The Most Underrated Growth Strategies For Stylists
You’re busy posting and marketing, but your business still feels stuck. What if growth wasn’t about doing more, but about doing one thing better?
This week, while reworking my brand strategy for the salon, I found myself going back to the basics. The core principles that have always been at the root of my business. It reminded me of the fundamentals I started with as a hairdresser in 1997, and how those same habits helped me build a strong behind-the-chair career.
Back then, stylists didn't have the visibility or reach we do today. I didn't even have email! Just a landline and a paper appointment book. Rebooking clients was essential to retention and growth. Spoiler alert: it still is.
When I started doing hair again in California (round two of my career), I had to build a clientele from scratch. I didn’t know anyone except my husband. No friends, no family, no built-in clients. It was scary, but I knew one thing: if I could get a client, I could keep them. And not just through skill. I knew I had to actively work on retention.
Client retention is the cornerstone of a healthy business. It’s so much easier (and more profitable) to keep an existing client than to find a new one. Yet too often, our interaction with a client ends when their appointment does.
Here’s exactly what I did:
Started with a thorough consultation where I listened and built trust.
Executed a great service that delivered what they asked for (more trust).
Rebooked them before they left - the most important step.
Collected their contact information and took notes for next time.
Followed up a few days later to check in and, if they loved it, asked for a review.
That’s it. Simple steps, done consistently.
I built fast, renting a chair within a year, then moving into my own studio, and eventually opening my salon. Without step four (rebooking), none of that would’ve been possible.
Every step matters, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed, focus on just one: rebooking your clients.
It’s the most fundamental form of client growth. It sounds boring and obvious, but I’ve seen firsthand how often stylists skip it and how much that costs them.
When you rebook a client before they leave, you're doing more than just filling your calendar. You're:
Guaranteeing future income for yourself.
Positioning yourself as more valuable (your time is now limited).
Increasing your demand (new clients want to see the booked stylist).
Making life easier for your clients (no need for them to remember to book later).
These small, consistent actions create sustainable growth. The kind that doesn’t depend on chasing new followers or constant marketing.
And that’s where I see many stylists get stuck. We spend so much time on social media trying to attract new clients (and yes, it’s important to show your work), but we often neglect the clients who already sit in our chairs.
Marketing to your existing clients (through experience, rebooking, and thoughtful follow-up) is the kind that actually builds long-term success. It’s not flashy, but it works.
A little extra attention after the service can multiply your business faster than any algorithm. It did for me and it can for you, too.
Final thought:
Growth doesn’t always mean doing something new. It often means doing the basics better. Rebooking may not feel glamorous, but it’s one of the simplest and most powerful ways to grow your business without working harder.
So this week, challenge yourself: rebook every single client. Ask one simple question at the end of every appointment: 'When should we get you back in?' You might be surprised how many clients say yes, and how quickly this habit transforms your business.