Booking for a group, a wedding or the festival season

Across South Asia, the busiest days in a salon’s year are the days before a festival or a wedding. Before Dashain and Tihar, Diwali or Eid, and through wedding season, everyone wants the same few days, often the same few hours. A little planning gets your group in.

Book earlier than you think

Times before a festival fill early, and the evening before goes first. As soon as you know your plans, book. Saloonly shows the salon’s real diary, so if a time is there, it is free; if the day you want is already full, you will know straight away and can choose another day or another salon.

Good to know: Some salons need bookings a few hours ahead, and the salon’s page says so under Good to know. On busy days, booking the day before is wise anyway.

One booking per person

Each booking on Saloonly is for one person. For a group, make one booking each: one for the bride, one for her sister, one for an aunt. Put each person’s name on their booking so the salon knows who to expect.

Choosing “Anyone free” instead of a single stylist shows the most times, which makes it much easier to get several people in at once or back to back.

Read next: Booking for someone else, and seeing bookings on any device

Plan the order on the day

• Longer services first: hair that needs setting, or a full makeup look, before a quick blow-dry or a beard trim.
• Leave a gap between the last appointment and when you need to leave. The last person always runs late.
• Write down who is booked when, and share it with the group.
• Remember that every time is in the salon’s local time, which matters if relatives are flying in.

Do the small things a few days ahead

Threading, waxing and brows a few days before let any redness settle. Nails two days or so before keep them fresh. Anything new for your skin, such as a first facial or peel, belongs weeks ahead, not the week of the festival.

Read next: Your first facial: what to expect and what to ask

For weddings

Book trials and pre-wedding appointments online at salons near you. For the day itself, especially if the artist travels to you, talk to them directly about timings, travel and how many people they can do.

Read next: A bridal beauty timeline: what to book, and when

If plans change

Festival plans move. Cancel from My bookings as soon as you know, while you are still inside the salon’s cancellation window, so someone else can have the time. After that, call the salon. On the busiest days of the year, they will be grateful.