You can begin a hair and salon business with a moderate amount of capital. The success in this business is influenced by the ability of the salon owners to provide consumer satifaction with good services, quality products and a comfortable and friendly ambience at affordable prices. The customer is willing to pay the price if the services provided by salons are excellent and  are able to enhance the appearance of individuals.  

There are various services offered by hair and beauty salons.A full-service hair and beauty salon business offers almost all the services:

Hair: haircuts, trims and style; highlights, foils & weaving; hair & scalp treatments; relaxers, perms; colors; shampoo and conditioning; curling, reconstructing, permanent waving.
 
Nails: manicures, pedicures, polish, sculptured nails, nail repair, hand conditioning treatments.

Skin Care: Facials, body waxing, massage. 
  
Sells  professional hair and beauty products:There are many salon owners that provide a huge collection of  beauty and hair products for the convenience of the consumers so that they can get everything under one roof.The products offered includes shampoos, conditioners, hair styling products like mousse, gel and pomades.

Some hair and beauty salons offer spa services as well. Day spas include  services like body scrubs, skin lightening, body wrapping, herbal wraps, massage/aromatherapy, derma abrasion, stretch mark and blemishes, anti-aging, facials, makeup, skin care, waxing, polishing, and anti-acne treatments.

Requirements to set up the business: 

The capital required to start the salon business depends on a number of factors like the rent and utility deposits, fixtures, leasehold improvements, opening inventory, equipments required, salon design , interior decor and furnishings. 

Start-up expense components of a hair and salon business are:

Salon space. Unless you are living in a huge house you will require some space to start your salon business. Depending on the kind of salon you want to set up you will require space anywhere between 500 to 2000 square feet.
There are many places where you will be free to open a salon in a residential area but where there are zonal restrictions you may not be allowed to operate a salon from your home. Moreover the people living in your neighbouhood may get disturbed with a number of customers visiting your salon daily.There may be parking hassles as well.

Staff. The staff you appoint for your hair and beauty salon business depends on the services you have decided to offer. A salon venture  definitely needs a number of stylist and a receptionist.You m,ay also require shampoo technicians, barber, nail technician, facialist, make-up artist, and a massage therapist.

Leasehold improvements. Maybe you will be required to make leasehold improvements to your space depending on your interior layout, design, and plumbing requirements. Leasehold improvements are referred to as the construction of new structures or improvements made to the existing ones  by the lessee. You will have the right to use these leasehold improvements over the term of the lease. In many states such improvements are returned to the lessor at the expiration of the lease. Moveable equipment or office furniture that is not attached to the leased property is however not considered to be a leasehold improvement.

Salon Equipment. The equipment you purchase will depend on the services you offer. Some basic equipment required includes washing basin, styling chair, hair driers, supply trolleys and manicure sets and aprons. Other equipment you may need are shampoo spray machines; facial bed, hair steaming machines, and other body/skin care instruments. Moreover if you are planning to sell beauty products, you will also have to invest some amount in inventory.

Contact a beauty salon equipment suppliers and check if you can get a good deal. You can also check out alternative sources such as eBay where you can get equipments at low prices.

If you want  to can spend anywhere from $2,000 to $30,000 for salon equipment alone. Starting a salon also requires you to take initial training, professional and licensing fees, and at least three months of working capital.

Other expenses for a start includes:
Cash register
Merchant account fees (to accept credit cards)
Business license fees and other required documentation (varies by state)
Utilities
Insurance
Professional fees (accountant, lawyer, etc.)
Signage costs
Initial marketing and advertising expenses
Depending on the variety of services offered by you and the interior design and decoration of your salon, you can spend anywhere from $10,000 for a few services to $100,000 for a full-service outfit to begin your salon business venture. 

The best tanning lotion is Banana Boat VitaSkin. It is very smooth when applied and doesn’t even streak. It is not very costly and can be used for a number of days. Banana Boat VitaSkin is available in various shades of light, medium and dark and even has a scent which is appealing to the people. 

The second best tanning lotion is Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Lotion SPF 4. The colour turns out to be great in less time. It is also considered to be one of the best tanning lotions with a moisturizer taht you can find in the market. Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Lotion SPF 4 can be easily applied and it doesn’t allow your skin to appear orange in colour.

The dark tanning lotion of Banana Boat is placed at number three in the ranking of best tanning lotions. The dark tanning lotion is best for those individuals who have a medium and dark skin tones. Apply it after a good base tone and it will give a wonderful glow to your skin. However the best thing about dark tanning lotion is that is waterproof. After tanning your skin will feel very soft as it consisits of Vitamin E and Aloe.

Mary Kay is a reputed make up products brand, but it is placed at the fourth position with the Sun Essentials Sunless Tanning Lotion line.The lotion gives a natural looking tan that exists for a longer period than various other tanning lotions. However this is an expensive tanning lotion as it contains anti aging features as well.

