09 July 2019

How to survive the school summer holidays as a Hair & Beauty Professional

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As a freelance hair and beauty professional, summer can be one long juggling act trying to keep your customers AND your kids happy. Here’s how to make it work…

For your kids, the school summer holidays are the highlight of their year (no classes for six weeks, woo hoo!) Yet as a working parent, the long break is anything but a holiday. Instead you’re faced with the seemingly impossible task of entertaining your children and making sure you don’t let your hair and beauty clients down.

This isn’t helped by the huge cost of summer childcare. According to the Family and Childcare Trust, holiday childcare costs an average £125 a week.

Here are our tips for freelance hair and beauty professionals that won’t break the bank - or your sanity! - this summer.

Manage your client’s expectations

Chances are lots of your clients are mums. So not only will they understand your situation, they may also have their own children at home to look after.

Let your customers know if you’re going to have limited hours available in July and August and, if you can, aim to book them in for treatments before schools break up.

It might mean working extra hours in the run up to the summer holidays, but it’ll be worth it! Make sure you are well stocked up on hair and beauty essentials during this busy period.

“If you have childcare in the day, try and condense your working hours by booking appointments as close together as you can”

Shift your hours

If you have a partner, think about shifting your hours for the summer months and offering appointments in the evenings when your other half is home to look after the kids.

If you have childcare in the day, try and condense your working hours by booking appointments as close together as you can.

Ask your family and friends for help

You’ve probably heard the saying, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. And that’s especially true in the summer holidays when you’re a working parent.

Ask your family and friends to help out with childcare as much as possible. You can then return the favour for friends on days when you’re not working. To be super-organised, set up a childcare rota with your mates so you all know exactly who is helping and when.

Make the most of holiday clubs

If you’ve got childcare vouchers, use these to pay towards holiday clubs in the summer months. Most clubs accept them as full or part payment.

Also check out the summer camps being run by Sainsbury’s which cost £7.50 per child per day. Find your nearest holiday club on their website.

Stagger holidays with your partner

A study by Nationwide found 73% of parents are having to book separate holidays to cover childcare in the holidays.

While this is far from ideal, it could be an option if you’re worried about taking too much time off from your hair and beauty business.

Work weekends

Along with adapting your hours, you could also switch your working days in the summer holidays. Offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays when your partner or another family member can look after the kids.

Not only can you cut childcare costs, you can also enjoy the (non-working) weekdays with your children knowing you’re not losing out on business.