Phenix Salon Suites Bandera Pointe

Join us at our Bandera Pointe location. We have 1 suite available for a salon professional who wants to have a private suite to be truly independent.

Tip of the Week:

We all want to grow our businesses and develop long term clients. One way you can ensure this is by developing a solid checklist that pushes you to grow and strive for excellence. Here’s a check list that you can start with and add to if you’d like:

Am I dependable?
Do I stay on schedule?
Do I give my full attention to my client during their appointment?
Do I provide Five Star service from the moment my client arrives?
Do I allow the appointment to be about my client rather than myself?
Do I consistently give 100% to every client and every technique?
Do I offer new ideas each time a client walks in my door? Do I continue to offer new ideas even though a regular client has the same style request each time they visit?
Do I make sure that my clients leave with the best products for their home hair care regimen?
Do I place professionalism over friendship?
Is my environment clean and inviting?
Does the client believe they can count on me?
Do I move locations too frequently?
Am I communicating with my client and really listening to their needs?
Do I maintain a positive attitude at all times?
Do I make my client’s appointment relaxing and a place of sanctuary?

Come See Our Amazing Stylist at Phenix Salon Suites!

August 27, 2015
5 Ways to Keep Your Clients Happy
It couldn’t be simpler. If your clients are happy, they’ll come back. So what are the secrets to keeping clients happy and loyal? L.A. Hair’s Jonathan Antin lays it out!




It couldn’t be simpler. If your clients are happy, they’ll come back. If your clients are happy, they’ll tell their friends. You’ll keep the clients you have. You’ll get new clients. And (cue celestial chorus here)—you’ll make more money. So when the rent’s due, you won’t have to get an advance on your birthday money. You’ll be able to replace that bashed-up back bumper on your Prius. And that trip to Cabo that’s on your bucket list? Start packing Señorita! So how do you keep your clients happy? L.A. Hair’s Jonathan Antin lays it out for us.

1. Make it Personal
Let’s be real—every client craves a salon experience that transcends the service and leaves them feeling physically, mentally and emotionally rewarded and recharged. How does this work? By tuning in to the client and focusing on their individual needs and preferences. A personal and customized consultation/service should address not only style and maintenance, it should complement the client’s appearance, lifestyle and personality. Carve out a path for each client that’s suited for their unique needs to cultivate a relationship that’s built on trust and emotional connection.

2. Education and Communication
Education and communication are valuable ways to connect with your clients and impact their experiences. If you can provide your clients with education in the form of fresh, valuable advice or insight, in addition to a perfect service, your offerings become that much more valuable. Don’t be afraid to demonstrate your knowledge. After all, you’re the stylist! Your clients don’t necessarily know about the dangers and risks of coloring and or cutting their own or someone else’s hair at home, or the difference between shapes, styles, colors, tones, shines and glosses. Next, communicate. Clear communication needs to be part of everything from acquiring a new client, appointments and scheduling, to pricing and promotions, to the actual service being executed. Clients come in to receive the best possible service. Spend time explaining your approach, educate when necessary, and encourage your client to express themselves and ask questions. Using style books and checking in with the client during the service help tremendously.


3. Experience
All of this leads to experience, and the client’s experience is greatly impacted by the energy of your staff and stylists. Encourage your staff to welcome clients with positive energy and smiles and to practice being approachable. Convenience is also critical. Clients crave smooth appointment scheduling, an accommodating staff and seamless transactions. Online booking platforms like MINDBODY allow for online and mobile booking, mobile appointment reminders and confirmations and client tracking so that stylists can remember things like cutting techniques, color formulas and client preferences.

4. Environment
An ideal environment leaves a client feeling relaxed, recharged and inspired. The environment of your salon impacts mood and energy levels. Assess everything in your salon—lighting, spatial design, flow. This is where creativity and originality can go a long way. How can you connect your interior space through color and imagery to reflect your ultimate branding and long term goals? How can you design your service menu and language to stand out from the rest and create a total point of difference? How do your signage and messaging reflect your unique services and staff? All of these elements are important—especially in today’s world, where clients expect to be able to find photos of your work, salon space online and on social media channels.

5. Handling Dissatisfaction
There’s always the possibility of an unhappy client or a plan that didn’t work out. Even if you’ve covered ALL your bases, it’s part of running a business. This is where strong communication comes into play once again. In the salon, open communication and encouraging your client to speak up from the very first moments will make a huge difference. Checking in with the client before, after and during the service helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page. When a client is unhappy with a cut or style, immediate communication is imperative. Being receptive and responsive is key to a quick resolution. Never challenge a client—if she’s not 150 percent satisfied, do whatever it takes to make it right!

