How To Use TikTok to Promote Your Salon Business

We know that as beauty professionals, social media can be an invaluable tool to showcase your talent. With social media platforms constantly evolving, it can be overwhelming to decide which one to focus on. Read on to dive into the world of TikTok, and show you how to use this dynamic platform to promote your salon business.  

Get ready to unleash your creativity and reach a whole new audience with TikTok! 

What is TikTok? 

TikTok is a short-form video social media platform that was the most popular social media app of 2022. With over 1 billion active users, Tik Tok is a treasure trove of opportunity for beauty professionals. Its authentic, community-oriented nature makes it the perfect platform to showcase your skills, share beauty education, and connect with potential clients. 

Who is on TikTok? 

TikTok is a perfect platform to reach audiences from all over the world of all ages. It is especially relevant if your services and/or content are applicable to TikTok’s biggest demographic – Gen Z (born 1997-2012) and Millennials (born 1981-1996).  As TikTok's user base expands to include older demographics, it becomes an even more valuable tool for reaching a wider audience within the beauty industry.  

Why TikTok? 

The app's algorithm is designed to showcase content from creators of all sizes, making it an accessible and inclusive space for beauty entrepreneurs. With its lively and upbeat atmosphere, TikTok allows you to build your personal brand while engaging with your audience in a personable and approachable manner. 

Getting Started on TikTok 

1. Create a TikTok account: Download the app and create an account specifically for your salon. Optimize your profile by adding a profile picture, writing a clear bio that introduces your salon, and linking to your website and/or booking platform. 
2. Get familiar with the app: Spend some time exploring the platform to understand the style and tone of popular content. Identify trends and challenges that resonate with your target audience and are relevant to your salon services. 
3. Develop a content strategy: Decide on the types of content you want to create and how often you'll post. Focus on quality over quantity and aim for consistency in your tone, style and posting cadence. Remember, for TikTok, your content should be a blend of entertainment, inspiration, and education. 

Content Ideas for Salon Professionals 

Tutorials and tips: Share step-by-step tutorials, product recommendations, and styling tips. As a beauty professional, your expertise is your greatest asset. By sharing your knowledge, you'll become a trusted resource in the beauty community. 

Before and after transformations: Show off your skills by sharing dramatic before and after videos. These can showcase haircuts, color transformations, makeup applications, or nail art – anything that highlights your creativity and expertise. 

Behind-the-scenes: Give your followers a glimpse into your salon life by sharing behind-the-scenes moments. This can include setting up your salon suite, prepping for appointments, or tidying up after a long day. These relatable moments build trust and connection with other beauty professionals in the industry.  

Client testimonials: Encourage your satisfied clients to share their experiences on TikTok. This user-generated content not only helps promote your salon but also strengthens your credibility and fosters community. 

Join trends and challenges: Participate in TikTok trends and challenges related to the beauty industry. This is a fun way to engage with your audience while showcasing your skills and creativity. 

Tips for Success 

1. Use relevant hashtags: Maximize your content's reach by using relevant and popular hashtags. This will help your videos appear on the "For You" page, making it easier for potential clients to find you.  
2. To attract local clients, we recommend #yourcityyourservice ie. #Denverhairstylist #Denverbalayage #Denvernails #Denverbrows 
3. To attract a global audience to content, go more broad, ie. #BalayageTutorial #HairTransformation #NailArt #BrowArtist  
4. Collaborate with other beauty professionals: Team up with fellow Sola professionals for joint content, like hair and makeup transformations, or participate in challenges together. 
5. Engage with your audience: Respond to comments and questions on your videos, and engage with your followers to build a loyal and engaged audience. 
6. Track your progress: Regularly monitor your account's performance using TikTok's built-in analytics. Identify which types of content resonate most with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly. 
7. Stay consistent: Like any social media platform, consistency is key on TikTok. Set a posting schedule that works for you and stick to it. Over time, you'll see growth in your followers and engagement.  

On TikTok, users tend to value the following qualities from beauty professionals: 

• Authenticity: TikTok users appreciate genuine and relatable content from beauty professionals, which creates a more personal connection and fosters trust. 
• Creativity: TikTok is a platform where users can express themselves. Users like seeing beauty professionals showcase their skills and innovative techniques. 
• Educational content: Other beauty pros will follow you if you share tips, tricks, and tutorials that help them learn and improve their skill set and knowledge, or help them stay inspired with their work. 
• Inspiring transformations: Users love seeing dramatic before-and-after transformations, whether it's a hair makeover, makeup application, or nail art. This type of content showcases your artistry, while inspiring a wide audience to consider new styles and techniques. The more innovative or transformational your work, the more viral your content will become.  
• Engagement: TikTok users appreciate accounts who actively engage with their audience by responding to comments, answering questions, and taking part in trends and challenges. Look for TikTok challenges and trends in the beauty industry  – often this content goes viral when you join the trend/challenge. 
• Inclusivity: Beauty professionals who cater to diverse skin tones, hair types, and beauty preferences are highly valued on TikTok, as users appreciate content that celebrates and embraces individuality and inclusivity. 

Follow Other Accounts in the Beauty Industry 

As a beauty professional, it is helpful to follow other accounts on TikTok related to the beauty industry for several reasons: 

1. Networking and collaboration: Following and engaging with fellow beauty professionals can help you create connections within the industry, opening up opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and mutual support. 
2. Increased brand exposure: Engaging with other beauty accounts can boost your visibility on the platform. When you comment, like, or share content from others, your account becomes more discoverable to their audience, potentially increasing your own following. 
3. Staying updated on trends and challenges: Following beauty-related accounts allows you to stay informed about current trends and challenges in the industry. By participating in these trends and challenges, you can increase your content's visibility and relevance, attracting more viewers and potential clients. 
4. Inspiration and learning: Observing the content of other beauty professionals can provide inspiration for your own creative ideas, techniques, and styles. You can learn from their successes and adapt their strategies to suit your unique brand and audience. 
5. Establishing a presence: Actively engaging with the beauty community on TikTok helps establish your presence and credibility as a beauty professional. By showing genuine interest and support for others in the industry, you create a positive impression that can strengthen your brand image. 

Following and engaging with other beauty accounts on TikTok is a valuable strategy to help grow your brand, increase exposure, and stay informed and inspired by the latest trends in the industry. 

TikTok has the capacity to open up a world of opportunity to a salon professional. By harnessing the platform and its dynamic nature, you'll find endless opportunities to showcase your creativity, grow your brand, engage with your target audience, and expand your career amongst a vibrant community of like-minded professionals.  

So go ahead, Solapreneurs, make your mark on TikTok and let the world see your creative genius! Tag us @solasalons so that we can share your fabulous content far and wide.