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A formal affair?
Date Added: 2009-07-14
Introducing a uniform policy is something that more and more salons are considering; Martyn Wady advises you on how a uniform can add an air of professionalism and team spirit.
“I’ve decided to instigate a uniform policy in my salon, but I’d like some advice to help me decide what type of policy to have.”
All Abuzz, Fulham
A uniform gives a salon a professional appearance and creates a sense of unity among the staff, especially if it’s branded. A uniform also has practical attributes, as team members don’t need to worry about what they’ll wear to work, plus it helps maintain a level of professionalism and lets everyone know exactly who works there.
Firstly, you need to decide if the uniform policy will apply to all staff. In some salons the policy only applies to the assistants, while everyone else is free to choose. This is useful for making a team member’s level clear and provides a reward for qualification but it also creates a defined ‘us and them’ between stylists and trainees. Therefore, if you want to distinguish between team members, you can do so by having uniform variations or name/position badges. Also, avoid having a uniform policy for everyone except yourself or managers; this won’t give an impression of teamwork either.
Some salons opt for a simple colour code as a uniform: black, black and white or just white. This is by far the easiest and most commonly used uniform and allows team members to explore their individual dress sense while still looking part of a team. While black is most common, it doesn’t suit everyone; black and white works, but you may need to set guidelines such as black bottoms, white tops, or plain fabrics only, no patterns, etc. Too many variations of any theme and the sense of uniform becomes lost. Cleanliness is also an issue; white only looks good if it’s white. If it’s grey or tint-stained it looks messy. If you choose a colour, such as red, remember that differing tones and shades can make this impractical.
Another option is to provide bespoke clothing for your team. Few salons provide tops and bottoms, but many supply T-shirts or polo tops. Branded clothing is the best way to create a team look, and ordering in bulk is often less expensive. Branded tops can be given to all team members or just the assistants, with the rest of the team wearing matching colours. Providing assistants with clothing is a particularly good idea as they tend to have the least money. Whether you provide clothing free or subsidise it is down to you, but most salons provide a certain number free per year, with additional items available to purchase. You also need to consider comfort – it’s unfair to insist on staff wearing T-shirts in the winter, unless the salon is warm enough.
Finally, make sure you set clear rules and a realistic timeframe for the new policy to be implemented and remember, it can always be tweaked at a later date if need be.
