Why the first weeks decide everything

A new master may have great hands and years of experience, but in your salon they start from zero. They don't know how you greet clients, how long your gel polish takes, where supplies are kept or what to do when a client is late. Leave all that to "they'll figure it out", and there will be mistakes in the first weeks, noticed by your regular clients first.

A good start doesn't need a big programme. It needs a few things prepared in advance, a light first couple of weeks and regular conversations with the master.

Prepare everything before day one

The first working day shouldn't start with questions about where the towels are or what price to quote. Agree on these in advance and write them down:

  • The service list: what the master will do, at what prices and with what durations.
  • Working hours and days off for the first month.
  • House rules: how to greet a client, how to take payment, what to do about a late arrival or a no-show.
  • The master's profile: a good photo and two or three sentences about what they're best at.

A short one-page cheat sheet is more useful here than a long verbal briefing that's forgotten by the first client.

Agree on standards and real durations

The same service can be done differently from salon to salon. Before the master sees real clients, have them do one or two services on a team member or a friend. You'll see their work, and they'll understand what you expect.

Time it while you're at it. If your standard duration is one hour and the new master needs an hour and twenty minutes, it's better to set the longer duration for the first weeks than to run late every day. Once they speed up, you can shorten it.

Start with a light schedule

A full schedule from day one is the most common mistake. It works better to:

  • Open only some hours for the first week or two, with a small buffer between clients.
  • Offer simpler services first, and add the complex ones once you're confident in the result.
  • Put them next to an experienced colleague for the first days, so there's someone to ask.

A few empty slots in the first week aren't a loss. They're an investment in a master who isn't rushing and who leaves the first clients with a good impression.

Introduce the new master to clients

Clients rarely book with a master they know nothing about. Help them:

  • a short Instagram post with a photo and examples of their work;
  • tell regulars in person, especially those who struggle to get a slot with their usual master;
  • make sure the master's profile in your booking has a photo and a description.

If you want people to find the new master through Instagram and maps too, see our article on where to put your booking link.

Check in regularly

Problems are easy to fix while they're small. Plan short conversations at the end of the first day, at the end of the first week and about a month in. Ask:

  • what was unexpected or awkward;
  • which client questions they couldn't answer;
  • whether the durations and the schedule are realistic.

Share what you've noticed too, and start with the good. If a client praised the master, tell them. It builds the confidence that everyone needs in a new place.