If your salon isn’t equipped for plus-sized women, you may be losing out on valuable clientele. As nail techs and salon owners, it’s essential to your business that everyone feels welcome, relaxed, and pampered. In order to ensure clients of all shapes and sizes are comfortable, be aware of the following requirements.
Use a Couch in the Waiting Area
Couches are unrestrictive and comfortable for both petite and plus-sized clients, as long as they don’t sit too low to the ground, which could make getting up difficult.
Provide a Foot Rest
Make sure you’re able to support your client’s leg if she is unable to do so herself. A foot stool can usually do the trick. Additionally, don’t force your client to roll up her pants if she wishes to cover her legs. Work around her pant leg, and if you can’t offer a massage, that’s OK.
Supply large sizes if you carry robes
If your salon offers services such as waxing or massage, make sure to have robes that will accommodate larger sizes.
Install a handle bar on the wall
While getting in and out of a pedicure chair, a handle can help plus-sized clients, as well as clients who are pregnant, disabled, or elderly. Make sure they are professionally installed and sturdy. Although well-intentioned, offering a helping hand is not as secure as a grab bar.
Remember the Golden Rule
Plus-sized clients should be treated no differently than any other client and common courtesy should prevail at all times. Don’t make any negative remarks about their appearance, don’t force diet advice on them, and don’t ask them if they are pregnant. Instead opt for a compliment — whether it’s, “I love your jewelry” or “You’re glowing today!” The job of a nail tech is to make clients feel both relaxed and beautiful no matter their size.
Spruce Up a Banquet Chair
Banquet chairs are an affordable, flexible seating option because of their portability, sturdy steel frame, and lack of armrests. Spruce up an otherwise boring piece of furniture with some fun fabric, a bow, and/or a cushion.
Use a portable pedicure bowl if necessary
You may want to have at least one portable pedicure bowl and a sturdy, wide-set chair without armrests for clients who aren’t mobile enough to climb onto a luxury pedicure chair. An ottoman is always a comfortable addition.
Set Up the Luxury Pedicure Chair
A luxury pedicure chair is a great investment, and a heavy client doesn’t want to break it any more than you want her to. Push the seat base as far back as it goes, and opt for armrests that can flip up and down if you can.
Make Sure She Has Enough Space
Leave enough space in between manicure tables if the client’s back and another nail tech’s back face each other. If the manicure chairs have closely set arms or shallow seats, keep another more accommodating chair to offer her if she looks uncomfortable.
Bottom line: In addition to being kind no matter clients’ lifestyle preferences, you need to have alternative options for larger clients if your current furniture isn’t accommodating. You will expand your clientele by making sure all customers are happy and comfortable.
For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.
Ulta Beauty's Anna Manukyan breaks down financial terms and explains their relevance. These short nuggets of education are digestible, understandable and relatable, because she has made it her mission to "give you the power to protect your income, life, health, and wealth." Here's the latest in the series.
When it comes to the interior design of your nail salon, choosing equipment that is high-quality and cohesive with your aesthetic is key. The look and décor of your space is the first impression clients will have of your business, so it is important to ensure your nail salon’s style is as polished and refined as the nail services you provide.
Advice for the independent beauty professional on what you can reasonably deduct and what you generally cannot. As always, seek the advice of your own tax preparation professional for your personal tax needs.
Even when you’re flush, I hope you still watch your pennies. Money isn’t everything; however, not having cash on hand forces you to make choices you don’t want. Here are the critical items to living with inflation for salon professionals.
You wouldn't start a hair service without a consultation, right? Well, asking the right questions of a financial planner will help you get on the same page with them so you can get your money working for you!
To help beauty professionals become more informed about money management so they make better financial decisions, Ulta Beauty Senior Director, Education and Creative, Anna Manukyan talks us through important concepts around money in our Finance Friday video series.
Another beauty or grooming business, a coffee shop, a fashion boutique--are you dreaming of expanding your entrepreneurship beyond the salon? Find out what signs you can look for to show that you're ready for your next business venture.
Heath Smith, co-founder of Ruiz Salons in Austin, Texas, has experienced his fair share of salon change since going into business with Allen Ruiz in 1988. In the process, he's discovered a solid system for managing it.
Every week, Anna Manukyan is sharing the wealth--of her own knowledge.
As a licensed professional, industry expert and financial counselor and coach, she speaks our language, making understanding financial terms easy and accessible. This week, she tells us what we need to protect ourselves, our assets, and our investments.
Gratuities cause hassles for owners. You have to pay taxes and credit card processing fees on tips and you have to distribute them to the team. Strategies' Neil Ducoff shows you what a no-tipping salon looks like, and what you need to do to get there.
To help beauty professionals become more informed about money management so they make better financial decisions, Ulta Beauty Senior Director, Education and Creative, Anna Manukyan is sharing the wealth--of her own knowledge.
media brand