KEY TAKEAWAYS: If you’re looking for holiday salon specials ideas that actually drive bookings, boost retail sales, and keep clients coming back well into the new year, this updated 2025–2026 guide has you covered. From festive blowout bundles to gift-card incentives, photo-worthy in-salon experiences, charity partnerships, and promo strategies that work both in person and online, these 12 seasonal specials are designed to make the holidays your most profitable (and most joyful, of course) time of year.
UPDATED: November 23, 2025
If you’re anything like the team at Elite Beauty Society, then you’re absolutely thrilled that the holiday season is upon us.
Seriously, what’s better than a warm cup of cocoa while decorating for the holidays, some glam holiday looks for the long list of holiday parties you’ll be attending, and cozy sweaters to keep us warm by a crackling fire?
Just one thing – holiday promotions.
That’s right! As much as we love the holiday season simply because of its nature, we also love that it gives salons, studios, and spas the opportunity to do some seriously cutesy deals. If you’re wanting to hop on board the holiday promo train, but aren’t quite sure where to start, that’s okay!
We’ve laid out our own 12 Days of Deals to give you a little inspo to kick off your holiday hoopla.
Check them out, implement them in your own salon, or use them as the springboard for your own holiday deal ideas!
What’s Trending for Holiday Marketing in 2025
Holiday promotions are evolving fast (just like the beauty biz always is), and the salons that stay ahead of how clients shop, book, and connect are the ones who maximize their revenue during the busiest time of year. Before we jump into 12 of our fave ideas for salon specials, let's talk marketing for a hot sec.
Here are the biggest 2025 holiday marketing shifts beauty pros should keep on their radar:
Digital + Hybrid Promos Are Taking Over
Physical coupons and in-salon promotions are still great — but pairing them with a mobile-friendly version is what drives serious results. Think: A holiday postcard with a QR code that unlocks an exclusive SMS coupon or a “Digital Holiday Ornament” email where clients click to reveal a discount.
Social-First Strategy for More Bookings
Clients are scrolling during the holidays — and they’re looking for inspiration. Reels, stories, TikTok, influencer tags, and client transformations move fast and convert fast. Here's a tip from us to you – set up branded hashtags and encourage clients to tag you after their service or holiday glow-up.
Extended Season Mindset
Don’t stop on December 24th. The slow season is gone – because clients now love “New Year, New Look,” “Self-Care January,” and “Love-Yourself February” promotions. Extend gift card redemptions and specials into January for smooth revenue instead of a post-holiday crash.
Client Experience is the Same as Loyalty Currency
Clients want more than a service — they want a moment. Little luxuries always pay off big, like:
- Complimentary gift-wrapping
- Festive photo booth or selfie station
- Mini treat (hot cocoa, cookies, or aromatherapy towel)
These upgrades make your salon the place clients talk about and return to.
Fundraising & Community Partnerships Matter
Charitable partnerships hit differently during the holidays. Donate a portion of sales, host a toy drive, or partner with a local charity — clients love supporting businesses that support others. It builds emotional connection and boosts traffic.
12 Holiday Salon Special Ideas to Try This Season
Deal 1: Christmas Ornament Surprise
If you’re planning to have a tree inside your salon, studio, or spa– and why wouldn’t you want to? – consider making it a fun part of your holiday promotions by implementing a fun Ornament Surprise game.
Hide special deals, secret coupon codes, and even just fun messages inside the ornaments you put on your tree.
Then, for every service a client has done with you, you can offer them a pick off the Christmas tree! Inside they’ll find the deals, coupons, and promos you’ve hidden!
Make sure your clients know that this is a game, so they’re not guaranteed a free haircut, facial, or massage (if that’s part of the give-a-way you’re offering) but do make sure they end up with at least a little something, even if it’s just a delicious Christmas candy cane!
Deal 2: Christmas Postcards with a Coupon
This is a super fun one, but it does require a little pre-planning to pull it off. Before the holiday season rolls around, design and send out a fun holiday-themed Christmas postcard! On this card, include a little coupon code for your clients to bring for a little discount on their service.
Even if it’s just a 5 percent off coupon, they’ll certainly appreciate the time and effort you put in for this Christmas promotion. Make sure you specify on the card that the client must bring it in to receive their discount code and that it only applies for one service!
If you can, extend this service into January and February, this is a great way to get more bookings in those quieter months.
Deal 3: Offer a Service + a Picture with Santa
Who doesn’t love a picture with Santa during the holiday season!
Instead of making your clients schlep over to the mall to wait in a crowded line, offer a free, totally insta-worthy picture with Santa when they book an appointment with you! Check them out, implement them in your own salon, or use them as the springboard for your own holiday deal ideas!
Make sure you’re letting your clients know about this special by promoting it on your Instagram, your other marketing outlets, and in your shop. If you can, try to offer this over the course of a few different days so you’re not totally swamped on just one day.
Want to take it a step further? Tell your clients that if the tag your business and use your specific hashtag when they post your Santa photo, they can win a free Christmas treat at their next visit.
Deal 4: Social Media Christmas Contest
Speaking of hashtags and tagging, the holidays are the perfect time to implement a fun online contest or giveaway.
