3 Ways to Reduce Waste in your Salon

Managing and reducing salon product waste is not only good for the environment but also for your business. With a few simple steps, you can make your salon more sustainable and save money in the long run. In this blog, we will discuss how to reduce backbar waste in your salon, specifically focusing on hair color.

How much hair color am I wasting?

Did you know that salons generate an estimated 42,000 lbs of hair color waste per day That's equivalent to 15,330,000 lbs per year. This is a staggering amount that really adds up over time. On average, salons waste between 20-40% of hair color per bowl, which is due to overmixing or using too much product during a client's appointment.

At the time you’re mixing what you believe to be the correct amount. You want to ensure that you’re not having to run back to mix more too many times. Especially for lightening services when you may be using more specialized techniques that already take an hour (or more) in application.  

To reduce how much backbar waste might be coming out of your salon consider using a tool like SalonScale. That allows you to weigh your waste at the end of each session and easily see how to remix another part of the bowl if you need. Our remix feature sets mixing targets for you ensure you don’t over mix on those extra bowls. 

With our waste feature, you can see in real-time the amount and associated cost of your waste. This empowers stylists to be more mindful of their mixes, leading to less product waste over time.

What do I do with the waste number?

Once you have calculated the amount of product waste generated by your salon, there are a few things you can do with this information. Firstly, you can adjust your prices to reflect what was used during your client's appointment, ensuring you're not overcharging your clients. We like to call this fair pricing. 

Additionally, SalonScale allows you to refine your formulas and adjust them based on the waste from the previous appointment. This ensures that you don't go over the next time you use your formula on your client, saving you money on product waste in the long run.

With reporting features, you can also track the associated waste cost by product and stylist, making it easier to identify trends and make informed decisions about how to reduce your salon's product waste.

How do I talk to my team about waste?

Creating a sustainable salon requires everyone on your team to work together. Start by setting goals together around reducing waste, as working collectively towards the same goal can help to hold each other accountable. By reducing product waste, you can also reduce the amount you need to order, saving you money. With the extra money you can reward your team with educational opportunities or trying out a new product line - but we will leave that up to you and your team. 

Transparency is key when it comes to discussing waste with your team. By being honest about the impact that waste has on your salon, your pricing, and your operations, you can build mutual understanding and trust among your team. This can help to create a culture of sustainability in your salon that benefits both the environment and your bottom line.

In conclusion, reducing backbar waste in your salon is not only good for the environment but also for your business. By implementing tools like SalonScale and having open and honest conversations with your team, you can create a more sustainable salon that benefits everyone. If you're interested in learning more about how to create a sustainable salon financially and environmentally, check out our free class or chat with one of our SalonScale experts. 

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