hair stylist

salon manager

stylist

area manager

salon leader

SmartStyle

I joined SmartStyle hoping for a supportive, growth-oriented environment, but unfortunately, my experience was extremely stressful and discouraging. The pay was $13/hr, which made it difficult to cover basic expenses, and I didn’t receive my first paycheck during my time there. I worked for about a week before deciding to leave due to the overwhelming atmosphere.

Although the company promotes itself as a “non-toxic” workplace, I witnessed frequent gossip and favoritism from management. On my second day, the co-manager openly complained about other stylists, which created a tense environment. I also experienced inconsistent enforcement of dress code policies—being told I couldn’t wear salon-appropriate shoes or a head covering, even though other stylists wore similar items without issue. In one instance, I was pulled away from a client mid-service to be reprimanded, which felt unprofessional and disruptive.

When I asked questions to better understand procedures, I was met with dismissive attitudes. I was removed from a haircut in front of a client due to struggling with a technique I hadn’t practiced since school, which was embarrassing and undermining. I often felt watched and judged, and when I expressed that I was struggling with anxiety, I was told to “get over it.” The stress impacted my health—I lost ten pounds in a week.

The other stylists were kind and helpful, and I genuinely don’t know how they manage to stay under such difficult leadership. Management often took high-paying clients for themselves, making it hard for others to reach commission goals. Promises about building clientele and hitting commission within a month felt misleading. I didn’t feel like I gained any new skills—just learned how to appear busy while management spent time on their phones.

Stylists were expected to take every haircut without exception, while management could decline services and manipulate the client queue. Some employees had been there for months and still hadn’t hit commission. You may also be expected to open and close the salon alone.

I wouldn’t recommend this job to new stylists or anyone looking for a healthy, supportive work environment. I left for a position that pays $25/hr and offers actual training, respect, and timely paychecks.

Great place to learn and sharpen technical skills after graduating beauty school. The additional education when offered was fantastic. Smartstyle needs to learn the value of the stylist hired instead of the value of a quick $10.00. There company would be much more successful if they learned this, sooner rather than later. We are educated professionals, and in no way are treated as such. You are told to market yourself so you can make more money, in reality they are saying market yourself so we can take more than half of your earnings and hard work. 38 percent commission is a absolute joke, and insult to any stylist. Know your worth. If you hit commission, which is next to impossible with the degrading amount of coupons they print on the back of Walmart receipts, which does nothing but lower your value to a guest, don't expect to be able to pay your bills let alone your education loan. When I had to make an adult move to get a second job, because the love I have for hair and happy guests don't pay my bills, I was told by management that I had to have weekend availability to continue to work part time. Mind you I understand that business is business, but when management made special schedules for another stylist who flat out made it clear she no longer wants to be in the industry, has been there 2 years with no book of clients or request guests, but wasn't told that she needed weekend availability to stay its complete unfair work practices. I worked very hard and have done everything and any schedule management asked me to, since my manager doesn't  work closing shifts, again special scheduling do to her second job, having a growing and promising client book and future, I was told to make sure that is what I want to do (because I wouldn't be hired back). After that I know exactly what I want to do. Not work for Smartstyle or Regis salon brand ever again, until they give management the training they need to be professionals. I am rehired by the company I left for Smartstyle with open arms, excitement and appreciation for my exceptional customer service skills. Mind you its not hair which is very depressing, but at least I will work for a company that knows my worth.

Working here was nice. There was very few of us when I worked there. So the ratio from clients coming in, to the amount of stylists behind the chair, was quite challenging. This is what made me feel like this was a good start for coming right out of school. It was a high pace so the standards from the clients are raised high because they definitely didn't want you to rush their appointment so you may be able to work on the next. This requires thorough skill but demands a proper time frame so your clients aren't walking out and into another salon.
The only thing I disliked about the Salon itself was mostly corporate and mgmt. With both franchise locations I've worked in as a hairstylist, any concernes I had or family emergencies I needed answered for were not of any concern for them. Our manager at this particular location would act inappropriately around men, would put color/highlight clients under her books as a "request" even though they were new. Only because she wanted raise her avg ticket commission instead of sharing the new clients with us. Meaning more money for her. She also attempted to spread rumors/gossip with me about the other employees.. very unprofessional. Not to mention with my first day on the job, I was locked out of the salon (having opening shift with my then-manager that morning) for 45 mins! It was embarrassing to see the customers leave. I didn't have the keys yet, it was my first day. Anyway the location itself is fine for new graduates that want to build a clientele in Southern Oregon. Not a "forever" salon though. I do think that these franchises need to pay their stylists more considering how much school debt and time we have spent to do our passion. Being paid on minimum wage - $13 per hr while just finishing college, is not okay, in my opinion. It's as though our profession is not respected by these corporate franchises. Which really isn't all the corprates fault, it's the industry's as well.

