I am forced to admit, my age is showing. When I teach my classes and I begin to talk about all the ways we did things back in the 90’s-early 2000’s, it really does make me feel archaic. I’m not sorry for it. I am embracing today and the future however, it doesn’t stop me from realizing not only how far we have come, it also reminds me of how lucky this generation is…..or are you?
There’s a whole generation of salon professionals who will never know the hustle it took to run a successful beauty business before we had smartphones, salon software, and social media. Today, technology is woven into every part of our business—from appointment scheduling and inventory to marketing and communication. Believe it or not…once upon a time, we made it all happen with little more than a landline, a smile, and a whole lot of hustle.
Appointment Books and Pencils
Before booking apps and online calendars, we had the book—you know the one. That big (or small) appointment book with every day of the week laid out in columns (which we had to write in), and a perfectly sharpened pencil (never a pen!) nearby for changes. Double-bookings were juggled manually, cancellations were scribbled out, and snow days, sick days, meant hours on the phone calling clients one by one.
Marketing? Try Word of Mouth and Yellow Pages
No Instagram reels or Facebook ads. No emails. Marketing was grassroots, personal, and built entirely on reputation. Happy clients brought in more happy clients. You’d leave stacks of business cards at local coffee shops or network at community events. And yes, a well-placed Yellow Pages ad was considered prime real estate.
I’ve shared this story so many times. Bold print cost more, you were allowed 2 lines…any additional lines cost more and to have an actual ad, was huge. My yellow page (which included white pages) ad towards the end of my Salon days, cost me $1700 per month
We didn’t have online reviews—we had face-to-face conversations and referrals from loyal clients who trusted us to take care of their friends and family. If you wanted to learn the reputation of a Business, you contacted the Better Business Bureau.
Inventory the Old-School Way
Managing inventory wasn’t a matter of scanning a barcode or checking an app. or even a spreadsheet on your computer. It meant walking your shelves, clipboard in hand, counting each bottle, tube, and polish by eye. You had to know your stock and anticipate what was running low—because if you ran out of a top-selling product, there was no “rush shipping.” You waited… and hoped you had a backup tucked away somewhere. In fact, availability for products especially in the Nail Care side of our industry…was sparse to say the least.
Education Was a Road Trip
If you wanted to learn a new skill or keep up with trends, you got in your car or hopped on a plane. However, this didn’t really happen until the later 90’s into the new millennium. You went to classes, shows, and hands-on demos. There was a real sense of community—being in a room full of like-minded professionals, sharing ideas and learning directly from each other. No webinars, no YouTube. Just connection, passion, and the drive to grow.
Education now is so isolated. Not because classes aren’t being offered. Because Technicians prefer UTube university, zoom from the comfort of wherever they are and on-line courses. Beneficial yes. However, the key element of what our Industry is all about – social interaction – is grossly missing.
Communication Was Personal
There was no texting to confirm appointments or DMs for questions. If a client needed to talk, they picked up the phone or stopped by the salon. We talked—in person. And when a client walked in, we already knew their story. We remembered their kids’ names, their favorite polish color, and how they liked their coffee. Relationships were everything, and our memory was our CRM.
Now, client stories are all over social media. Airing dirty laundry on a daily basis. Whether it’s anger over a client being late or a no-show. Technician/Client relationships have gone way down.
Personally, my opinion is; Being able to hide behind a computer or a text has failed to teach this generation one of the biggest life skills. Communication!
Teamwork and Tenacity
Before tech streamlined operations, it was the people that made everything work. Team members helped each other juggle busy days, pitched in when someone was overwhelmed, and celebrated together at the end of a long shift. We had fewer tools, but more teamwork.
Mechanics and the introduction of booth rentals has made everyone “for themselves”.
Technology has absolutely changed the game for salon professionals—but it’s important to remember and honor where we came from. The skills, instincts, and work ethic we built before the digital age are still the foundation of a great salon today. And while apps and automation help us run more efficiently, it’s still that human connection—the one we perfected in the analog days—that keeps clients coming back.
So here’s to the way we did things before technology.
It may not have been easy, but it made us who we are!
Yes, yes and yes! Very well said. I enjoyed reading this very much. It brought back many great memories of building my business, by word of mouth, many years ago. I remember years ago my new son-in-law, young and , was showing my daughter an on-line booking app for her clients as she was a stylist in my salon. They didn’t understand why I refused the app and stayed with my book and pencil. Just a few short months into the app, my daughter gladly switched back to her book and pencil. Bravo CJ for reminding me of those long days, hard work and life long clients. It was all very fulfilling and worth every moment.
I literally got chills as I was reading your comment. Things sure have changed and I have embraced Technology as much as I can. Yet, I sure do miss those days. Everything seems so sterile now. Never thought I would sound like my parents…however, I sure do miss the good ole days :). Thank you June, for taking your time to read my blog and respond.