As a stylist, you will likely have a cancellation and no-show policy in place. But what about deposits? Do you require one for each appointment? How much should it be? And what happens if a client is late or doesn’t show up at all? In this blog, we will discuss the ins and outs of deposits, late cancellations, and no-shows. We will also give you our opinion on whether or not stylists should refund deposits if a client is late or a no-show.
When it comes to your personal appearance, it is important to feel confident and comfortable in your own skin. This is why many people choose to visit a professional stylist. A stylist can help you choose the clothes, colors, and hairstyle that suit you best and make you feel great about yourself.
However, before you book an appointment with a stylist, it is important to know their policy on deposits and cancellations. Most stylists require a deposit to hold your appointment, and many will charge a fee if you cancel or are more than 15 minutes late.
Let's be clear, a deposit is part of a service and is subtracted from your balance. Deposits are collected to secure (actually guarantee) your appointment day and time and not give another client the opportunity to book your appointment time. If for any reason a client does not cancel within the allowed time or is passed the 15 minute grace period, deposit becomes non-refundable. The reason for this is the deposit is supposed to guarantee the stylist a scheduled appointment and when that does not happen, the stylist has lost money by holding an appointment time when it could've been booked by another client.
While it is understandable that stylists need to protect themselves from last-minute cancellations, you should not be charged a fee and deposit should be refundable if the stylist is the one who is late or cancels your appointment. If this happens, the stylist should refund your deposit in full or give you the opportunity to reschedule and move your deposit over. However, keep in mind stylist have the same 15 minute grace period as the client.
One other thing, please beware that some stylist are very professional which comes with a professional system. So when you book and process a deposit (not using venmo, cashapp, paypal, zelle) and change your mind the same day, please understand that your deposit is still pending and cannot be reversed until it is no longer pending. Just an FYI for those clients that do not understand. To be honest, processing deposits on platforms that you cannot reverse yourself if need be, is not recommended. Every industry has some shady representatives.
To wrap things up, it is important to choose a stylist who has a cancellation policy that you are comfortable with. Be sure to ask about their policy on deposits and cancellations before you book an appointment.
Sincerely,
The Braid Industry