I worked at this location was really excited but the owner made things unbearable!  If you've recently graduated from beauty school  or even reentering the beauty industry. It's a good place to learn everything!  I definitely took advantage of trying to learn everything because the more a hair stylist knows more money. The hardest part of the job was I could not deal with the owner. I do not like being micromanaged and watched on the cameras. If I wanted to deal with I'd stayed at my office job. The owner whom isn't a licensed cosmetologist at all. They were more about numbers and getting the customers in at any cost. Well, I'm sorry if I complete a hair for $15 and the customer comes in with a coupon for $9.99. I do not think this is fair to the hair stylist. As hair stylist we have to live as well. It's a high turnover rate because hair stylist quit constantly. The hardest part was being watched by the owner and being micromanaged. Especially, by someone who doesn't have cosmetology license and doesn't know anything about the beauty industry. Some days were it would be slow. Get use to opening and closing by yourself. Also, some customers were rude at times and tend to look down on the salon being located inside of Walmart. People can be very cheap at times but I guess that's to be expected.  I'm sorry you can hand out business cards all day. But, if the customer is use to going to their own hair stylist. Some customers are not willing to change stylist especially someone they've been going to for years. Hair stylist are paid a little bit above minimum wage and it also goes off of productivity. But, it's all chopped up by the time you receive a paycheck. Don't get me wrong if you can build clientele and they're willing to pay. It's possible to make a good amount. I think the location we were in we had a lot of competition. But, if you find a good location with a good team you can definitely build clientele.

High turnover of stylist and salon managers. it is so true "people dont leave companies, People Leave Management! Regis Corp should call the employee's/ managers that left this district in the last year and ask them why they left!!! Our  area District Leader not care about staff, never there to help when your short staffed, They have a a push for " retain employee's", but with this District Leader, Retaining Employee's is not heard of. Empty Promises, lies and deceit from the District Leader. When needed help as everyone else had left to work at other salons, The District Leader would NOT help out. claimed had to be at another city to work, which btw was a lie as you are able to see the sales from all the stores in the district,and guess what? The District Leader lied, that salon was NOT open that saturday, When put in notice, she didnt ask why, she didnt seem to care, the only thing she said thru a txt message was K. Really?  This particular district has had a very high turn over with stylists and management! In the last year, around 8- 9 stylist and managers have LEFT because of the District Leader!! Can you say Red Flags?  Not Appreciated or thanked for doing a great job, It was always you need to do this, that and the other, It was NEVER amazing job! Never helped find employee's to hire UNTIL you put in your notice and wala, she pulls an employee out of her hat to come to work.You could ask and ask for help and didnt get it, then when there is no one to work there, everyone puts in their notice, the District Leader magically finds employees, Seriously? You couldnt do that before someone leaves?!! I wouldnt recommend anyone to work in this district! Commission or hourly pay, the commission rate they pay is so unrealistic that no one ever makes commission at a smart style!!

After finishing beauty school a friend began working at a smartstyle salon in a different location and loved it she got plenty of job training to improve her skills for the workplace before being thrown onto the floor to work on her own she loved working there so much I decided to apply at my local smartstyle expecting that they were all managed the same and it would be a great starting location but I was wrong. First of all management never went over the rules they handed me a book and said everything is in there, as I was reading I realized my own manager was not following the rules such as dress code and clocking out for breaks. Second I got absolutly no training the first day I worked there they jus started giving me who ever walked in without giving any advice on what to do in certain situations. Well of course this being my first job out of school my techniques were not quite at a professional level and my knowledge was limited, training would have of course brought me to a professional level but since there was no job training I was left to do it on my own and learn from my mistakes. But of course with mistakes comes clients that are not fully satisfied. When these clients went to management they were given redos and a refunds and I was told about the redos but never actually told what I did wrong! Without even attempting to help show me how to correct my weak points or even what they were I was written up and after 3 clients having small redos or refunds done in the matter of a month I was fired. I understand that no salon wants unsatisfied clients but I do wish all smartstyles would do the proper training to prevent these mistakes and take into consideration that for most of the employees this is they're first job so mistakes will happen!

