If you’re in the planning stages for a new salon business, you may be searching for the perfect name. If you’ve been in business for a while, you might be rethinking the original name you chose and decide it’s time to change it.
Either way, this choice might seem straightforward, but it may prove to be more challenging than you expect.
Your name needs to do more than simply sound good. It needs to fit with your salon’s brand identity. It needs to convey your values, services, and unique selling points.
Also, you need to account for practical considerations before committing to your choice.
Ask yourself—is anyone else using the name? Will customers be able to remember it? Will they be able to spell it easily when searching the internet or getting directions from Google Maps?
This article will cover the factors you need to consider when choosing a salon name. We’ll look at the role your brand plays in name choice.
And finally, our article will explore tips for selecting a name and ways to start brainstorming right now.
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What’s in a (Salon) Name?
Nearly 60% of salon business comes from repeat customers. Building this type of ongoing relationship takes time. It starts by attracting the right clients and setting expectations. Your salon’s name plays an important role in this first impression.
A thoughtfully considered name will help you attract your target clientele—people interested in your services and brand. This is why your name must communicate these details.
Here are some points that you should consider when brainstorming hair salon name ideas:
- Outline your service. The name you choose should make your services clear. Even if you don’t explicitly say “barber” or “hair salon,” the services should be implied. You don’t want a name that could be confused for another business type.
- Set yourself apart. Catchy, creative names can gain attention and make marketing efforts easier. Also, a name is supposed to set you apart. It’s your chance to differentiate yourself from competitors.
- Communicate your brand image. Your name should communicate your best qualities. Is your salon sophisticated or accessible? Words like “studio” or “spa” may draw interest from one audience. Things like “neighborhood salon” or “shop” will appeal to different potential customers.
- Fit your marketing materials. Practicality is also important. Your name needs to fit on business cards and signs and stand out on marketing materials. It can’t be too long or hard to pronounce.
Your hair salon name ideas should have these qualities. The best approach is to define your brand and services first. Then, you can choose a name that fits with them.
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Understanding Your Brand
Your salon name ideas need to fit your brand. Another way to think about your brand is that it is your salon’s personality. It communicates the experience your clients will have when they visit.
Your brand covers everything from services to the way you treat clients. Your salon’s design and ambiance are also part of the brand identity.
Think about it this way—a welcoming neighborhood salon offers a very different experience from an exclusive one. If you have a name like Luxe Hair Studio, people will expect something luxurious. Something like Debbie’s Hair Shoppe will bring a more casual experience to mind.
A big part of understanding your brand is defining your clients.
Do they want a casual neighborhood spot with friendly stylists? Or would they prefer to be pampered in a quiet environment? The answers to these types of questions will help you see what your clients expect. Your brand needs to meet these expectations.
Here are steps you can take to clearly define your salon’s brand:
- Define the experiences you want to provide. Services and quality will be part of this definition. However, you should also consider how you want people to feel when they come to your salon. Your brand might focus on creating a fun, social experience, or you might focus on pampering or relaxation. Defining these experiences is essential for your brand.
- Create your brand voice. Think of the way your brand would talk if it was a person. Your salon might provide expert hair care advice. In this case, your voice might be serious and authoritative. Or maybe your primary qualities are playful, glamorous, or modern. Choose a name that fits your desired salon personality. This is also very important for creating consistent marketing messages.
- Look at your competitors. You don’t want your brand to resemble your competitors too closely. If you offer similar services, your brand identity might be close to theirs. Customers may not be able to tell the difference. The good news is that you will find differences if you look closely enough.
- Write down your unique selling points. Decide what you do better than your competitors. Define what makes you different. It could be services they don’t offer or values they don’t share. These are your unique selling points (USPs). They’re very important for defining your brand. As we’ll see later, they can also help with naming.
- Tell your salon’s story. Your salon’s history can help you define your brand. Why did you start the salon? What do you want people to feel when they come there for services? How do you plan to grow in the coming years? You can use the answers to these questions to craft a narrative. This may help you define what’s important to your business. It can also define the values you want to build your business around.
- Look at the design and decor of your salon. They create a certain mood. This ambiance is also part of your brand. Any name you choose should match your salon’s environment. If you aren’t sure, you can ask your clients or stylists what mood they feel when entering your space.
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6 Tips for Naming Your Salon Business
Once you understand your brand, it’s time to choose a name.
This step might be more challenging than you think. Many of the obvious choices may already be taken. Others may be clever or catchy, but they might not match your brand.
Here are 6 tips for overcoming these pitfalls and choosing a creative salon name:
1). Make a List of Hair and Salon-Related Terms.
