Hiring is one of the most consequential decisions you’ll make as a salon owner. The right person can elevate your team, delight your clients and contribute to a culture you’re proud of. The wrong hire, however well-intentioned, can be costly and disruptive. Getting clearer on what you’re actually looking for before you start the process makes all the difference. Here’s what to keep in mind.
Technical skill is the baseline, not the ceiling
Of course you want someone who is talented at their craft. But in a strong applicant pool, technical skill is often the thing most candidates have in common. What separates a good hire from a great one is usually everything else: their attitude, their communication style, how they handle feedback and how they treat the people around them. A highly skilled stylist who is difficult to work with or dismissive of clients can do more damage to your salon than their talent is worth. Hire for character as much as capability.
Look for someone who genuinely loves people
Salon work is deeply relational. Your team members spend their days in close, personal conversation with clients — and those interactions are a huge part of why people keep coming back. Someone who is warm, curious and genuinely interested in the people they’re working with will naturally build the kind of client relationships that drive loyalty and referrals. This is hard to teach and easy to spot in an interview. Pay attention to how candidates engage with you and the people around them during the hiring process.
Ask about how they handle pressure and feedback
The ability to stay calm, professional and positive during a busy or challenging shift is an underrated quality in a salon team member. Ask candidates how they’ve handled a difficult client situation in the past, or how they respond when they receive constructive feedback. Their answers will tell you a lot about their self-awareness, their resilience and whether they’re the kind of person who grows when things get hard or shuts down. These qualities matter far more in the day-to-day reality of salon work than they might seem in a portfolio review.
Be clear about your culture and values from the start
The hiring process works both ways. Just as you’re assessing candidates, the right candidates are assessing you. Being honest and specific about what it’s like to work at your salon your expectations, your values, the way your team operates helps attract people who are genuinely aligned with what you’re building. It also reduces the risk of a mismatch that neither party saw coming. Clarity upfront saves everyone a lot of time and disappointment down the track.
The best salon teams aren’t built by accident. They’re built by owners who are intentional about who they invite in and what they stand for.
Building a great team starts with running a great business. See how Kitomba helps you manage, motivate and support your people.