The Five-Point Salon Checklist
Breathe first
A sharp chemical smell at the door means vapors are accumulating: what you’d breathe for the next hour. A well-ventilated salon smells close to neutral even when every chair is full. Here, multiple built-in ventilation systems keep the studio at near-zero odor.
How our studio handles airWatch the sanitation
Tools should come from sealed pouches or a sanitizer, basins should be cleaned between guests, and dip powder should never be a communal jar. Any salon doing it right will happily answer sanitation questions; we like being asked.
Read patterns, not just stars
A 4.7 built on hundreds of specific reviews (‘matched my photo,’ ‘no lifting after three weeks’) beats a 4.9 built on twenty. Look for repeated themes and how the salon responds to criticism. Ours: a strong majority five-star, with ‘welcoming atmosphere’ and ‘kind staff’ the most-repeated themes.
Ask for artistry proof
Anyone can post stock photos. Look for side-by-side proof: the client’s inspiration photo next to the finished set. Photo-matching is our house standard, checked side-by-side before you pay.
See the photo-match standardConfirm licensing + prices
Licenses should be displayed (Arizona requires it), and prices should be findable before you’re in the chair. Vague pricing invites surprise totals; ours are published up front, from a $20 classic manicure to a $50 full set.
See our published menuWalk Away If You See…
- Eye-watering fumes
- Tools pulled from a drawer instead of a sanitized setup
- Pressure to upgrade before the service starts
- No prices available until checkout