In the salon industry, the client experience is just as important as the final result. Elevating your services at the backbar and beyond is a smart way to increase revenue while keeping clients coming back for more. “I’ve been doing hair for 20 years, and one thing that’s stayed consistent the entire time is that clients want to feel taken care of,” says Matrix Artist and Los Angeles-based salon owner Constance Robbins (@constancerobbins).
Subtle, strategic upgrades—such as sensorial enhancements, high-tech tools, and expert education—can lead to big returns for stylists. These thoughtful add-ons can transform routine appointments into rejuvenating experiences that encourage repeat visits. Robbins has seen these results firsthand. Before earning the title of “queen of reds” from her devoted clientele, it was her indulgent head massages during standard shampoos that set her apart.
Ready to turn ordinary appointments into luxury retreats that clients can’t resist? Keep reading to discover six of Matrix’s top service add-ons that clients won't hesitate to splurge on time and time again.
Image: Courtesy of Matrix
Turn Every Wash Into a Spa-Worthy Escape
A shampoo should be more than just a cleansing step, according to Robbins. Instead of rushing through a wash, extend your client’s experience with a longer, intentional massage during shampoo and conditioner application. Focus on pressure points to help promote circulation and deep relaxation.
Providing extra care during shampoos leaves clients feeling pampered and more likely to book add-on treatments, like a scalp detox or deep-conditioning mask. Using pH-balanced products like Matrix’s Glow Mania Color Protecting Shampoo and Conditioner enhances this indulgent experience and makes for an easy retail upsell. Formulated with glycolic acid and rosehip oil, this duo produces a luxe lather and delivers diamond-like shine and softer, shinier locks.
Image: Courtesy of Matrix
Enhance Any Service With a Quick Glow Up
A luxurious shampoo experience sets the stage for additional treatments, making a moisture-rich mask the perfect next step. “As a business owner, adding a three- to five-minute mask at the shampoo bowl doesn’t set my day back, and I don’t have to book in extra time for the service,” says Robbins. At just $15 per service, performing 10 of these treatments a week generates nearly $7,700 in extra revenue per year.*
One must-have mask treatment that delivers three times the shine in record time is Matrix’s Glow Mania Glazing Queen Super Gloss Protecting Mask for dull and color-treated hair. This mask (along with the rest of the Glow Mania range) is the first laminating haircare to enhance color glow from the inside out for up to eight weeks—making it an easy upsell for anyone who wants to get in on the “glass hair” trend or keep rich reds, brunettes, and blondes looking vibrant for longer.
Pro Tip: To elevate the experience, Robbins recommends incorporating a warm towel wrap, which helps enhance absorption and adds a spa-like touch.
Image: Courtesy of Matrix
Create a Multi-Sensory Experience
Engaging multiple senses is another excellent way to elevate the client experience and boost your bottom line. Try adding a moisturizing hand massage to a standard shampoo service for an additional charge, or offer an aromatherapy scalp massage using essential oils like rosemary—an ingredient that recently went viral on TikTok for its hair and scalp benefits.
And remember: Small, thoughtful details can go a long way when it comes to making your salon stand out. Robbins creates seasonal drinks for clients to sip on during their services, like her signature cocktails and mocktails. This spring, she’s serving a sparkling citrus beverage that complements the mango, grapefruit, and coconut notes in Matrix’s Glow Mania Glazing Queen mask treatment.
Refresh Color Quickly
Glossing treatments and toners are quick, high-impact services that keep your clients coming into the salon between color appointments. “I’ll do a clear gloss or a very light level 10 or 11 toner and it’s crazy how big of a difference that can make,” says Robbins. These quick, lunch break-friendly treatments are especially effective for enhancing tone-on-tone shades and warm hues like coppery brunettes and golden blondes, which are set to dominate in 2025, according to Robbins.
Positioning glossing and toning services as essential for color maintenance is a great way to keeps customers’ hair feeling fresh while increasing client retention and revenue. For lasting shine and vibrancy, send clients home with the right maintenance products—like Matrix’s Glow Mania Glow Gatekeeper Glow Sealing Leave-In Conditioner (coming March 2025), which protects hair against heat styling and preserves color glow for up to 32 washes.**
Images: Courtesy of Constance Robbins (@constancerobbins)
Introduce High-Tech Tools for a Customized Approach
Incorporating high-tech tools into your services is another way to add value and impress your clients. Here are a few examples:
- Scalp cameras allow you to assess scalp health and recommend personalized treatments.
- Waterfall attachments quickly transform a standard shampoo bowl into a relaxing head spa experience.
- High-frequency wands, which are commonly used in skincare, can be combed through hair post-blowout to stimulate the scalp and help boost circulation.
Offered individually or bundled together as a package, these innovative tools can reinforce your expertise while caring for your clients’ hair and generating additional income. “You can produce a lot of revenue with just a little bit of initial investment,” says Robbins.
Image: Courtesy of Matrix
Offer Exquisite Vibes and Expert Education
The ultimate upgrade to every service? Your undivided attention. “Being present in the moment is better than any tool or special add-on service—and it costs nothing,” explains Robbins. Instead of multitasking, take the time to educate your clients on styling techniques and at-home maintenance. Explain the benefits of high-performance products, like those in Matrix’s Glow Mania collection, which help protect hair against daily aggressors like heat styling, UV rays, hard water, and pollution—all of which can dull color and shine.
Personalized, hands-on guidance makes clients feel valued while subtly encouraging retail purchases. When clients leave confident in their ability to maintain and recreate their look, they’ll see your services as indispensable and spread the word, leaving glowing reviews and attracting new business to fuel your success.
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