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Beauty Salon Reputation: The Complete Guide to Getting More Reviews

Reputation guide for hair salons, beauty salons, spas, barbershops. How to get Google reviews, retain clients, grow your business.

ReplyStack Team
|
January 15, 2026
18 min read
Also available in:
Beauty salon online reputation management

Beauty Salon Reputation: The Complete Guide to Getting More Reviews

Hair salon, beauty salon, spa, barbershop, nail salon, waxing center... In an industry where appearance and trust are everything, your online reputation can transform your business. This guide gives you the keys to master your client reviews.


Why Online Reputation Is Crucial in the Beauty Industry

Beauty client behavior

The beauty industry is particularly sensitive to reviews:

Behavior% of Clients
Search for a salon on Google82%
Look at before/after photos76%
Read reviews before booking89%
Choose salons rated > 4.3 stars71%

Impact on your revenue

Google RatingImpact
< 4.0 stars-35% new clients
4.0 - 4.3Baseline
4.3 - 4.6+25% new clients
> 4.6+40% + higher average ticket

Beauty industry specifics

Beauty has unique characteristics:

  • Visible results: clients can show (or not) the outcome
  • Intimate trust: touch, physical proximity
  • Subjectivity: "beautiful" is relative to each person
  • Recurring visits: clients come back regularly (or don't)
  • Strong word-of-mouth: "Who did your color?"

Optimize Your Google Presence

Getting more reviews for beauty salons
Getting more reviews for beauty salons

Google Business Profile: your digital storefront

For a beauty salon, Google is often the first contact with a new client.

Optimization checklist:

ElementActionImpact
NameExact (no added keywords)⭐⭐⭐
Primary categoryPrecise (Hair salon, Beauty salon...)⭐⭐⭐
Secondary categoriesBarber, Nail salon, Waxing if applicable⭐⭐
HoursAccurate, including late nights if open⭐⭐⭐
ServicesDetailed list with indicative prices⭐⭐⭐
AttributesOnline booking, Card payment, Accessibility⭐⭐
PhotosPortfolio, salon, team, ambiance⭐⭐⭐

The crucial importance of photos

In beauty, photos are worth 1000 words:

Photo TypeWhyTip
Before/AfterProof of skillAsk permission
Work samplesVisual portfolioVary styles
SalonAmbiance, cleanlinessGood lighting
TeamHumanizes, creates connectionSmiling, professional
ProductsBrand qualityIf premium brands

Tip: Post new photos regularly (1-2/week). Google favors active listings.


Getting Reviews: Effective Methods

Responding to beauty salon customer reviews
Responding to beauty salon customer reviews

The ideal moment

In beauty, timing is perfect: the client sees the result immediately.

MomentEffectivenessWhy
Right after service⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Client satisfied, "wow" effect
Same evening (SMS)⭐⭐⭐⭐Still in the emotion
Next day⭐⭐⭐Good for color (final result)
1 week later⭐⭐Forgotten, less emotion

The natural ask

Script for your team:

[At the end of the service, mirror in hand]
"So, what do you think?"
[Positive client reaction]
"Great! That makes me so happy. If you have
30 seconds, a quick Google review would really
help us out. Here's the QR code, it's super
quick!"

Visual materials

Mirror with QR code:

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│                                     │
│    Love your new look?              │
│                                     │
│    Share your experience!           │
│                                     │
│    [QR CODE]                        │
│                                     │
│    Scan to leave a review           │
│                                     │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

Business card with QR:

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│  [Logo] Elegance Salon              │
│                                     │
│  Thanks for visiting!               │
│                                     │
│  Your review means the world:       │
│  [QR CODE]                          │
│                                     │
│  📞 (555) 123-4567                  │
│  📍 123 Beauty Street, NYC          │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

Post-service SMS

SMS template (send same day, 6-8 PM):

Hi [Name]! 💇‍♀️ Thanks for visiting [Salon]
today. Still loving your new look? A Google
review would mean so much to us: [short link]
See you soon! - The [Salon] Team

Responding to Reviews: Beauty Professional's Guide

Why responding is essential

In beauty, future clients scrutinize:

  • How you handle unhappy clients
  • Your tone and personality
  • Your professionalism

Templates by situation

Positive review — Hair

Thank you so much [Name]! 💕 So glad you love your new color. It was a pleasure styling you. See you soon for your next appointment!

