How to approach salons effectively

Videos

Powder Brows

Procedure, Techniques, Pigments, Aftercare...

Microblading

Procedure, Technique, Patterns, Supplies, Retention...

Ombre Brows

Soft Ombre, Pixels, Whip, Pendulum techniques...

Hairstrokes

Nano Brows, Hairstrokes patterns, Natural PMU...

Combo Brows

Powder + Miroblading, Powder + Hairstrokes...

Marketing

Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Organic growth...

Removal

Saline, Lactic Acid, Laser removal procedure...

Articles

Powder Brows

Procedure, Techniques, Pigments, Aftercare...

Microblading

Procedure, Technique, Patterns, Supplies, Retention...

Ombre Brows

Soft Ombre, Pixels, Whip, Pendulum techniques...

Hairstrokes

Nano Brows, Hairstrokes patterns, Cashmiere...

Getting started

Starting artist adivce, practical first steps...

Marketing

Offline marketing, Online marketing, website, domains...

Practical Tips

Guides, Tips, Suggestions, Walkthroughs, Case studies...

Removal

Saline, Lactic Acid, Laser removal procedure...

Tops Pricing

1. Background

This article is based on interviews with 79 eyebrow artists who have transitioned to specializing in powder brows, microblading, or hair strokes. These artists previously worked in different fields. The research behind these interviews was conducted from 2019 to 2023, with some ongoing projects. Most artists, 63 to be exact, are from countries within the European Union, 9 from the United Kingdom, and 7 from the United States.

This article will focus on practical strategies that have successfully initiated collaborations with salon owners. While the primary audience for this article is novice artists, the insights provided may also benefit more experienced artists.

2. Finding the Target Salon

Introduction to Location Selection

When starting as a powder brows, hairstrokes or microblading artist, two key questions arise: how to acquire clients and where to perform the procedures. For many new artists, an ideal location might be relatively rare. A successful approach used by many is to become a guest artist in various salons. We'll explore this approach step-by-step, drawing on the experiences of those who have succeeded in this path.

Guest Starring in Salons

Becoming a guest artist in a salon is more than just a temporary solution; it can evolve into a strategic partnership. By partnering with salons whose services complement yours, you gain a workspace and access to clients who already value professional beauty treatments. This approach minimizes initial investment costs and offers flexible location options. Next, we'll discuss finding the right salon for this arrangement.

Avoiding Potential Conflicts

Choosing the right salon is crucial. While it might be tempting to join a salon with established professionals, this can lead to conflicts, especially if there are already guest artists who might view you as a competitor. It's vital to approach this situation delicately, as competition can be intense in the beauty industry.

Finding Salons that Complement Your Services

A more effective strategy is looking for salons that don't offer powder brows or microblading. These salons may not provide these services for various reasons, such as the absence of a resident artist or a focus on other successful services. Such salons present an opportunity, mainly if they cater to your target demographic but don't provide the specific services you offer.

To find potential salon partners, do the following.

Research reputable establishments within your preferred travel range.
Focus on salons that don't advertise powder brows, hairstrokes, or microblading.
Consider their clientele, reputation, and existing services to determine if they would match your skills and services well.

3. How to Approach a Salon

Identifying the Decision Maker

When you approach a salon to discuss potential cooperation, remember the 80:20 rule: 80% of your success depends on reaching the actual decision-maker. Often, this person is the salon owner, but in larger chains, it might be a branch manager. Your main goal is to make direct contact with this individual. Efforts spent finding the correct email or phone number are valuable, as they bring you closer to your goal and should be seen as an investment in your powder brows, hairstrokes, or microblading career. Let's now examine practical ways to get that contact.

Calling the Public Number

Start by calling the salon's public contact number and ask for the owner's contact. If queried about the reason, respond with keywords like "microblading," "powder brows," "business," or "financials," and reiterate your request for the owner's contact. It's essential to stay focused and not pitch your idea to anyone but the decision-maker.

Using Social Media and LinkedIn

Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social media can be useful in finding the owner's contact details. If you share mutual friends with the salon owner on these platforms, leverage those connections to make contact. Be transparent but concise about your intentions. A simple answer like "business, brow business" should suffice if asked why you want to connect.