Prescriptives Anywear Self Tanner is number five best tanning lotion. It shows quick results by providing an even, smooth and natural looking tan. This product is considered one of the best for people who possess a fair skin . It gives your skin a shine without appearing fake. This lotion is also an expensive one.

Neutrogena Extra Deep Sunless Tanning Lotion is at number 6. Though the results obtained from this lotion are excellent, this is not the best tanning lotion to be used by an inexperienced person. You should be aware of the process of application and use otherwise it will streak. It works graet on fair-skinned people.

Coppertone Gold Dark Tanning Oil Spray occupies seventh position. It is quite easy to apply and also provides your skin with a lot of moisturizers. This lotion can be used only for outdoor tanning, so if you normally don’t tan well, this won’t work for you. If you want to obtain best results, use this particular tanning lotion only after you have provided a good base tan.

Again the Banana Boat brand with the Express Spray Lotion and the  Ultimate Oil is ranked at eighth and nineth position simultaneously. The Express Spray Lotion is can be applied very easily. It has a very different odour which does not resemble any tanning lotion. This makes a great choice if you want to get a dark tan. The Ultimate Oil doesn’t contain sunscreen so make sure you apply sunscreen it as well.

The Hawaiian Tropic Classic Tanning lotions occupies the tenth place. They consist of sunscreen and moisturizers. It is advisable for fair skinned people not ot use this lotion.

So you have plenty of information on the top 10 tanning lotions.

Earlier a manicure or a pedicure, nail paint or henna was used on nails, however things have changed tremendously for better. Today you can dress your nails in numerous ways which is beyond imagination. Nails give one the opportunity to show their creative side with a large number of options available. Individuals can match their nail art to seasonal colours or the colour of their outfit. Nail art has attained prominence everywhere and can be done for various different occasions. 

It is believed that the modern nail art originated in Japan. World famous nail artist like Eriko Kurosaki, Junco Ogava and Michiko Matshushita belong to Japan. Nail art in the form of designs with henna was prominent in India as well. Indian tribals made unique nail decorations.

Nail art has gained reputation world wide and has emerged as a fashion statement in the modern world. A simple nail art can be done at home.Various nail art studios all over the world offer elaborate and professional nail art designs.  

Usually nail art is considered to be painting on the nails however it involves a wide variety of alternatives.
 
Nail painting implies applying a simple coat of nail paint on your nails. However today a wide variety of designs can be created on nails. These designs range from extremely creative flowery to geometric patterns.

Nail painting is an elaborate affair and requires a skilled nail artisrt to get it done. To begin with the nails are properly cleaned and dead skins around the nails are removed. Then a base coat is applied which is usually white in colour so that the design comes out beautifully.However if you want to get a natural look then you are not required to apply a base coat.Activation polish can be applied to ensure that the design dries rapidly. Thereafter the final design is vreated on the nails.Bright colours like silver, gold, red, blue, green, and black are preferred over lighter colours.

Digital nail painting is the latest technique in the nail art design. With this inovation you can get any design painted on your nails which you prefer.The designs are first scanned through a computer and then applied over the activation coat by putting the customers hands into the machine. The design that you get on your nails will be a replica  of the original print you had chosen. Apply a coat of varnish over the design to ensure that is lasts for a longer time.

Here are some ideas to create your own home spa :
To begin with arrange a warm bath for yourself , add important oils like lavender for relaxation or citrus for rejuvenation to the water as it has a calming and soothing effect on body muscles and mind. Buy aromatherapy scented candles, probably a scent similar to the oil used in the bath to set the right mood for the spa.

Then get inside the bath and enjoy for atleast 30 minutes, reading a book or a magazine of your choice to get away from the days stress.    

Fill the bath with hot water and turn on the shower for additional steam. Then add a few teaspoons of Espom salts and a few drops of essential oil of your choice.

Light the candles and turn on the music. Wipe your face with a warm cloth and wear a facial mask. Thereafter relax in the bath and let the mask work for you.

After the bath apply body cream over your entire body and massage for sometime as your skin needs moisture after the bath.     

Dont strain yourself watching television late in the night rather sleep early. In fact the bath will cause you to sleep and relax your mind and body. The scented oils and candles will help relieve stress. If you take a cup of hot herbal tea it will further soothe your mind. Such small home spa sessions are a great way to  get quick relief from stress caused by a long hectic day.

Keep your spa treatments ready. You can create your own spa products at home either by using kitchen ingredients, easily available at home or by purchasing products from drugstore. Put all the products prepared or purchased in a bag or basket in order to have easy access whenever you plan to create your own spa at home.     

 Such home therapies work well if your partner aids you in your spa sessions like providing a foot, shouder or back massage using essential oils that help an individual relax body as well as mind. However there is nothing like getting a professional spa treatment which completely relaxes your body and mind. Therefore you should get away from your home and spend a few hours, day or weekend at a spa resort.  

