How to prevent your appointments from running over: 10 tips.

Especially the weeks before the holidays are busy as a beauty specialist. Whether you're a hairdresser, brow stylist or nail technician. How do you avoid running out? Read the following 10 real-life tips, and prepare yourself for a flawless and stress-free month.

By Ska van Buren

Start every treatment at the appointed time. Sounds easy, but we all know that can be a chore. Several factors can cause you to run late and your clients to have to wait.

You want to avoid that, of course, because no one likes rushed work and angry clients.
Especially in the busy weeks before the holidays, keeping everything running smoothly can be a huge challenge.

These tips will help you stay on track and keep that infamous December stress at bay.

Even more than usual, it's important that your clients arrive on time. And it's okay to tell them that. Explain in the appointment reminder email that you are extra busy at this time of year. And emphasize that they need to be on time. Unfortunately, if someone arrives late, he or she can no longer be treated.

It's busy and fun in your salon and at the end of the year you are very curious about all your clients' plans. But just now you have less time for an extensive conversation. So save the small talk for the new year and find the coziness in nice decorations and cheerful Christmas music.

Go for products with a short soaking time so you can do your treatments as efficiently as possible. PowerStain is a product with a short application time for dyeing the brows. With an average application time of 10 minutes, those brows will be done nice and fast.

You may think it sounds unkind, but if you want to do yourself a favor have a no kids and no pets policy. Put in your confirmation email that you expect clients to come alone, or at most can bring an adult. Especially during this hectic time, it gets a little too crowded in your salon if there are kids or pets running around too.

Of course you have your stock in order. Because you shouldn't think about suddenly running out of paint or wax, and having to improvise. And keep in mind that in December the mail also takes longer. So order on time!

Book every appointment "secretly" 5 minutes early. A customer books an appointment for 3:45 p.m., which starts at 3:50 p.m. in your calendar. This way, it's not a problem if clients arrive 5 minutes late, because they are actually right on time. Are they there at the appointed time? Then they have to wait 5 minutes, and they can provide themselves with a nice cup of tea. No one can object to that.

You would like to offer your customers something to drink, but it also takes a lot of time to make a cappuccino for everyone. And especially if a customer is already almost at the turn, she doesn't have time to drink it. The solution is simple. Put out a nice thermos with tasty tea and Christmas cookies and let your customers serve themselves.

While one client is "in henna paint," wax the other. It may not sound ideal, but your clients are happy you were able to find room for them. As long as you make it clear in advance that - this time - this is how you are going to proceed. That way, for example, you can also let Hybrid Dye soak in while you perform a lash elevator.

You can ask in advance that clients come to their appointment for a lash elevator or eyelash extensions without eye makeup on. Or have cotton balls and makeup remover ready. That way, clients can remove their own makeup as soon as they come in, and you can immediately start the treatment when it's their turn. By the way, many clients enjoy removing their eye makeup themselves.

Even more than usual, make sure your workspace is organized. And make sure you have plenty of cotton pads, cotton swabs and gloves on your work table. Plus a supply of clean tweezers, brushes and scissors. The better prepared, the less you'll have to move from your spot to restock supplies, or - worse - search for them.