Salon Update July 2023 & New Beginnings

Well, hello!

This is the first salon update since 2021, and the first blog post on my new website!

There's a lot to share, so I'll do my best to keep it to the most important bits. Tap the arrows by each subject to read more.

THANK YOU

First, I want to recognize YOU, my wonderful, kind, amazing, LOYAL Guest! I can't do what I do without you. I truly appreciate you for navigating the last several years with me, from the wobbly start of my salon business, right into the uncertainty of the pandemic, through all the good, bad, and absolutely WILD moments! It's been an incredible journey! Now that I'm finally reopening to the general public, it's like starting all over again... and I want to reassure you that you will remain my top priority. I am implementing a bunch of little things to make sure you have a salon experience that tops the last one, every time. To start, as a token of my appreciation I'm offering a free upgrade to your service for the months of July and August! Keep reading all the way through to check out this offer and how to book for it.

WHAT"S NEW/WHAT"S STAYING THE SAME

The calendar has now expanded from 2 weeks out to 4 weeks out from the current date!

I am focusing on my specialties of gray coverage, color, highlights and vivid color as the only offerings for New Guests, but will still be offering all the services you, as a Loyal Guest, have been receiving- exclusively to you- for the foreseeable future.

Below, under "Loyal Guest Status", "New Website and Booking", "Policy Enforcement", and "New Amenities/Services/Products", you'll find all the other new things that are happening, but here's what's staying the same:

• Pricing- Yes, the cost of everything has gone up, but my pricing is based on the demand on my time. For now, there is no cause or justification for me to raise prices. Now, some services were priced incorrectly and have been adjusted, but you'll find that most everything else is the same as it has been. In the months to come, I will tell you in person if your service prices will increase- and if they do, it will be nominal.

• Text on Arrival- Please text me when you arrive for your appointment, and avoid ringing the doorbell or knocking. I want every guest to enjoy a relaxing, uninterrupted appointment, and that includes you, so please wait in your car until I text you to come in!

• Sanitation- I'm still and always will be thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing between each guest appointment.

• Availability- I'm open every Wednesday 8am-6pm, Friday 8am-6pm and Saturday 8am-4pm.

• Private, one-on-one appointments (no double-booking, ever!).

LOYAL GUEST STATUS

If you're reading this, you are a Loyal Guest!

To maintain this status, you must schedule an appointment at least once every six months, and not have had more than three cancellations/rescheduled appointments in one year. If you have not scheduled and completed an appointment for more than six months, you will need to book a New Guest session or your appointment will be denied. Visit the FAQ/Policies page in the Loyal Guests menu on the website for further details.

If you haven't scheduled an appointment in over six months as of right now, this is your chance to maintain your status! Just book an appointment by July 31, 2023 (the appointment date/time can be up to 4 weeks out from then).

CURRENT "HAIRCUT ONLY" LOYAL GUESTS

I've been telling everyone as I see them, but just to reiterate- If you have been coming in regularly for haircuts only, you are "grandfathered" in, so don't worry if you don't see haircuts offered on the website! I am no longer accepting new haircut only guests. Just make sure to come in for a haircut at least every six months to retain your Loyal Guest status (see above), or you will need to book through the New Guest process. In the future, if demand on my time is high, I may need to revisit and make adjustments to how often a haircut only client is required to come in.

​NEW WEBSITE AND BOOKING

FINALLY!! Two of the things I've been talking about for forever... DONE (well, for the time being)! I hope you'll stick around here and take a look. The website is here for you, as a Loyal Guest, to book appointments, see services and pricing, keep up-to-date on salon happenings, and find answers to general questions.

The main purpose of the website is to get Azalea Color Bar back on the digital map, and to inform and help new guests navigate the booking process for them if they choose to do business with me!

As far as booking is concerned- after spending (too many) hours setting up a different booking system, I realized that PocketSuite is the better fit (for now), so instead, I spent some time fine-tuning, updating, and learning all of the features it offers.

You may have already seen that things have moved around a bit. There are new services, some services have been grouped together under "Loyal Guest Sessions", and some services have been ungrouped from each other, so it's important that you look at the service descriptions to make sure you book for everything you need!

VERY IMPORTANT-please make sure you get to the confirmation screen when booking, so you know that your appointment has been set!

Booking will be expanding from 2 weeks out to 4 weeks out from the current date, so you have more options!

There are multiple ways for you to schedule your appointments:

• ​The website- on www.azaleacolorbar.com, at the top of every page is a "Loyal Guests Book Now" button. This button will take you straight to the PocketSuite main page.

• Text me- I can send you a link to the booking page, or a direct link to the service you want to book for. Keep in mind this is the slowest way, as I may be working or otherwise unable to answer immediately, but I will text you back as soon as I can!

• PocketSuite app- you may continue using the PocketSuite app, but if you choose to do so, please turn on notifications or check the app periodically, otherwise you might miss important messages! I have learned that if the app is installed on your phone, you will receive notifications instead of text messages- even if you text my phone number, my replies will send as a notification in the app (you'll still get automated text reminders). If I message you, I will only be sending important information or asking a question about a service you scheduled, or answering a question you have asked. If you have been receiving unwanted ad-like messages from PocketSuite, please let me know. Feel free to delete the app if you want to receive texts instead of notifications.

• Prebook- you can make your next appointment at your current appointment, up to six weeks out.

COMMUNICATION

I encourage you to text me if you have any questions about what to book, the booking process, or anything else you need help with regarding your hair or appointments. See above about texts/notifications when the PocketSuite app is installed on your phone.

My business number is 210-940-1629. Texting is the best way to get a hold of me.

My business correspondence hours are Monday-Friday, 7am-7pm. It's fine if you have a question and text me at 10pm or 3am, but my phone will be silenced after 7pm and the soonest I will reply in that case will be 7am!

I will also be confirming your communication preferences at your next appointment, as well as sending out a Happy Mail List form soon!

POLICY ENFORCEMENT

I've had policies in place for a few years now, but have not been very diligent when it comes to enforcing them... with new guests on the horizon, I will need to be a little more stringent when it comes to my policies. You will notice a very lengthy contract you will be required to sign upon booking. This covers my policies regarding:

• Cancellations

• Rescheduling/moving appointments, or changing services on already booked appointments

• Illness/coming in sick to your appointment

• Tardiness

• The fees associated with last-minute or late cancellations/rescheduling, illness, no-shows and tardiness

• Booking properly

• Redos and refunds

These and any additional policies are available to view on my website under FAQ/Policies tab on www.azaleacolorbar.com at any time. For the next few months I will also be sending a pre-visit text on the day of your appointment so that you can be updated and prepared.

NEW AMENITIES/SERVICES/PRODUCTS

Amenities are back! Amenities are back!! Yes, it's time again to enjoy all the amenities I used to offer (​Starting July 1, 2023):

• Soft drinks

• Adult beverages

• Snacks

• Music choice

• Streaming services

Plus, some new amenities that you can add to your experience at no extra cost:

• Massage chair

• Revitalizing eye masks

• Hand/scalp massages

• Essential oil diffuser with your choice of oil

• Essential oil hot towel treatment

• A work-from-salon mini-station setup

• A QUIET APPOINTMENT option (I know I talk a LOT, now you can take a break lol)

You will receive an auto-text reminder 24-ish hours before your appointment, and another by 7pm the evening before your appointment with a link to fill out an amenities form, so be on the lookout! I'll ask your time preference for the amenities form to be sent for future appointments at your next appointment.

Some amenities only apply to longer services or specific service types, but all appointments will have amenities available. ​ You may have already seen some of the new services I added to the menu:

• Express haircuts and color

• Packaged services (Loyal Guest Sessions)

• New Guest sessions

• Patch test/Strand test

• Olaplex chelating treatment (included with some services, or on its own)

​ The following are new mini-services that I am currently training for, and will be available starting mid-July to early August 2023:

• Hydrojelly facial masks

• High frequency treatments

• Eyebrow tinting

• Mini-haircare and styling lessons

• Mini-photo shoots

I've been trying out and getting great results from and feedback about the Milk_Shake product line, so it's here to stay! The Milk_Shake system includes a variety of:

• Shampoos

• Conditioners

• Leave-In Conditioners

• Treatments

• Styling Products

Also available is the tried-and-true Olaplex line, and now:

• Olaplex Lash Bond serum (I'm trying this one out, so I'll have feedback and hopefully some thicker lashes soon)!

REFERRALS

I'm still working on a better referral tracking program (hopefully rolling out in a month or so), but if you have a friend or family member that wants color or highlights, feel free to refer them to my website to complete the New Guest process! I am no longer accepting NEW haircut only clients, and some other services are limited, so please refer to or refer them to the Unavailable Services page on the website. I will be tracking referrals manually until then and will have a thank you gift for your referral soon!

CLAIM YOUR THANK YOU GIFT

There are two options to choose from: 1. The Milk_Shake Insta Lotion Treatment- This treatment adds glass-like shine to your hair and smooths in under 5 minutes. 2. The Milk_Shake Active Yogurt or Active Milk Mask Treatment- These treatments quickly add moisture or protein, depending on your hair needs. ​ This thank you gift will be discounted 100% at checkout and is available for all appointments on the schedule on or before August 31, 2023, but must be selected at booking to ensure appropriate timing. ​ To book any of these, select "Customized Mini Treatment with Service", which is located at the bottom of every menu category on the booking page. I hope you'll give one of them a try!

I'm beyond excited to see what the future brings! I look forward to success, brighter days, love and happiness for us all, and as always I look forward to seeing you soon!