Salon Success Starts with You Just the other day I was asked “Gina, what makes some Salon Professionals more successful than others?” This is an interesting question and one that cann...

Cowlicks Don’t Have to be Cantankerous

We all have them. Some of us deal with them more than others do and some are worse than others are. I am talking about the dreaded change in hair patterns that can cause a lot of grief. Yes folks, I am referring to the “Cowlick”.

While a cowlick can sometimes create extra work when styling, they aren’t all bad. Sometimes you can use them to your advantage, especially, if they are in right place where they accentuate your haircut. Cowlicks can at times serve to make the hair appear fuller and have more body as well.

However, what happens when they are not in an advantageous place for your hairstyle? Most of us experience challenges with styling under these circumstances. The good news is that with a bit of advice from your stylist, you can usually manage a cowlick.

I recommend, first and foremost, seek advice from a professional. A good stylist can work with your hair to create a look that that makes the cowlick manageable and even desirable. Remember, sometimes the battle of fighting your natural hair pattern isn’t worth the anguish.

A stylist has the ability to guide you on how to work with a cowlick. Here’s a few quick pointers that I like to give my clients. First, if a cowlick is unruly, after you shampoo you should blow dry the cowlick in the opposite direction of the hair pattern. This technique works especially well if your hair is longer and your cowlick is around your hair line.

Second, I recommend that clients blow dry their hair immediately. If the hair is allowed to begin drying on its own, it will take on its natural pattern which makes it very hard to work with.

Third, it’s advisable to leave the hair longer if you are dealing with cowlicks. The weight of long hair can serve to calm the cowlick down and make it less noticeable. This is a big plus.
Let’s say that long hair isn’t your thing. There are styles that you can buzz and take them right off, especially if you wear your hair super short. There are a lot of styles that are trending right now that require this especially for boys and men.

To sum it up cowlicks don’t have to wreak havoc on your hairstyle. Though they often get a bad rap, I recommend embracing your cowlicks rather than fighting them. Your hair will end up looking better and it will also make life easier. Happy styling!

Phenix Founder & Beauty Expert, Gina Rivera's, Tip of the Week:
I know there is always a lot of pressure in life to succeed. We tell ourselves we must do well for our parents, our kids, our spouses, and even our employers, to name a few. Many of us have experienced the demands that are required to be successful as well as the stress of the imaginary timeline that we impose upon ourselves. We have bought into the idea that we must succeed by a certain age or on a particular time schedule. Well, I am here to tell you that you should toss that idea out of the nearest window that you can find.

Success does not happen through inexperience. It usually happens through a series of trials and errors and this takes time. Success is not a sprint, it’s actually much more like a marathon. In my life and in my career I have learned nothing comes easy or overnight. Most things that have meaning require a whole lot of hard work and that’s exactly why they are important. Remember if it was easy, everyone would do it!

I remember early in my career as a stylist, I was so eager to get going. I just knew that I would have a clientele built in no time. I felt especially certain of this because I grew up in the industry and was constantly around very talented hairdressers. In my mind, I came out of school ahead of the game…so I thought! Boy, was I dead wrong.

I learned very quickly that anything which is worthwhile takes a lot of patience, perseverance, hard work and prayer. I soon realized that the things which I thought mattered the most represented only a small fraction of what I needed to know in order to be successful.

When I came out of school I also believed that I could make it off of shear talent. I was wrong again. I quickly found out that there are many small pieces that make up the puzzle called “success” and every piece matters.

Here’s a few tidbits that I have picked up through my years of experience that have contributed to my success. Now, keep in mind before I share them, they may seem simple and obvious but you would be surprised how some people fail to do the easiest things that are required to obtain success.

First, you must be on time and prepared for the day. This means you are ready to go when your client arrives, not unlocking the door and walking in for the day with your client. Secondly, being dependable is crucial. Your clients need to be able to trust that you will be there for them and feel they can count on you. No one likes a person who is unreliable.

Third, make sure your working environment is inviting. Be certain that a client’s visit is a positive experience for them. Likewise, don’t forget that a client’s appointments should be all about them and very little, if at all, about you.

Make sure to become a master of relationships. I know you have heard me say this before, but here’s why; Relationships serve as bridges to success because they are the material that long term clients are made from.

All of these things may seem simplistic but I use the same approach in my company. This path is what lead me from one salon to 200. I learned all of these things through putting my time in. It was not accomplished over night by any means. I also believe that if I would have left out any of these ingredients which I learned behind the chair, my company would not be where it is today.

You have to create a culture that allows for success and creating a culture takes time, so be patient. However, once you identify it, you must breathe it and embrace it. I promise, when you do, you will have success not only in the working world but in your home and your personal life. And, just so you know, I am still running my marathon towards success and I am no-where near my finish line yet!