Crushing the Salon Floor: How to Succeed with Real Clients in Cosmetology School

A student salon is a space to practice and refine your technique while interacting with real clients. At Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes, our beauty school programs provide students with the opportunity to hone their skills and get real-world experience in our Student Salon. However, it is up to you to make the most of your salon hours. Preparation can help you deliver a higher-quality service while learning more from your hours on the floor. Here, we discuss how to maximize your success while serving clients in the student salon at our campuses in Denver, CO, Provo, UT, and the metropolitan area of Phoenix, AZ.

Key Takeaways

• Every state requires a minimum number of hours on the clinic floor to earn your cosmetology or esthetics license.
• Students should complete appointments as they would in an independent salon, including proper preparation, client communication, and post-appointment scripts.
• Students should avoid overselling their skills, complete a thorough consultation, and manage their time effectively while working in the student salon.

What Is the Clinic Floor?

The clinic floor is a supervised space where students practice their skills on the public. It runs similarly to a real-world salon with appointment bookings, walk-ins, and a selection of services for clients to buy. Beauty school instructors closely supervise all stations, and students may be restricted from performing certain types of service.

Every state requires a certain number of clinical hours to qualify for a cosmetology or esthetics license. This is to ensure that students graduate with sufficient experience in hands-on beauty techniques, customer service, sanitation, and other necessary practical skills. More than simply meeting the minimum, the clinic floor is also an opportunity to build your skills in preparation for your future career. For this reason, it’s important to approach the clinic floor with the intent to give it your all.

Before the Appointment

Students should carefully prepare for each appointment. Setting up ahead of time ensures that you have the correct tools and products on hand to deliver a smooth and effective service. Sanitation standards are also a must. The state board and Aveda brand each have stringent requirements to protect the client’s health and your reputation. Be sure that your station is clean and sanitary before the client arrives. When in doubt about how to prep, follow the station checklist.

During the Appointment

During the appointment, you should use timing and sectioning strategies to ensure you finish the service in a timely manner. You should also prioritize professional communication. Be sure you understand the client’s wants and goals before you start and continue to ask questions throughout the process. Open communication and attentiveness help you deliver a finished product your client will love.

Chatting with clients is a valuable way to pass the time and help them feel comfortable while you perform a service. It helps to have some icebreaker questions on standby, such as:

• Where are you from?
• What do you do for work?
• Do you have any fun plans for this weekend?
• Have you traveled recently?
• Is this your first time receiving service from the student salon?

After the Appointment

Once you are done, it can be tempting to shift gears to your next customer or jump into downtime. The post-appointment service, however, is a crucial part of creating a loyal clientele. Educate customers on the best products to maintain their look at home. Introduce them to the loyalty program, if there is one, and offer to book their next appointment.

You also need to prepare for negative feedback. If the customer wants alterations to their service, it’s important to handle the conversation with grace. Discuss what the client wants and set up a time to complete the fix as soon as possible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in the Student Salon

Now that we’ve covered the most important stages of a clinic floor service, it’s time to discuss the most common early mistakes. The following errors can significantly impact the satisfaction of your customers:

• Overpromising service: Be realistic about your talents. Don’t downplay your skills, but don’t promise more than you know you can deliver and risk disappointing your client.
• Skipping consultation: Thorough consultation helps you understand what the customer wants. Rushing through this step leads to inadequate service and unhappy customers.
• Poor time management: The clinic floor can be just as busy as a real-world salon. Careful time management is essential to avoid falling behind on your appointments.

Prepare for Your Future Career at Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes

By delivering high-quality services on the clinic floor, you equip yourself to excel in your future career. Start learning today at Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes. We provide leading beauty school programs in Tucson, Phoenix, and Avondale, AZ; Provo, UT; and Denver, CO, that include classroom lectures, lab hours, and time in the Student Salon. Contact us today to learn more or to book a campus tour.

Student Salon FAQs

Do clients tip students on the clinic floor?

Yes, clients may tip student clinicians.

What do I do if the service goes wrong?

If a service goes wrong, discuss the issue with the client and arrange a time to correct the problem.

How many clinic hours are required?

The number of required hours depends on your state. Be sure to check your state requirements when planning for beauty school.