Searching Public Databases

Make sure to look into public databases or even a basic Google search to find the owner's contact information. Sometimes, the details you need are easily accessible online.

Leaving Your Contact Information

If you cannot reach the decision-maker directly, don't hesitate to leave your contact details, along with a brief explanation of why you're reaching out. However, don't rely solely on this method; continue actively seeking direct contact.

Important Observation

Many experienced artists have acknowledged that it's crucial to keep an open mind when approaching salons and identifying target locations. It's a mistake to assume you already know all the potentially great places. Surprises often arise, even in smaller areas. Artists have discovered salons they were unaware of or didn't realize had evolved. Therefore, never assume you know everything about your local salon landscape.

Some of the best opportunities can come from establishments with a stable and specific clientele that don't need to advertise heavily to attract new customers. These salons might not be prominent in an artist's information channels, yet they can offer valuable partnerships. Keeping an open mind and exploring beyond your known boundaries can lead to fruitful and unexpected collaborations.

4. The first touchpoint

Avoid Sending Generic Sales Emails or Messages

It's not effective to email a salon's general public address, message their Facebook page, or attempt to pitch your idea to the salon's secretary or staff. Direct communication with the right person is crucial, setting the tone for future collaboration. Approaching the owner with sales or promotional emails sent to a general address or trying to pitch your idea to anyone other than the decision-maker is not only ineffective but can be counterproductive.

Many artists feel a sense of accomplishment after sending several such emails, but this is usually a misstep. This tactic not only wastes time but can also create barriers for future interactions with the same salon. Instead, focus your efforts on identifying and reaching the correct contact person. A personalized approach will likely lay a solid foundation for a successful partnership.

It's like shooting in the dark when you send emails or messages without knowing the recipient. It might give a false sense of productivity, but it's not effective. This approach often replaces the necessary actions with mechanical, copy-paste work. Directing your efforts towards activities that truly matter and will bring you closer to your goal is important.

5. Practical suggestions for approaching

Start with Your Purpose

When contacting a potential salon partner, begin your email with a clear purpose. Skip lengthy introductions about your skills or unrelated details. Instead, state your reason for reaching out succinctly. For instance:

"I am seeking reputable professional salons in different areas to establish exclusive and mutually beneficial partnerships. My research indicates that your salon could be a great match, and I am contacting you to discuss potential business opportunities."

In essence, make it clear and straightforward: You're looking for reputable salons to collaborate exclusively in a mutually beneficial manner. You've identified their salon as a potential fit and are exploring the opportunity for a profitable business partnership.

Be Clear About Your Intent and Profit Motive

It's important to highlight the benefits for the salon but also be transparent about your interest in profitability. Salon owners value honesty, and a straightforward approach can foster trust. Avoid elaborate narratives and be direct, for example:

"I believe offering powder brows, hair strokes, and microblading services at your salon can expand our client bases and increase profits for both of us."

This isn't a script to follow verbatim, but the idea is to focus on what the salon owner gains from this venture rather than solely on your capabilities.

Embrace Your Profit Interest Without Hesitation

While emphasizing the salon's benefits, don't avoid your profit interests. Rather than offering long narratives about broader impacts, be direct and concise. Convey that you see a viable opportunity for both parties to earn profits.

Many salon owners have responded positively to such emails, appreciating the artist's honesty and directness. They often feel more inclined to trust someone straightforward about their intentions.

6. Additional suggestions

Avoid Closing the Deal in the First Email

In your initial contact, it's essential to leave specifics open-ended. Refrain from including rigid details like concrete price lists or final terms. Suggest a meeting to discuss details after confirming mutual interest. You could mention that you're in the process of selecting a salon to work with exclusively in the area and consider their salon a top choice, pending their interest. Avoid creating a sense of undue urgency; instead, indicate your decision timeline and leave your contact details, showing your readiness to discuss specific terms.

Handling Non-Responses

Not every proposal will result in a collaboration or even a response. If you don't receive a reply, resending your email with minor adjustments is reasonable, but limit this to a maximum of three attempts. Persisting beyond this might be perceived as too aggressive. Interestingly, many salon owners often respond to the third email, thanking you for your persistence, as they had intended to reply earlier but were preoccupied.

