How to Hire Hair Stylists: A Practical Guide for Salon Owners

If you run a salon, you know that finding and keeping talented stylists is the lifeblood of your business. But let’s be honest—hiring isn’t always a walk in the park. Between no-shows, high turnover, and the endless paperwork, it can feel like you’re spinning your wheels. So, how do you hire hair stylists who’ll stick around, delight your clients, and help your business grow? Let’s break it down, with a few real-world tangents along the way.

Getting Started: What Makes a Great Salon Stylist?

Before you start posting job ads, take a moment to map out what you really need. Are you after a color specialist, a barber, or someone who can do it all? Remember, the right employee handbook isn’t just for restaurants—clear expectations matter in salons, too.

• Technical skills: Cutting, coloring, styling, and maybe even extensions.
• Soft skills: Communication, patience, and an eye for trends—because, let’s face it, nobody wants a stylist who can’t chat up a client.
• Culture fit: Does their vibe match your salon? This is huge for retention and team harmony. Check out these cultural fit interview questions for inspiration.

Honestly, the best stylists are a blend of artist and therapist, right? They listen, they create, and they make people feel great. If you ask me, that’s a tall order—but it’s worth getting right.

Where to Find Salon Workers: Casting a Wider Net

Online Platforms and Social Media

These days, your next star stylist might be scrolling Instagram between clients. Posting jobs on platforms like Indeed or even Instagram can help you reach a younger, trend-savvy crowd. For a more traditional approach, don’t overlook Craigslist—it still works for local hiring.

Industry Schools and Referrals

Partnering with beauty schools is a classic move. Many schools are eager to place their grads, and you can even offer internships or shadowing opportunities. Referrals from your current team can also be gold—stylists know other stylists, and a personal recommendation goes a long way. If you want to get creative, check out these recruitment ad ideas to stand out.

Recruitment Events and Local Networking

Sometimes, old-school works best. Attend local beauty shows, host open houses, or even sponsor community events. You never know who you’ll meet at a charity cut-a-thon or a holiday pop-up. And if you’re curious about how other businesses keep their teams happy, this survey on employee happiness is worth a look—even if it’s restaurant-focused, the lessons translate.

Hair Stylist Recruitment: Screening, Interviewing, and Onboarding

Crafting the Perfect Job Posting

Your job ad is your first impression. Highlight perks, flexibility, and growth opportunities. For tips on writing compelling postings, this guide to job posting examples is packed with ideas. And don’t forget to call out benefits—this report on the impact of benefits shows just how much they matter for recruitment and retention.

Screening and Interviewing

Once the applications roll in, it’s time to separate the stars from the rest. Automated screening tools, like those in Workstream’s hiring automation suite, can save you hours—and reduce bias. When it comes to interviews, mix technical demos (can they really do a perfect fade?) with questions about teamwork and client care. For a deeper dive, try these creative job posting tips and motivational interviewing techniques.

Onboarding: Setting Stylists Up for Success

Onboarding shouldn’t feel like a trip to the DMV. Fast, digital onboarding—like what Workstream offers—means your new hires can start snipping in record time. For more on streamlining this process, check out these onboarding templates. And if you’re curious about how the big chains do it, this look at McDonald’s onboarding is surprisingly relevant.

Retention: Keeping Your Beauty Staff Happy and Engaged

Why Stylists Leave—and How to Keep Them

Turnover in the beauty industry is notoriously high—sometimes it feels like stylists are always chasing the next chair. The restaurant industry’s struggle with turnover offers some lessons: invest in training, recognize good work, and offer real growth paths. For more on the cost of turnover, this analysis of employee turnover costs might make you rethink your retention strategy.

• Offer competitive pay and benefits. Check out what other companies pay hourly workers to stay competitive.
• Foster a positive culture. This study on job satisfaction shows a direct link between culture and retention.
• Provide flexibility and growth. Stylists value work-life balance—see the impact of flexibility on engagement.

And don’t forget: a little appreciation goes a long way. Celebrating milestones, like a 10-year work anniversary, can boost morale and loyalty.

Compliance and Payroll: Don’t Let the Details Trip You Up

Running a salon means juggling wage laws, scheduling, and benefits. Staying compliant isn’t just about avoiding fines—it’s about building trust. The Department of Labor’s recordkeeping guidelines are a must-read. And if you ever wonder about payroll costs, this guideline for payroll costs is a helpful benchmark.

Modern platforms like Workstream make it easier to manage payroll, schedules, and compliance in one place—saving you time and, frankly, a few headaches.

Conclusion: Building a Winning Salon Team

Hiring the right hair stylists is part art, part science, and a little bit of luck. But with a thoughtful approach—clear job descriptions, smart recruiting, fast onboarding, and a focus on culture—you can build a team that keeps clients coming back. If you’re ready to make hiring (and everything after) a whole lot easier, reach out to Workstream and see how their platform can help you hire hair stylists and manage your salon staff with less stress and more success.

Related Resources from Workstream

• Hire a Hair Stylist
• Restaurant hiring: What you need to know
• 4 Tips for Calling Out Benefits in Job Descriptions
• 5 Traits of Committed Employees
• 8 Creative Tips to Make Your Job Posting Stand Out