Smart Style is a nice, laid back place to work. During the week there's one one person per shift so it can get a little boring when there is no walk in clients, or appointment booked; thats your opporunity to stand at the entrance and pass out business cards and flyers. They allow you the opportunity to further your education at no cost to you! You only have to have transportion. Working here you will definiately gain the experience of dealing with clients and and how to run a salon. The managers are no better than you are but they can sumtimes get the "big head" because of the title, and try to make things difficult or complicated.Fortunately, i didnt have that problem. :-D Anyone can be a manager if you have the time. Most of the employees at smart style are beginners and just learning the ropes and if you are choose the right salon to work in, its more of a family salon where everyone helps each other and not just employees thinking selfishly. The hardest part of this job was gaining clientele. Probably because the price are a la carte and with the economy at an all time low, the prices seem to gradually increase and no one wants to pay the expensive prices. Majority of the people only come in for the cheap specials. The most enjoyable part of working at smart Style is Diversity! I enjoy meeting new people! I enjoy making people feel good about themselves. I enjoy problem solving; so when a client had an issue or concern, I was the one that usually resolved it and I more than happy to help.

This is a job that's great for someone fresh out of school. You get the experience you need to advance your skills in a fast-paced environment and learn how to handle customers. With the recent changes from corporate, however, it is not a good long-term option. Making commission is difficult, so you're stuck at minimum wage unless you've been there for years with a heavy following. Upper management and management place unrealistic expectations on stylists and make them feel like it's their fault that numbers are low on slow nights. They are told to market themselves, work the lease line, etc. You can bring a horse to water, but you cant make it drink. They got rid of the stylist of the month recognition program and dont do anything to make things fun. The "uniform" is black everything. Oh, you can accessorize with color, but dressing like youre going to a funeral everyday gets old after so long..... My closet is nothing but black and it gets difficult to find things to wear any other day..... The build up to actually being on commission and almost jumping to the next commission level, then the subsequent let down when they dropped their prices at the expense of their stylists has killed my passion for this company. They even got rid of their hands-on education program in exchange for video/iPad education. Nothing beats hands on..... Anything to save a buck, I guess.....

A typical work day for me would be me coming in and getting the day started by making sure that all my shelves were stocked and dusted and making sure that the deposit were made and everything was in the right order. Once the doors are open most of the time we have customers already waiting for a service either a haircut, wax, are maybe even purchase products. If slow we would pass out coupons inside of Walmart or put on the window shield of vehicle.
I have really learned a lot while working at Smart Styles. I learned that customer service is the best key. If you can make a customer happy they will continue to come to your work place and they will send more customers.
Being a manager I really like being in control and showing a lot of my different ideas, techniques and assisting others when they needed extra help.
Working with my co-workers you had to deal with a lot of different attitudes. Some would go that extra mile to get the job done and there were some that you had to guide them all the way through, but, it was worth the challenge.
The hardest part of my job was making sure that the customer was satisfied with there service. I realized that you could not please everyone. 
The most enjoyable part of my job was when I attended different hair shows to learn trending techniques such as colors, cuts, weaves, and styling.

I couple days ago i was employed at my local smart style, and i told my manager i was going to be leaving. For a couple hours she texted and called begging me not to quit and to rethink it. The next day she texted me threatening to terminate me (even though i told her i wouldnt be working there anymore) then texted me saying she was going to prosicute me for not returning the key and that i was immature. When i turned my key in and went to pick up my things she had already went through the station that had been mine and put my belongings in a trash bag. I quit because she was not the most proffesional person to work with. I was just out of beauty school and she basically told me i did bad hair cuts and that i was going to be the reason the shop had the name "chop shop." she constantly talked to her clients about other people or people who previously worked there, talked about her times at the bar or her husband, or very very unproffesional shop. when i started working there 7 ladies were employed. When i left there were only 3 left. I wonder if she ever wonders why nobody ever stays, Maybe if she treated her employees with a little bit of respect she could keep them. I would recommend getting to know your co workers and manager before you start working there, because they always seem nice at first, but she wasnt. It was the worst 1st salon job experience i've had. My new manager at my new job is wonderful and very willing to help work with me. Not degrade me and make me feel bad. :)

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Hair stylist 193 salaries reported	$26.80 per hour
Salon manager 44 salaries reported	$32.42 per hour
Stylist 30 salaries reported	$25.17 per hour
Area manager 14 salaries reported	$32.50 per hour
Salon leader 7 salaries reported	$14.41 per hour

Working at SmartStyle: Company Overview and Reviews

SmartStyle

SmartStyle Ratings

Popular jobs at SmartStyle

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected