5 ways to create a salon that’s truly LGBTQ+ friendly. One savvy owner shows you how….
Joico Guest Artist, Ailynn Nguyen, knows a thing or two about creating a beautiful and safe space for her LGBTQ+ clients. After all, this talented artist actually came out herself eight years ago, shortly after she opened The Secret Grotto, her warm and inclusive salon in Ayer, MA.
Here, five smart and sensitive guidelines Ailynn follows to create the ultimate inclusive environment
Incorporate visual messaging
Before a word is even uttered, clients know that The Secret Grotto is a safe place. “You’ll see rainbows everywhere. Big ones, little ones…on the door, on the walls. They create a very physical message and they’re purposeful,” explains Ailynn.
Use social media to communicate inclusion
“Every June 1st, I change my salon’s logo to our rainbow-colored version. I also like to upload the vivids I have done over the years in the order of a rainbow, so my grid is extra colorful for the month of June,” says Ailynn, who also shows love on her booking app and in her bio.
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Offer education to team members
Team meetings, dedicated to educating staff about the LGBTQ+ culture, is a point of pride for Ailynn, who explains that she has a large clientele who are either in transition or simply prefer they/them pronouns. “I have trained my staff how to speak in a very organic, easy way. And because we’re so open and LGBTQ+ friendly, we’ve had lots of word-of-mouth referrals. People call up and say things like, “I’m booking an appointment for my son and they’re transitioning. Will you help them?”
Encourage staff questions
“I spend a lot of my time making sure my team feels heard; and that helps to create a positive environment. A team member might say, “I feel ignorant.” Or, “How do I ask somebody what their pronouns are?” We’re always in a learning curve.”
Let clients guide your way
“When someone who is transitioning is coming in, usually we get some heads up from either parents or other clients. I’ve trained my team to follow the client’s lead,” explains Ailynn. “They might come in and show us an inspo pic, and we focus on translating visuals into feelings. We might ask them questions like:
• “What do you see?”
• “Can you explain what it is about this photo that you like?”
• “What do you want to feel when you leave the salon today?”
These questions are the gateway to understanding. The client might say they want a little more of a feminine look or a masculine look…and that’s how it should be. It’s not a formal training. It’s about feelings,” says Ailynn.
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