Turn Hair Salon Reviews Into More Bookings From Your Website
The easiest way to get more reviews is to stop treating them like a marketing task you’ll do when things quieten down. They need to sit alongside the everyday rhythm of the salon, the same way you handle deposits, patch tests, consultation forms, and rebooking.
If you build a simple routine, reviews come in steadily without you having to chase, nag, or remember who you asked last.
Pick the right moment to ask
Asking for a review at the wrong time feels awkward. Asking at the right time feels normal.
The best moments are:
- Right after the reveal when the client first sees the result
- At the desk while they’re paying and still feeling pleased with their hair
- When they rebook because it’s a clear sign they’re happy
If you wait until the end of the week, you’ll forget who to ask and clients will have moved on. Keep it tied to the appointment.
A simple line works:
“Would you mind leaving us a quick review about today? It really helps new clients choose us.”
Short, polite, no pressure.
Make it easy in one tap
Clients are usually willing. They just do not want friction.
If the process is “search us on Google, find the right profile, click reviews, then write something”, you lose people.
Instead, use a direct review link on your website (e.g. Write a Review page linked from the footer) and share it by text or email so they land straight on the review screen. A QR code at the desk can help too, but a message link tends to convert better because they can do it when they get a minute.
Tell them what to mention, without scripting it
Most clients do not know what a helpful review looks like. That’s why you get lots of “Love it” comments that don’t say much.
Give them a gentle nudge so the review includes detail that future clients care about. For example:
“If you can mention what you had done today and what you liked about it, that’s perfect.”
If it suits your salon, you can be slightly more specific:
- The service, like highlights, a restyle, or a fade
- How you handled their hair type or previous colour
- How it looked and felt when they left
- The stylist name, if they’re happy to include it
You’re not telling them what to say. You’re helping them write something useful.
Set a small weekly target
Big targets sound motivating, but they also get ignored when you’re busy.
A better approach is a simple weekly goal you can stick to, such as:
- Two reviews a week per stylist, or
- Five reviews a week for the salon
This keeps momentum going. It also means your online profile stays fresh, which matters for local visibility and for trust.
Decide who owns the process
In many salons, reviews fail for one reason: everyone assumes someone else is doing it.
Make it clear.
- If you’re a salon owner, assign one person to keep an eye on it weekly.
- If you rent chairs, make it part of your personal routine after each client who’s clearly happy.
It does not need to be strict. It just needs an owner.
Follow up once and then leave it
Some clients mean to leave a review and genuinely forget. One friendly reminder is often all it takes.
Send a single follow-up message 24 to 48 hours later. Something like:
“Quick reminder in case you didn’t get a chance yesterday. If you can leave a review, it really helps. Here’s the link.”
After that, drop it. Chasing repeatedly can irritate good clients and it’s not worth it.
Use a system so you are not relying on memory
This is where most salons slip. When it’s all manual, it depends on someone remembering to send links, copying and pasting messages, keeping track of who has already been asked, and then doing something with the reviews once they come in.
A service like Managing Reviews helps by making the process easy and consistent:
- You add your client list or new appointments
- Review requests go out at the right time by email or text
- Follow-ups can be sent automatically to non-responders
- Reviews can be displayed on your website so the trust you’ve earned on Google, Facebook or Treatwell also helps convert your own site visitors
That last part matters more than most people think. Lots of salons have strong reviews on platforms, but their website still feels quiet. Showing reviews on your own site turns it into a proper booking tool, not just a digital business card.
Build it into your team culture
Reviews work best when they’re normal in the salon.
A few easy habits make a difference:
- Mention reviews in your weekly team chat, even for 30 seconds
- Celebrate great reviews and name the stylist if the client did
- Share one review a week on social media
- Keep the QR code, desk sign, or mirror sticker visible but tidy
When the team sees reviews bringing in new clients, they’re far more likely to ask without being reminded.
Keep it simple and keep it going
You do not need complicated campaigns. You need consistency.
Ask at the right moment, send a one-tap link, follow up once, and use a system that makes it easy to repeat. Do that for a few months and you’ll notice the difference: more enquiries that already trust you, fewer price shoppers, and a website that converts better because real client feedback is doing the convincing.
If you want, I can also write two short templates you can use for your review requests, one for colour clients and one for cuts and styling.
