Customer reviews for a hair salon or beauty studio
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In a salon, the moment to seize is the payment, just after the client has seen themselves in the mirror and approved the result. A plate at the till lets them leave a review by tapping their phone. The trade has a useful quirk: clientele is loyal and returns every four to six weeks, which gives several opportunities per client per year.
Customer reviews for a hair salon or beauty studio
The trade has a quirk few others share: the client returns regularly, every four to six weeks for a cut, and leaves with a visible result they are often proud of. It is ideal ground for collecting reviews, and it remains largely untapped.
The mirror moment
In every appointment there is one precise instant where satisfaction peaks: when the client sees themselves in the mirror and approves the result. A few minutes later, they pay. That is exactly where the review should be offered.
Placing the plate at the payment station puts the invitation at that moment without you having to think about it. The basin or styling chair work poorly: the client's hands are busy, their hair is wet, and the result is not there yet.
Google and Instagram do different jobs
This is the most frequent question in the trade, and both answers are right for different reasons.
Google captures the stranger. Someone who has just moved looks for a salon near their new home, compares three listings and picks on the rating and the number of reviews. Without recent reviews, you are not in the comparison.
Instagram maintains the relationship. In a trade where the result is visual, your feed is a portfolio. Turning a satisfied client into a follower gives you a direct channel for last-minute availability and new treatments.
The choice need not be permanent: a plate's destination can be changed at any time from the mobile app.
One installation detail
Many payment stations are metal or carry a metal plate. Metal blocks the NFC signal. In that case, add an insulating support thick enough between the plate and the surface, or rely on the QR code, which works regardless.
What you can say, and what you cannot
You may invite every client to leave a review. You may not offer a discount on their next appointment in exchange, nor reserve the invitation for clients who look happy. Both are prohibited and detected by the platforms. The detail is in our guide on the legality of asking for reviews.
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
Should I aim for Google reviews or Instagram followers?
Both serve a purpose, but at different points of the journey. Google captures the client searching for a salon in their area who does not know you yet. Instagram maintains the relationship with those who already do, and your work in photos is a strong argument there. Many salons take one plate per destination, with the volume discount applying from the second.
Where should the plate go in a salon?
At the payment station first, because that is where payment and the closing conversation happen. The basin or styling chair work less well: the client's hands are busy and they have not yet seen the finished result. The waiting area is a useful complement for clients sitting down.
How do I mention it without being pushy?
A simple sentence as you hand the card back is enough, along the lines of: if you are happy with the result, you can leave a review by holding your phone near the plate. The plate does the rest, and the client keeps complete freedom. You have nothing to promise or offer in exchange, which would in any case be prohibited.
Can I ask every customer for a review?
Yes, and it is the only lawful way to go about it. What is prohibited is asking only the customers you assume are satisfied, making the review conditional on a discount or a gift, or screening feedback before publication. A plate offers the same thing to everyone, with no sorting.
Can loyal clients leave several reviews?
Platforms generally accept one review per person per business, though a client can edit theirs. In practice your pool is not repetition but new clients and regulars who have never left a review, often the large majority.
Is the plate deductible and the VAT recoverable?
The plate is a business purchase, so a deductible expense under the usual conditions. If you supply a valid intra-community VAT number, the sale is exempt and no VAT is charged to you; otherwise the VAT of the delivery country applies. Check your situation with your accountant. Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which is calculated at checkout based on your delivery country: 20% in France, 21% in Belgium, 17% in Luxembourg.
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