Personalizing Emails with AI Assistance

When creating effective emails, begin with a basic draft that includes your key points. AI tools like ChatGPT, Jasper.ai, or Copy.ai are capable of generating complete texts. However, adding a personal touch often leads to better outcomes. Direct the AI to fine-tune the text, making it professional and appealing to your specific audience. This approach provides a solid first draft for further refinement.

Many artists have noted that with the introduction of GPT-4, the initial versions of such messages are quite professional and interesting. But remember, this is just a starting point - a good first draft that's too generic to be sent. It serves as an excellent foundation for additional customization. By personalizing this draft further, you can create a message that truly resonates with the recipient and reflects your unique style and intent.

Taking Advantage of Powderbrows.com Public Profile

Many artists have effectively utilized their public profiles on powderbrows.com, or related company platforms. These profiles enable artists to present themselves more straightforwardly, enhancing their credibility and helping to build trust. Based on our statistics and feedback, most public profile owners have utilized three main sets of evaluation and verification.

Verification as an Artist. This establishes the artist's identity and professional status.
Audience Authenticity Verification. This involves proving that the artist has a low percentage of fake and mass followers, which validates the authenticity of their audience.
Technical Accreditations. These are various forms of certification that demonstrate the artist's technical skills and competencies.

Many salon owners have contacted the Powderbrows.com Research Center inquiring about the evaluation criteria and the practical processes involved. We have consistently provided this information. As of 2024, Powderbrows.com's verifications and accreditations are widely recognized as a standard for evaluating an artist's specific abilities and the quality of their digital presence.

In conclusion, leveraging a public profile on powderbrows.com can significantly benefit artists in establishing their reputation and gaining recognition within the industry.

7. Understanding the larger context

When many new artists approach salons to start cooperative models, they often view it as a solution to the immediate challenges of finding clients and generating initial profits. While this perspective is valid, it's essential to understand that there's much more to this endeavor.

Three Key Aspects in the Larger Context v It is being an Active Artist. This means being proactively involved in performing procedures and providing services to clients. Considering that about four-fifths of young artists who complete courses in powder brows, microblading, or hair strokes stop offering these services within the first 18 months, simply staying active in the field distinguishes you from many peers.

Developing Skills. Each procedure is an opportunity to enhance your skills. Rather than just practicing on latex, working with real clients allows for substantial skill improvement. Learning about the procedure and comparing techniques with more experienced artists can significantly boost your expertise.

You are building a Portfolio. Consistently performing procedures and being involved in the business contribute to creating a strong portfolio. The more clients you work with, the better your portfolio becomes. The importance of a robust portfolio in today's market cannot be overstated. Additionally, the compound effect of this endeavor is noteworthy. By maintaining active collaborations with salons and regularly producing high-quality before-and-after photos, you can develop a more diverse and impressive portfolio in six months than some artists achieve in years.

Starting artists should see salon cooperation as a quick fix for client acquisition and profit and a strategic step in becoming an active artist, developing skills, and building a compelling portfolio. This broader perspective is crucial for long-term success in the field.

8. Conclusions

Cooperating with salons is a valuable entry strategy for new artists specializing in powder brows, hair strokes, or microblading. The first step is identifying suitable salons, ensuring that your services complement rather than compete with their existing offerings. Many artists must pay more attention to this and approach salons that aren't a good match.

The key to successful salon partnerships lies in targeting the decision maker rather than indiscriminately sending messages to numerous salons. Focusing on the person with business authority within the salon is essential for establishing a fruitful collaboration.

In crafting your initial message, clarity and simplicity are vital. Clearly state your purpose, maintain a straightforward structure, and don't shy away from your profit motive. Many practical approaches involve artists openly discussing their desire to earn money and proposing mutually beneficial arrangements.'

Don't expect to close a deal with your first message. The objective is to initiate a conversation that leads to negotiations. It's normal for many messages to go unanswered, and this should not be taken personally. To enhance credibility, reference validations like a powderbrows.com public profile. When using AI for message composition, remember that these tools are best for creating a professional first draft that still requires personalization.

Working as a guest artist in salons is more than a temporary solution. It's an opportunity to break into the business, stay active in providing services (which 80% of new artists fail to do), develop your skills with each procedure, and build a professional portfolio. This broader perspective is crucial for long-term success and growth in your career.