As exciting as the start of the new year can be, there’s no denying that January and February tend to be some of the slowest months of the year for hairstylists. Following the busy rush of the holiday season, it’s not uncommon for stylists to see fewer appointments and urgent requests from their clients. While this drop off can be very discouraging and even disappointing, there are some things you can do during this crucial two-month period to stay productive and keep your momentum going well for the coming months ahead.
To help you navigate this post-holiday quiet period, The Tease enlisted a few of Cosmo Prof’s professional team members—including Carly Zanoni, Jocelyn Emerson, Stewart Vann, and Brendnetta Ashley— to share their advice on how to make the most of these slower months behind the chair. Here, they’ll touch on everything from how stylists should handle planning for the year ahead to dealing with holiday burnout. Read on for their insights!
Carly Zanoni, (@the.blonde.chronicles)
Hairstylist and Schwarzkopf Professional Artistic Team Member
On her #1 tip for managing holiday burnout: “My best advice for this is to not over do it. I’ve been in the position where I’ve taken on so many additional appointments and worked so many extra hours and ultimately I feel so drained and exhausted that my clients really aren’t getting my best work. Encourage clients to start thinking about the holiday appointments many months in advance and begin planning for it early.”
On the strategies that she’s found helpful when planning for the post-holiday quiet period: “My best advice is to have some express service options for the clients who can’t afford the “big” service but still want to do something. The options are endless but could include extra mini foils to only brighten the most important areas, face frame foil options to only add a pop around the face, wet balayage for brightening dull ends, mini haircut options to clean up only around the face…the list could go on!”
On how she typically spends her downtime: “If I’m being totally honest, I actually spend small amounts of downtime scrolling social media!! But, it’s not mindless scrolling. I’ll just scroll through the reels tab on IG or the For You Page on TikTok and save any post that gives me an idea for content to post.”
On the classes/training she recommends to new stylists who are just getting their feet wet: “If I was a brand new stylist, I would spend bigger chunks of downtime consuming education videos or creating swatches with my color line so I could understand it better!”
On her advice to stylists who are navigating a slower January and February after a busy December: “My best advice would be to offer an incentive for clients to book a gloss or “in between” service in January or February. This would be some sort of mini appointment in between their “big” December and March/April appointments.”
Jocelyn Emerson, (@updos.by.jocelyn)
Hairstylist, Educator, and BaByliss PRO Team Member
On her #1 tip for managing holiday burnout: “Make sure that you take enough time for you, and your family, and what’s important to you. Set a schedule of the most you are willing to do, and stick to it. My number one tip of how to stay inspired in the slower months is to plan time into your week each week to learn something new.”
On the strategies that she’s found helpful when planning for the post-holiday quiet period: “I try to ensure that I am best utilizing my busier times of year by putting some of my income aside to compensate for the slower times of the year. During my slower times of year, I try to plan to get things that are on a more flexible timelines scheduled and completed, to free up more free time and availability in my busiest times of year—for example, websites updates, inventory, tax planning, pre-booking appointments for upcoming clients,, bridal trials, etc.”
On how she typically spends her downtime: “I love using my downtime to focus on some of my personal goals, spend extra quality time with family and friends, and to reignite the passion behind what I do! During my busy season, it is easy to feel uninspired and burnt out, so I try to spend my downtime wisely by taking new classes, and practicing new techniques to get reinspired!”
Stewart Vann, (@stew.stylez)
Hairstylist, Educator, and K18 Collective Member
On his #1 tip for managing holiday burnout: “Burnout is like a bad hair day that lasts for weeks. It’s when your creativity needs a vacation but your schedule won’t allow it. It’s definitely a real thing in the hairstyling world! My number one tip for managing it is all about self-care. Another great way to keep the juices flowing is by seeking inspiration outside of the salon. Attend industry events, take classes online or in-person, or even visit art exhibits. Surrounding yourself with different forms of creativity can help fuel your own artistic vision and passion.”
On the strategies that he’s found helpful when planning for the post-holiday quiet period: “First off, I like to get ahead of the game. I specialize in custom color, and 99% of my clients receive foil work, so I start promoting “after-holiday hair” refreshes and retouches during the busy months towards the end of the year to my clientele. Communicating with my clients during the end-of-year rush that their next appointment in the beginning of the year can be focused more on budget-friendly services such as global glossing or face framing services that are shorter appointments and less expensive as their budget recovers from the expensive holiday season is crucial for maintaining my books. It’s a win-win of working around the financial stress of the holidays plus, it keeps things steady during the quieter months
When things calm down in January and February, I take that time to get creative. I attend industry events, workshops, and classes to stay on top of the latest trends and techniques. It keeps me inspired and ready to bring fresh ideas to my clients when things pick up again. Of course, I can forget about social media. It’s a game-changer! I stay active online, sharing before-and-after transformations, styling tips, and behind-the-scenes peeks. It helps me stay connected with my current clients and attract new ones who are looking for a change in the new year.”
On how he typically spends her downtime: “Downtime? That’s a rare gem in the hairstyling world on most days behind the chair! When I have some free time, I like to use it wisely by investing in my own growth and education. During slower seasons, I take the opportunity to expand my skills and knowledge through different educational opportunities.”
On the classes/training he recommends to new stylists who are just getting their feet wet: “I encourage new stylists to find mentorship opportunities, and I find this is the busiest time of year for education I offer. Connecting with an experienced hairstylist who’s willing to guide and share their knowledge is priceless. Apprenticeships or shadowing seasoned professionals can provide hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the industry.”
Brendnetta Ashley, (@edgybgirl)
Hairstylist and Schwarzkopf Professional Artistic Team Member
On her #1 tip for managing holiday burnout: “Burnout is so real and serious. To stay consistent, allow yourself a “no hair day”, one day out of the week to do nothing hair related. This allows you time to reset.”
On the strategies that she’s found helpful when planning for the post-holiday quiet period: “The best advice I can give is always have your clients pre-book. This signals them to know that your schedule fills up quickly so they don’t want to miss an opportunity of getting back on your schedule.”
On how she typically spends her downtime: “I plan at least 4 training courses for the year. One on how to grow my business, how to expand in an area I enjoy doing in the salon, a color class, and a cutting class.”
