Alan austin-smith: join the hairdressing revolution

Business Extra

Alan Austin-Smith, The Fantastic Hairdresser Group

The Fantastic Revolution

Alan Austin-Smith believes that the hairdressing industry is in need of a revolution that must take hold from the moment youngsters walk into the salon at 16.

Alan, the Fantastic Hairdresser, told his Salon Business Extra audience that the team is the most important aspect of hairdressing and therefore salon owners need to change the way they think to get the most out of their people.

He said: "I keep on hearing from salon owners who tell me that their team is not committed, is de-motivated and working against them.

"So I say that it is time for some dramatic changes to what we are doing."

Alan had three simple ways for salon owners and managers to get the most out of their people.

• Teach them how to do their whole job

Most people agree that 50% of being a fantastic hairdresser has nothing to do with a pair of scissors; it is all about image, communication, relationship building and making the client feel good about themselves.

Yet the industry's focus is on turning 16-year-old novices into 19 year olds who can cut hair without teaching them any of the other skills that fantastic hairdressers need.

Teaching a 50/50 balance from a young age can make all the difference between a good hairdresser and a fantastic hairdresser.

• Motivate them with things that motivate them

Alan says that hairdressers are not motivated by money - because if they were then salons would be full the whole time - nor spreadsheets and figures.

What they do care about is being a fantastic hairdresser and when you use this to motivate them and you will find that the better they get the more they will want improve.

He also advises that you ditch stats and spreadsheets and use the perfect client - someone who has a great hair cut and colour and treatment and buys the right products and rebooks when they leave - as a guide to how they are getting on. 

• Focus on good staff that could be fantastic staff

Every salon has two poor staff - just bad luck, according to Alan - six average staff and two fantastic staff.

By focusing your attention on two average members of the team who have the aptitude to be fantastic you can shift the whole balance of the salon.

To emphasise his points, Alan ended with his favourite quote: "If you want change, change something," and warned his mesmerised audience that "if you carry on doing the same things don't be surprised if you get the same results."