You’ve been looking for a job at a salon and found a promising one that seems reputable. You’re excited to start but you have heard so many negative things about salons, you don’t know if you’ve found the right one yet. So what gives?

Here are 7 signs you’ve found the salon that’s the right fit for you.

1. The boss is excited about you.

The owner or boss is thrilled to have you join the team. They’re excited and it shows in the way they speak to you.

They respect your journey, and compliment your work, whether you’re a seasoned artist or you’ve just graduated.

If you’re a fresh graduate, they’re excited to mentor you and have a vision for you on how you can become better at your craft.

However, if they’re just talking about the salon and what you can do for them, then it’s fair to say that they view their stylists as replaceable cogs in the machine.

2. The pay is disclosed and you’re able to negotiate your pay.

Nothing is more nerve-wracking than being excited to start work and not knowing how much you’ll get paid. You’re nervous, you’re new, you need a job, so you don’t ask.

True leaders understand that being transparent about pay is key in 2023. The boss also gives you room to negotiate - this may or may not work, but they are open to talking and listening to your needs.

3. They support your independence.

Suites have become a huge issue for salon owners because so many stylists have left the old-school salon structure and opened their own salon suites to make more money and remove themselves from drama.

Successful salon owners understand that artists have independent creative endeavors and are not threatened by stylists’ dreams.

They support your growth.

If you’d like to learn a specific technique, they are open to sharing their expertise. If they can’t, they’ll put you in touch with someone who knows.

4. They ask about and respect your specialty.

I once had an interview with a salon owner who kept steering the conversation into having me do color services. I explained that I’m open to learning but, I said, “To be honest, it’s not my thing and I don’t like it.”

He kept trying to inject it into the conversation by saying I would make a great colorist and that the artists at the salon would train me.

I could just see it - he was going to put me as a junior colorist with zero regards for my natural talent.

Bosses who respect what you’re good at and love are the best bosses. They won’t put up a fight or try to change your mind.

They appreciate what you bring to the table and encourage you to continue learning.

Side note - they don't expect you to show up on social media if you don’t want to.

5. Their team is happy.

I’ve met a lot of salon owners who hire new talent because they’ve had a walkout. It’s an issue with salons. One unhappy stylist can rally up an entire team to leave and open their own spot.

Stylists walk out of salons all the time when owners don’t care for them.

If this salon’s team is there for more than a year at a time, happy, relaxed and doing great work, this is a good sign. Will they still have stylists quit? Of course, because not every space is the right fit, but overall the salon is a happy, low stress place to work.

6. They have a standard contract in place.

They’re clear on your pay, time off, hours, breaks, commission or hourly structure, and any extra fees incurred.

You don’t get the sense that they’re trying to pull one over on you.

7. They promote you.

The salon will have foot traffic because they’re showing up on Google and the neighborhood is aware they exist.

Their job is to promote you by having a bio page for you on the website, running ads featuring your work, or sending out emails to their existing clientele that they have a new artist on board.

Remember: a great salon is excited for you to join them.