Pride Month: Inclusivity in the salon

​ Beauty and hair salons are uniquely positioned to be sanctuaries for all people, but making sure your space feels truly welcoming requires more than good intentions. 

Pride Month is a time to celebrate diversity and reflect on how we can create more inclusive spaces, especially in industries built around personal care and self-expression. 

Prioritise client comfort and confidence with these tips to create and maintain inclusive spaces this Pride Month – and always!

#1. Send a clear message

People feel safer when they know they're welcome. And for the LGBTQ+ community particularly, a rainbow – or rainbow flag – is an unmistakable sign that wherever they're walking into is a safe space. 

For your salon, that could mean a rainbow flag sticker in the window by the entrance or even a rainbow flag emoji in your social media bios or captions. Or, if the rainbow doesn't work for you, add a statement to your website and social media about being proud to be inclusive.

Tip: Feature diverse models in your social media. Include different gender expressions, body types, ethnicities and abilities.

#2. Make your services gender-neutral

In many salons, it's normal for services and pricing to be related to gender; take a haircut, for example. The distinction between a ‘men's haircut' and a ‘women's haircut' enforces gender in an area that could easily be offered neutrally for clients' comfort. 

In this example, instead of a haircut for a man or woman, the service could be reframed as a ‘short cut' or ‘long cut'? Pricing based on time or hair length, rather than gender, makes services more inclusive.

“Traditional beauty industry pricing often reinforces outdated gender norms, with ‘men's' and ‘women's' services carrying different costs despite requiring the same level of skill and expertise,” says Havva Aykac, company director of Luxe Studio Cosmetics.

This small but meaningful change means clients “can feel confident knowing they're being treated as an individual, not as a gender category.”

Tip: Review your service menu and reword it to be gender neutral.

#3. Be mindful of your language

Taking extra care with the language you choose to use in your salon is a key part of helping your entire client base feel welcome. This isn't to say that language should be policed; it's about making small adjustments to ensure everyone feels safe and comfortable.

Language can shape experience, and there are simple changes you can make to the words you use so your clients have a great one. Instead of saying, “Do you have a boyfriend?”, ask “Do you have a partner?”. Making a conscious effort to use more neutral language will allow your clients to divulge personal details in a way that feels safe to them.

When it comes to pronouns, you could try asking about theirs at the start of an appointment, and offer yours too! It's as easy as saying, “Hi, I'm Sarah and I use she/her pronouns. What about you?”

Tip: Update forms and booking systems to include pronoun fields and neutral gender options (not just ‘Mr' and ‘Mrs' or ‘M/F').

#4. Support clients with safe spaces

It's time think about both the physical and emotional safety of your clients. Making your clients comfortable includes thinking about how they feel about themselves during their visit. A truly inclusive space feels safe at every step, so how can you offer that?

Emotionally, this includes things like using inclusive language, signposting your salon as an accepting and welcoming space and following your client's lead when it comes to discussing personal details.

Physically, this means ensuring your consultation areas allow for privacy, especially for sensitive services like post-surgery treatments. Also, having gender-neutral toilets is a great way to show consideration for all.

Tip: Highlight inclusive values in your salon policies. Try adding a short, welcoming statement to your booking confirmation emails or policies page.

#5. Educate and empower your team

Inclusivity isn't a box to tick. It's an ongoing practice and it's always a team effort. If you're a team manager or supervisor or work closely with other colleagues in your salon, it's vital that the whole team is on the same page.

“From understanding the importance of pronouns to being sensitive to the unique beauty needs of transgender and non-binary clients, we continuously educate ourselves to foster a salon culture rooted in respect and understanding,” says Havva.

Regular open discussions can help staff feel more confident and compassionate when it comes to practising inclusivity. Be open to questions from other members of your team, and don't worry if you don't have all the answers.

Tip: Open up the conversation with a Q&A box on your Instagram Story or invite clients to DM you with ideas if there are specific issues you'd like to tackle or areas you'd like to improve.

#6. Be prepared to make mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes, what matters is how you handle them. So, if you find yourself in an awkward or regretful situation where you may have upset a client, regardless of intent, it's important to apologise and learn from the experience.

In the case of incorrect language use, the solution could be as simple as asking what they would like you to say. So if you've used the wrong pronouns, apologise and ask, “What are your pronouns?”. Correct yourself and then move on without making a big deal about it, and simply make the effort to use that language going forward. 

In the rare instance that someone is deeply offended by your mistake, all you can do is apologise and make the necessary changes to avoid making the same mistake again. Remember, you're only human.

Tip: Stay open to feedback and encourage a culture of learning among your team.

Being an inclusive salon isn't just good ethics, it's good business. Clients are drawn to spaces where they can be fully themselves. So this Pride Month, and every month, make sure your salon is a place of warm welcomes, acceptance and beauty for everyone.