consistency is key and even little bits add up.

So, that’s a wrap for this highly coveted article. Thanks for taking the time to read it and feel free to leave a comment or check out some of the social media pages. X (twitter), Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or Pinterest