Salon vs Suite
How do you decide where your Beauty home is?
Who would have ever thought 10-15 years ago that instead of visiting salons, spas, and doctor’s offices, that a place would exist where single practitioners could have their own space to themselves, where you would communicate with them directly instead of going through a receptionist? Not me, but a lot about the beauty industry has changed in the last decade, like a little thing called social media.
In the old days, you saw someone whose hair you liked, and you asked them who did their hair. That was how you found a new stylist, now with a few quick taps to your iPhone a click of a hashtags and next thing you know you can see a stylist’s entire body of work without ever having to speak to another individual or leave your couch. You may even be able to speak directly to the stylist within minutes sharing photos of yourself and inspiration.
My opinion is that social media has been magic for those in the beauty industry. Want someone who specializes in lived- in hair color? Find 5 people in your area in under 5 minutes and see what they are capable of. Next you saw some incredible facial procedure done by someone on the other side of the country, no problem! Hashtag that procedure and find someone close to you, see multiple people that treatment has been performed on without dialing your phone. Remember when French manicures were the fanciest polish option at the salon, no more! Some artists can sculpt roses onto your nails without batting a perfectly placed eyelash extension, which they probably found the artist on another social media account.
Plus, I would be remiss if I didn’t admit that most of you probably wouldn’t be reading this if we didn’t have our own “meet cute” on Instagram, right?
In many ways, the salon-suite concept would never have worked or grown so quickly if it weren’t for social media.
So, how do you know when to stick to a salon and when to head to the suite?
Well, a lot of that has to with your personality and style. Are you shy or an introvert? You probably prefer a suite. Do you love the energy and fast-paced nature of a busy restaurant? Then a salon is probably a better fit.
Beauty and grooming rituals date way, way, way back to Egyptian times, but the concept of the salon structure that we know today hit its stride in the early 1900s. Beauty Salons became the go-to place for women to get pampered and socialize and for a few sweet hours escape their mundane lives. I know that for me personally this still holds true, and I truly enjoy the experience of getting my hair done.
I have gone to traditional hair salons and tried suites, and for me personally I’ll always choose the salon when it comes to getting my hair done.
There’s something very anti-climatic about feeling your best self with your newly coiffed hair, and not having anyone see it and just walking to your car alone. Whomp Whomp Whomp. There’s just something about the energy and excitement in the salon, the exchange of ideas and advice of another stylist communicating with each other. I much prefer standing at the counter handing over my credit card while the receptionist, other patrons, and stylists tell me how amazing my hair came out, that feeling of a cute outfit and fresh color and blowout is unparalleled in my book. It’s a simple pleasure that I enjoy every 6 weeks and totally look forward to.
Plus, there is something nice about making a phone call, having someone pick up and being able to make, change, or modify an appointment at a moment's notice rather than waiting around for a stylist who probably got your text in the middle of performing a service and then forgets for 3 days to get back to you. I JUST CAN’T DO IT! Also, unless your stylist is your best friend and you are good with many hours of intense quality time, trying to relax or get work done is awkward at best and impossible at the worst.
Nails, however, I prefer a suite all day long. Get me in and out!
The hygiene factor comes strongly into play for me. The thought of knowing the person and forming a relationship with them, and knowing that cleaning is done between clients and doesn’t get lost in the shuffle between a zillion other clients makes a nail tech an ideal salon suite occupant. I like the accountability of having an appointment time and knowing that the person who is doing my nails does them the way I like them, rather than the chance of getting some rando at a busy nail salon. Though, if you are in a hurry or have an extra 45 minutes to run into a salon between appointments the nail salon does have a benefit over a suite situation.
Massages could go either way and from a safety standpoint there is always safety in numbers. If you know the therapist and you are comfortable with them, then I say go for it! But if you are looking for the full experience with the tranquility room, tea, and all the other accoutrements, then the spa setting is the way to go.
Skincare is where things get a little bit trickier. My personal preference is always to get the best service when it comes to skincare and that’s when it comes down to the esthetician and the place doesn’t matter. Now I realize if you are trying to make a day of it, then a spa is the way to go, if you want something with real powerful results then a doctor’s office/med spa is an incredible option, but if you are simply looking for your maintenance facial a salon suite is an excellent choice. I think the key with skincare is to find someone you trust and feel comfortable with. I have been with the same esthetician for 8 years and we started in a spa and now I visit her in a suite.
In this case, I much prefer the suite setting due to the fact that she can order any product or line that she thinks will benefit my skin.
I can also follow up directly with her if I have a question or problem, I never get short changed on time because she knows my skin and can allot extra when she knows she going to need it rather than someone knocking on the door when your time is up, regardless of whether or not the service has been properly performed. I have noticed that a lot of the spas and salons put restrictions on their practitioners that doesn’t allow them to do their job to their standard because of the pressure to fit everything into an hour and the amount of allotted product and product lines that can be used.
When it comes to estheticians, they really do a lot of the work, and I feel more comfortable in a salon suite setting because it allows the practitioner to be compensated properly. This allows them to do what they think is in the client’s best interest and can really provide the full extent of the benefits of their services.
The last services I see popping up with salon suites is lashes and brows. As far as brows go, I think if you find someone fabulous who does brows you go where they are. I’m fortunate that my local Nordstrom has an Anastasia Brow bar, if you have this same geographically desirable location near you, I can’t suggest them more. All of their brow artists are trained the same way and you get consistent results every time. I find it reassuring also that they are backed by such a big well-known name such as Nordstrom and when they are associated it’s always an easy decision for me. However, if this isn’t an option, salon suites are amazing for brows because you have someone who specializes in them.
Do not let some random person at the hair or nail salon do your brows out of convenience, it’s not worth it!!
Lash Extensions and Lifts are another great service for salon suites as it allows you to find an artist where lashes are their specialty, and they can spend as much time as necessary perfectly placing your lashes without someone breathing down their neck to get the next client in.
Salon vs. Suite is as much a personal decision as anything else in your beauty journey.
All the services discussed are truly about you, your self-care, your happiness, your relaxation style, and your personality. How great is it that we have so many possibilities for where we fulfill our beauty needs? I only wonder what the future holds, especially after 2020 where our beauty routines basically blew up.
Whatever we see in the future will be amazing as long as there are beauty professionals chasing their dreams making us all feel beautiful!
Now I’m curious… What do you prefer? A salon? A suite? A spa? A doctor’s office? Home/self-treatments?
Let me know!
Peace, Love, and Enjoying all the Beauty Service.
XX,
Jenna