  • Marie, Elegance Salon

Positive review — Technical detail

Thanks [Name]! Balayage on dark hair takes time and precision, but the result is worth it! So happy you're satisfied. 😊

  • Marie, Elegance Salon

Positive review — Team mention

Thanks for the feedback [Name]! I'll pass this along to [Stylist name], she'll be so touched! Can't wait to see you again. 💇‍♀️

  • The Elegance Salon Team

Mixed review — Wait time

Thanks for your feedback [Name]. I'm sorry about the wait — we try to make sure every client leaves happy, which can sometimes delay appointments. I've noted your comment to improve our scheduling. Hope to see you again soon!

  • Marie, Owner

Negative review — Unsatisfied with result

[Name], I'm truly sorry the result didn't meet your expectations. That's never our goal. Please call me at [number] so we can find a solution together. Your satisfaction is my priority.

  • Marie, Owner

Negative review — Unfair accusation

Hi [Name], I'm surprised by this feedback as I don't recall this situation. Could you call me at [number] so we can discuss? I take every review seriously.

  • Marie, Owner

Fake review / never visited

Hello, unfortunately I don't have any record of your visit to our salon. Could you contact me with the date of your appointment so we can clarify?

  • Marie, Owner

Tone and style in beauty

✅ Do❌ Avoid
Warm, personal toneCold, corporate
Emojis sparingly (💇‍♀️💕)Too many emojis
Client's first name"Dear customer"
Personal signatureAnonymous signature

Handling Delicate Situations

The client unhappy with results

This is THE most delicate situation in beauty: the client doesn't like the result.

Strategy:

  1. Never minimize ("It looks great though")
  2. Express genuine empathy
  3. Offer a solution (free touch-up)
  4. Take it private if possible

Template response:

[Name], I'm truly sorry you're not happy with the result. That's not what we want for our clients. I'd like to offer a complimentary touch-up. Please call me at [number] to find a time that works for you.

  • Marie

The review with an unflattering photo

Sometimes clients post unflattering photos (bad lighting, angle...).

Strategy:

  1. Don't contest the photo
  2. Offer a solution
  3. Future clients will see your responsiveness

The regular client who's unhappy

More painful: a loyal client expressing disappointment publicly.

Strategy:

  1. Respond with sincere emotion
  2. Acknowledge the relationship
  3. Offer a personal conversation

[Name], this really touches me after all these years. I don't want us to part on a bad experience. Please call me directly at [number] so we can talk.

  • Marie

Automate Review Management

The time problem

Between clients, orders, management... Who has time to respond to reviews?

The ReplyStack solution

New review received
        ↓
Notification on your phone
        ↓
AI response generated (beauty tone, warm)
        ↓
Quick personalization if needed
        ↓
Publish

Total time: 30 seconds vs 5 minutes

Your beauty Response Profile

Configure the AI with:

  • Salon name and vibe
  • Tone: warm, personal, feminine/mixed
  • Signature: owner's name or "The [Salon] Team"
  • Emojis: yes, sparingly

Metrics to Track

KPIs for a beauty salon

MetricTargetFrequency
Google rating> 4.5Weekly
Reviews/month+4 to +8Monthly
Response rate100%Ongoing
Photos posted/month4-8Monthly
Response time< 24hOngoing

The beauty virtuous cycle

Great service → Happy client → Positive review
        ↓                              ↓
Before/after photos ← New clients ← Google visibility

Beauty Salon Action Plan

Week 1: Audit and setup

  • Optimize your Google Business listing
  • Add 10+ quality photos (work samples, salon)
  • Respond to all pending reviews
  • Create your Google Reviews QR code

Week 2: Equipment

  • Install QR code at mirror/checkout
  • Print business cards with QR
  • Train team on asking for reviews
  • Set up ReplyStack

Month 2+: Routine

  • Ask every satisfied client for a review
  • Post 1-2 photos/week
  • Respond to reviews within 24h
  • Analyze feedback for improvements

Conclusion

In the beauty industry, online reputation is your greatest asset:

  • Clients actively search for highly-rated salons
  • Work photos attract new clients
  • Warm responses reassure and build loyalty

Salons that master their online reputation:

  • Attract more new clients (+40%)
  • Build better loyalty with existing clients
  • Can raise prices without losing clientele

Save Time with ReplyStack

You're a hairstylist, esthetician, not a community manager. ReplyStack lets you:

  • ✅ Respond to all your reviews in 1 click
  • ✅ Keep a warm and personal tone
  • ✅ Never leave a review unanswered
  • ✅ Focus on your art

Beauty salons using ReplyStack save an average of 2 hours per month on review management.


Ready to master your beauty salon reputation? Try ReplyStack for free and start managing your reviews like a pro.

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ReplyStack Team

Online Reputation Expert

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