Before the development of these new technology hair straighteners , getting your hair styled was a very painful and agonizing experience for most women. The irons used by hairstylists caused burns and injuries to women. It took a longer time for the women to get their hair straightened or styled using those bulky straighteners. They had to sit under the heater for atleast 45 minutes leading to stiff necks and sometimes burns in their head. It was distressing for the customers as well as the hair-dresser.

Earlier the hair-stylists lacked proper training and equipments for hair styling leading to accidents. In order to prevent such mishaps hair-dresser and technicians are being given proper training and quality equipments to be used on their clients. There are a number of schools offering training courses to hair-stylists to enable them to acquire a greater understanding of hair-styling equipments and their customers needs.  Moreover the hairstylist can get together and share their ideas and opinions leading to the development of more creativity in them. This also enhances their hair-styling skills.   

Do’s

Apply paint or ridge fillers to your nails in order to prevent them from breaking or ripping , atleast while the manicure lasts.

Moisturize the cuticle to avoid cracking and peeling, which can hurt the matrix.

Protect your nails and cuticles from household work, while gardening and and various other works which might cause harm to your nails by wearing gloves.

Be careful while carrying out your office tasks. For example while typing use your finger pads instead of oyur nail tips to avoid your nails from breaking.Handle office papers properly.   

Apply some moisturizer or cream frequently specially after washing utensils or clothes when your hands are wet. Pay attention to the cuticle as well.

Apply sunscreen when going out in the sun to protect your hands and cuticles from the harmful ultra-violet radiation emitted from the sun. Also apply every time you wash your hands.

Clean your nail equipments properly and buy a new file frequently as Bacteria and other micro-organism present in the nail tools may cause some infection. 

Repair any cuticle cuts and tears and treat in grown nails. Nail infections can result in long lasting nail damage. You can use any drugstore antibacterial ointment, like Polysporin, Neosporin or Bacitracin.

Dont’s

Avoid using nail products that contain formaldehyde or toluene in them as these elements can cause serious health hazards for your nails and your entire body as well.

Avoid using your nails to open botles and other things.

Avoid using your fingers as letter openers. It can damage your cuticles and thereby destroy the nail matrix which will affect the growth and strength of your nails.

Avoid keeping your nails in water for too long. Dont use any kind of soap or detergent as it may soften your nails which may cause your nails to break and damage cuticle structure.

Avoid using excess nail paint remover. Use the required amount and dont let it get too much on the cuticle and skin.

Don”t push the cuticle back too far. Leave the cuticle alone as much as possible. Trim only the part of the cuticle that has started to lift away from the nail.

When you visit a beauty salon never allow a manicurist to use equipments that have not been sterilized. You cannot put your health at stake to get a manicure done. Your well-being is extremely important, therefore dont allow them use bacteria-laden nail tools. 

Dont just pull a nail that has broken and is hanging loosely. Always cut it properly with the cuticle intact. 

Don”t avoid nail or cuticle inflammation. Disinfect the skin immediately with an antibacterial or antifungal agent. Any change in the nails appearance should be checked by a dermatologist.

Here are a few tips to appeal to a larger number of people and increase your customer base: 

Cultivate a special coupon system for a wider appeal among the general masses.  It is a good promotion technique thereby attracting a larger number of people. Consider for example you are a regular customer of some shop, its obvious that you will remain loyal to that shop despite great offers from other stores. However if you are being offered a special coupon or incentive by a store you would probably love to grab it. Therefore developing a strong advertisig and marketing strategy is very essential to attract new customers to your hair salon.


Secondly know your target customers so that you can easily approach them. Traditional media like TV, radio, newpapers or magazines can reach a wider audience but this is an expensive method of promotion. Moreover it covers a larger geographical area without heeding to your target customers. A more direct marketing technique will help you distinguish between your target customers who are willing to accept your services and the general masses. It is important to know those members of society who are likely to take your services.  

It is very difficult to attract those customers to your salon who are already visiting some other hair salon. Therefore there is no point in wasting your resources in targeting such customers. Approach those people whom you think would probably like to visit your salon.  Prove your capabilities to your new customers and convince them of the quality of services offered by your hair salon. Firstly target people in and around your vicinity.  Approach those people who have just moved in your neighbourhood. Subscribing to a new mover direct mail service that offers current new mover mailing lists and direct mail fulfillment services which enables you to target only those customers who have recently moved into your business area and are probably already searching for a new salon to try.  That new salon could be yours. So make the most of the opportunity.

If a customer has visited your salon  make sure you ask for their contact number , e-mail or address so that you can get in touch whenever their is some offer for your customers. Stay in touch with your customers in order to maintain customer base. Express gratitude by thanking for visiting your hair salon. Ask them their opinion about the services offered by your salon. Such information will help you improve your services. This is a good way to let your customers know how much you care for them and would love to see them visit your hair salon again and again.   

Planning is definitely the first step towards a more profitable and stonger business. Make sure to include targeted customers marketing campaign that reaches your customers who are likely to give your salon a try.