You can start by jumping right into the name brainstorming or collecting some ideas first.
One method is to start with a list of hair-related words. You can also include common salon slang and tools of the trade. You might even want to add popular products.
2). Get Out the Thesaurus.
There are plenty of different words for hair, salon, or scissors. You can crack open a thesaurus to find one that sounds good.
This can help you expand your hair-related word list and find terms that better fit your brand. For example, words like “curls” and “mane” may be catchier than simply saying “hair.”
3). Use Alliteration.
Alliteration is the repetition of sounds at the beginning of words. It’s a way to create easy-to-remember names without the challenge of rhyming.
This might work if you combine your name with a common salon word. It might also help if you choose a thesaurus term.
For instance, Sharon’s Shears might be easier to remember than Sharon’s Salon or Sharon’s Scissors. Remember that this only works if it fits with your brand. Sharon’s Shears might work for a neighborhood salon, but it wouldn’t necessarily fit for a stylish or high-end place.
4). Name Your Clientele.
Add the people you serve to the name. This typically only works if you get creative. You wouldn’t call your barber shop Men’s Haircuts, but Gents Cuts might work.
Something like Belle Curls could work for a primarily female clientele. This approach is useful if you have a well-defined target audience. Also, consider your client’s preferred style. Beautiful Braids might work if this is your specialty, for example.
5). Make It Local.
If you have a diverse clientele, consider adding a location to your name. You might opt for something generic, like [Your City] Styles. This would work in any urban place. Central Ave Salon gives a more precise location.
Some location names, like Downtown Stylists, might give a more upscale appeal. This idea will work for a local salon, but it might not be useful if you plan to expand beyond one location.
6). Describe What Makes You Special.
Do your brand groundwork before brainstorming names. This will help you define your unique selling points. Then, you can highlight these qualities in your name.
For example, Effortless Glamour might work if your salon is efficient and user-friendly. Or something like Creative Locks will highlight your ability to create unique hairstyles.
You can brainstorm verbally. However, writing out your hair salon name ideas can be helpful.
Writing them out will help you remember them. It will also help you see how the names look visually. After all, they will be on your sign and business cards.
Visualizing is especially important when you get creative with wordplay. Hair Force is a clever play on “Air Force,” but you need to make sure wordplay also works when people read the name.
There is one more thing to consider. You must follow specific legal steps to change your business name if you have an existing salon. Typically, you need to file a change of business name form with your state. Then, you need to update your bank and insurer with your new name.
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How You Can Start Brainstorming Hair Salon Name Ideas Right Now
A good salon name can help you attract new customers. It can also set expectations for their experience when they come for their service.
Choosing the best hair salon name requires careful consideration, but you can start the brainstorming process right now.
Here are 6 steps to kick off your name search:
1). Create a Shortlist.
Use different strategies for brainstorming names. Rely on alliteration or rhyming. Then, see what you can come up with when using local place names.
You’ll save time with a list of 10 or 20 name possibilities. You can check availability and test your ideas all at once. If you only have one choice, you’ll have to go back to brainstorming if you hit a roadblock.
2). Check the Availability of Possible Names.
A salon might already have your chosen name. One way to check this is to search your state’s business name database. This will usually be on either the Department of Commerce or the Secretary of State website. You can avoid disappointment by checking your shortlisted names here first.
Eventually, you’ll need to register your chosen name with your state. You can check the cost of doing this while you’re on the site.
3). Test Your Ideas.
A name might sound good to you, but others could find it confusing. Get input to help find the names that don’t work. You can ask family and friends if you trust them to give you an honest answer.
Get input from people in the industry, too. The name must also resonate with your target audience. See how they respond and if they understand the wordplay or references.
4). Look for Domain Names and Social Accounts.
Name availability is important, but you also want to ensure the domain name and social media account handles are available. Online names do not have the same legal protections as state-registered business names.
People will come to your site for pricing or contact information. An online presence is vital for any business, including hair salons. So, this step is important.
5). Sketch Logos.
You want to make sure your name makes sense when people read it. This includes your logo.
Consider how the logo will look as you brainstorm names. The stylized name will be on your sign. It’ll be the most visible part of your marketing materials and website.
Ideally, the name will work both audibly and visually. Sometimes, you’ll find visual inspiration first. Then, you can work backward to find a name that gives you the look you want.
6). Trust Your Instincts.
Some names might just sound right to you. But you need to go through the process of defining your brand and brainstorming. You should be left with the name options that passed all the tests and checks.
At this point, there may be a few choices left. All other things being equal, you can choose the one that feels the most appealing to you.
