Any curly girl will tell you the importance of a salon that understands their hair texture and that goes for their children’s hair too, with many parents doing extensive research to find the right salon.
“Children with textured hair are your client of the future, so catering for them will ensure they feel their style needs are included and understood,” explains Jessica Parrish, founder of SHedid &Parrish. “Many parents have to travel miles to find a salon that can care for their children, but promoting these services will ensure you are on the radar for the future generations.”
Here Jessica offers her top five tips for offering and promoting textured hair service for children…
Make sure your salon is child-friendly
Whatever their hair type, children can often find a hairdressing salon a slightly intimidating environment. Small touches can make them feel more at ease and their specific needs recognised. Ensure you have child-sized capes and booster seats to lessen the feeling of being a child in an adult environment. Offer them a warm but calm welcome and chat to them about what you are going to do. It’s a good idea to schedule appointments when you know the salon is going to be less busy to help make it a less overwhelming experience for the child.
Educate your team
As well as ensuring some or all of your team are trained in cutting, styling, and caring for textured hair, also equip them with knowledge about suitable products for children’s textured hair. Parents will appreciate advice on gentle shampoos, conditioners, and styling products that prioritise the health of their child’s hair and scalp.
Collaborate with local communities
Make an effort to form links with local parent groups and community centres. Invite members of these groups to your salon for demos on how you can help care for their children’s textured hair needs – show them you are an expert who can make their lives easier.
Stock inclusive products
Make sure the textured hair products you stock are visible and include a special section curated with children in mind. You could include imagery of children having their hair cut and styled in the salon, or personal notes from team members about the products and why they are perfect for caring for children with textured hair. You could also create starter kits for textured hair care, making it easier for parents to maintain their child’s hair at home. Remember, many parents in mixed race relationships won’t have personal experience of looking after textured hair, so any help you can offer to make their choices easier will be appreciated and is likely to gain you a loyal client.
Use positive language
Children can be particularly sensitive so it’s important to use positive, affirming language when you have them in your styling chair. Use words like beautiful, versatile and cool to describe their textured hair. Tell them their hair is natural, full and soft, rather than using words with a negative connotation like wiry or wild.
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