In the beauty industry, there are endless niches and avenues to explore. You can be a nail tech, the best colorist in the game, an editorial makeup artist, or an esthetician–and that’s just scratching the surface. 

But we’ve got a question for you. In a world where you can run a business that offers any of these services, why stop at just one? 

If you’re one of those beauty pros who have a passion for all kinds of specialties in this industry, why limit yourself to a single offering? 

Enter the full-service salon–your go-to opportunity for reaching more audiences, offering more services, and scratching more creative itches. A full-service salon is a must for those beauty pros who are ambitious, want to offer something to a wider group of people, and can’t seem to niche down.

But what exactly happens at a full-service salon, and further, what are the real benefits behind building one for yourself? This blog’s got all the details you need to tackle this topic. Who knows–it might just inspire you to ditch the one-niche-wonder path and dive headfirst into tackling a full-service salon.

What is a Full-Service Salon?

If this is your first little foray into full-service salon talk, allow us to explain what we mean.

A full-service salon is an establishment (maybe it’s mobile, maybe it’s brick-and-mortar, it’s totally up to you!) that offers customers a long list of comprehensive spa and beauty services all in one spot. 

While there’s no rule out there that says what a full-service salon is, many of them offer services like:

• Haircuts
• Massages
• Facials/skin treatments 
• Waxing
• Tanning 
• Nail tech services (manis and peds) 
• Hair color 
• Specialty hair care 
• Makeup services 

And more! 

But you know what? You could truly create a full-service salon that fits your (and your audiences’) interests. Maybe you’re BIG on braiding, manis and pedis, massages, and facials, but you’re definitely not planning on adding in waxing or tanning services.

Guess what? You still count as a full-service salon.

The point is that your full-service salon can offer any services you think would fit best–it just can’t offer only a single specialty.  

The Big Benefits of a Full-Service Salon

Immediately, the main benefit that seems to pop out to wanna-be full-service salon owners is that they have the opportunity to make more money.

And honestly? That’s a great benefit–and one you should highly consider. But as you know, our industry isn’t always about money.  

Thankfully, opting for a full-service salon offers way more benefits than just the influx of cash. Here’s what we mean. 

More Services = Larger & More Diverse Audiences 

If you’re offering more than just one or two specific services, you’re opening your salon’s doors to a much larger, more diverse group of people who find your business appealing. Think about it. The same people who come to you for nail services likely aren’t the same ones who come to you for facials. 

Sure, there’s some overlap (hopefully!)–but ultimately, you’re reaching two different audiences with two different goals in mind. That means you’re getting the chance to connect with and service a much larger group of people, and your influence can stretch out further than before. 

You Can Hire All Kinds of Talented Beauty Pros 

Don’t get us wrong, you could offer literally one single service and still employ some of the most talented pros in the game–but a full-service salon offers you a diverse bunch of pros to pick from with a multitude of skills. 

Maybe there’s a beauty pro out there who adores esthetics but also wants to offer massage–and she’s licensed to do both. Employing this multi-talented beauty pro is a rich and rewarding experience–and one that can benefit the wealth and health of your salon. But further, you get to bring in a diverse group of talented professionals to help your clients. What’s more rewarding than that? 

More Options Means (Ideally) More Profit 

As we said before, money obviously matters–you’re running a business, after all. The more diverse set of services you offer, the larger audience you’ll reach, and the bigger the chance of hooking clients seeking a specific service. So, of course, opportunity exists here. 

But more than that, you create an opportunity to serve the same set of customers in a multitude of ways. So, that customer who always comes to see you for her highlights can also come to see you for your nails. No cost went into acquiring a new customer for that service–she can simply cross over to another service you offer in your salon. 

Creativity Knows No Bounds 

The beauty industry is amazing because it’s such a creative field. But sometimes, beauty pros who get stuck offering a service or two feel like they’re stuck in a creative rut. If you’re offering a full-service salon with a variety of niches to explore and create within, you’re granting yourself (and your employees) the chance to be as creative as possible in a multitude of fields.