Did a balayage on a walk-in last Tuesday and now I'm wondering if I should charge for consults
Last Tuesday a woman walked into the salon on 5th in Portland with a box dye disaster, and I spent 25 minutes just figuring out what was on her hair before I even touched it. I didn't charge her for that time, and she ended up booking the $180 correction, but I lost two other walk-ins while I was standing there talking. My coworker says consults should always be free because it builds trust, but I feel like I'm working for nothing on the front end. Do you all charge a consult fee and put it toward the service, or just eat the time?
Been there and it STINKS. Had a girl come in with black box dye over a level 4 and I spent half an hour testing strands before I even mixed a bowl. Meanwhile a regular walked in for a trim and left because I was busy playing detective. My salon finally started doing a $25 consult that goes toward the color if they book, and guess what, nobody complained. The free consult crowd acts like our time is free, but rent on 5th is not. Build trust all you want, just don't do it on your own dime.