How to Get More Google Reviews for Your Salon (Without Asking Face to Face)

Your clients love their hair when they leave. They tell their friends. They post it on Instagram. But very few of them leave a Google review, and asking at the till feels awkward for everyone.

The good news is you don't need to ask face to face. Here's how salons can get more Google reviews without putting clients, or stylists, on the spot.

Why asking at the till doesn't work

Plenty of salons try asking at the till. It rarely works well:

• It feels awkward. Stylists don't like asking, and clients don't like being asked while they're paying.
• Clients say yes and forget. "Of course!" at the desk becomes nothing by the time they're home.
• It's inconsistent. Busy Saturdays mean nobody remembers to ask at all.
• Reviews posted in the salon can look suspicious. Several reviews coming from the same place, on the salon's Wi-Fi, can trip Google's spam filters.

Ask by text instead

A short text a few hours after the appointment works far better. The client is home, they've had a chance to look at their hair in their own mirror, and leaving a review takes one tap.

You already have their mobile number from the booking. All you need is a short message and your direct Google review link. (If you don't have the link yet, here's how to find your Google review link.)

"Hi Amy, thanks for coming in to see Jess today. We hope you love your new colour. If you have a moment, a Google review would really help us: [link]"

Mentioning the stylist by name makes it personal, and clients often mention them in their review too. That's great for your team, and it helps new clients choose who to book with.

When to send it

Same evening for most appointments

For cuts and blow-dries, the same evening is ideal. The hair still looks exactly as it did when they left.

Colour and bigger transformations

Colour clients often want to see their hair in daylight before they decide how they feel. A text the same evening still works well, but some salons find the next morning works even better for big colour changes.

Bridal and special occasions

For weddings and events, wait until after the day. A bride is far more likely to leave a glowing review once she's seen the photos.

Regular clients: ask once

Most salon clients come back every six to eight weeks. Don't send a review request after every visit. Ask once, ideally after their first few visits, and then leave it.

Your loyal regulars are your best reviewers. "I've been coming here for six years and wouldn't go anywhere else" is exactly what a new client wants to read. If you've got regulars who've never been asked, ask them after their next appointment.

Getting your team on board

Your stylists benefit directly from reviews that mention them by name. But don't turn it into a competition.

• Don't set targets. Google's rules specifically prohibit businesses from setting staff quotas for reviews.
• Don't ask stylists to chase clients. Let the text do the asking, so nobody has to feel awkward.
• Do share reviews with the team. Reading a client's lovely review is a great start to a Monday.

Google vs Instagram

Instagram is great for showing off your work. But when someone moves to a new area and searches "hairdresser near me", Google decides who they see first. Your Google rating and review count do a lot of the work.

The two work together. A client who finds you on Google will often check your Instagram before booking. But Google is where most new clients find you in the first place.

Use photos

• Add your best work to your Google Business Profile. Not just Instagram. Before and afters, colour work, the salon itself
• Clients can add photos to reviews, and a review with a photo of a great colour is incredibly persuasive
• Keep photos fresh. Add new ones regularly so your profile shows current work

Replying to reviews

Reply to every review. Thank happy clients by name and mention their stylist. For the occasional unhappy client, reply calmly and offer to put it right:

"Hi Laura, thank you for letting us know, and I'm sorry you're not happy with your colour. We'd love the chance to fix it for you. Please give us a call on [number] and ask for me. Thanks, Sophie (salon manager)"

For more wording, see our review reply templates.

What not to do

• Don't offer discounts or free treatments for reviews. It breaks Google's rules.
• Don't ask friends or family to review the salon. Only genuine clients.
• Don't ask for a 5-star review. Ask for an honest one.
• Don't hand clients a tablet to review you at the desk. Let them do it at home.

The bottom line

You don't need to ask face to face. A short, friendly text after each appointment, with a direct link, gets far more reviews than asking at the till, and nobody has to feel awkward.