This works great because it’s easy to theme something for the holidays, people always want to participate, and no matter what, you’re getting some extra visibility. Try coming up with a holiday contest, such as having your clients create the perfect holiday hair, or the best holiday makeup, etc., then tag you and use your hashtag. You can put the results up to a vote or pick yourself!
Want something a little simpler? Use your social media platforms to have people like and share a holiday-themed photo. Then, select a winner for a holiday deal at your salon! This is easy, fun, and people will certainly engage!
Deal 5: Two for One Christmas Deals
If you can swing it, try to offer a limited amount of 2-for-1 deals where clients can bring in a friend to get the same service, you’re providing them.
For example, if you offer brow services, try offering 2-for-1 waxes, or something similar.
It’s best to do this for smaller, less time-consuming services so that you’re not wasting your efforts, time, or resources to get this accomplished (offering a 2-for-1 hair color service could be a poor financial decision on your part!)
Deal 6: Offer a Buy-One-Get-One-Free Service or Product
This is always a great idea around the holidays because you can market it as a “buy one for you, buy one as a gift.” People absolutely love this and tend to eat this stuff up.
Try marketing products this way, especially products that you want to clear from your inventory or smaller services that won’t take too much time or effort to “give away.”
Deal 7: Toy Drive Partnership
This is a great promotional idea because it helps bring in clients to your shop, but also helps kids in need! Partner with a toy drive organization and let your clients know that you’ll have a station set up in your salon.
For every toy donated, offer a Christmas treat!
If you want to really step up your game, offer a special service to folks who bring in a certain number of toys!
Deal 8: Specials on Your Holiday Gift Cards
This is a great time to run a super fun special on your gift cards! They’re easy to market as wonderful gifts and they can really help amp up your booking appointments in some of your quitter months following the busy holidays!
Deal 9: Offer Christmas-Themed Looks for Parties and Events
If you can offer a discount for folks who are coming in groups before their holiday events, Christmas parties, office parties, wedding, or more, this is a great holiday incentive to get more people into your salon! Try to make sure clients know about this special early, though – the last thing you want is a group of 10 people trying to book with you last minute!
Deal 10: Buying a Present at the Salon or Spa? Offer Free Gift Wrapping!
If your clients are planning to buy a gift card, a service, or a product from your establishment, offer them free gift-wrapping services. This is a fun, little promotion that won’t cost you much, but it’s an extra that people love! Who doesn’t love not having to wrap a gift, right?
Deal 11: Holiday Themed Online Giveaway
Utilizing your social skills during this time of year can be hugely beneficial for your salon, shop, studio, or salon! Offer fun, holiday-themed giveaways via your online platforms.
Whether it’s a product, a service, or a simple Christmas gift from the shop, make sure it’s fun, festive, and super holiday-centric!
Deal 12: Include Sweet Holiday Treats with Service
Are you telling us that you wouldn’t want a free, festive holiday cocoa with your haircut, massage, or nail service? Because we don’t believe you.
If it fits your budget, consider offering a free holiday-themed beverage or treat with every service you offer. Want to get a little crazy? Try some holiday-themed spirits, desserts, or tiny appetizers!
Whatever you do, ensure that it’s extra tasty and that your client base is taking you up on it! If you plan to offer this service, make sure you’re actively promoting it on your salon or spa’s social sites, in your marketing emails, and even inside the shop so people are aware!
"Yep, the holidays are profitable – but they can be a lot for beauty pros. Here's your reminder: taking care of yourself is part of taking care of your business."
Caring for Yourself & Boosting Your Biz for the Holiday Rush
Yep, the holidays are profitable. But they can also be a lot for beauty pros. Fully booked days, demanding schedules, emotional labor, long hours on your feet – it’s easy to burn out without even noticing.
Here’s your reminder: taking care of yourself is part of taking care of your business.
Protect Your Energy
Schedule intentional downtime, stick to boundaries, and create recovery pockets during your busiest weeks. If you don’t protect your energy, no amount of caffeine or client tips will fix the crash later.
Staying grounded during the holiday rush is a must, and we've got lots of tips on how to do that.
Redesign Your Service Menu for Your Capacity
If December is your Super Bowl, simplify your menu and focus on high-ticket, high-impact services. Save the lengthy or highly customized services for January — when clients still want the “New Year, New Look” refresh. We've got a go-to survival guide ready for you right here, btw!
Put Your Self-Care in the Calendar
You don’t have to “earn” rest. Add self-care as a non-negotiable block on your schedule — massage, workout, day off, therapy, journaling, whatever refills you. Need a lil self-care inspo? We've got you covered right here!
Meet Hanna Marcus, the Founder and Head Copy Gal behind Boundless Copy, a one-of-a-kind copywriting agency that specializes in big, bold brand voice and industry-disrupting copy that’s all about resonating with the right audience.
Hanna has proudly teamed up with Elite Beauty Society for several years as their go-to copywriter on all things beauty, small biz marketing, and brand voice development. She’s big on feeling-first writing–her personal soapbox is that the best copy starts with telling a story.
When she’s not writing cheeky, converting copy for clients, she’s mentoring other aspiring copywriters and creating digital copywriting resources designed for service pros and focused on taking the stress out of DIY copywriting.
