Making Space in Your Book for Wig Clients
You’re a career stylist. Your book is full.
You’re curious about wigs and hair-loss work, but your schedule is packed. How do you pull time out of thin air to help those with thin hair? You need a plan. I got you.
This post is Part 1 of a short series on moving into wigs with clarity and confidence. Today is about creating space in both your book and your brain. I’ll mention the other topics at the end and cover them in upcoming posts.
Why “space” comes first
Wig work needs energy, privacy, and focus. Without room in your week, everything feels heavy. Make space first. The rest gets easier.
The goal
Free 4 hours per week. That gives you at least 3 consult slots per week. About 12 per month. Consults are one hour. Short buffer after each for notes/coffee/lav break.
This plan will require focus and a business mindset. I know our clients become our friends and some have been with us a very long time, but the fact is that time will not appear out of nowhere (with the possible exception of economic downturns) so you must create it. The following is a proven plan to tighten up your book and your earning potential, reduce your mental anxiety and create room to start serving hair loss clientele. PDF link at the end.
Quick definitions:
Legacy = older services/hours you’re keeping short-term while you pivot but plan to drop eventually.
Graduate a client = a kind, professional handoff to a better-fit stylist (with referrals).
The 5 Step Plan to Make Room for Wig Clients Without Burning Out
Step 1: Flip the policies that drain you
Card on file + deposit
50% due at booking for color and chemical services
Non-refundable inside 48 hours
Late policy
10-minute grace
After 10 minutes: abbreviated service or reschedule with a late fee
Two lates in 6 months → graduation
Cancel / no-show
Less than 48 hours = 50%
Less than 24 hours or no-show = 100%
One no-show → graduation
These rules create time. They also reset expectations. Many salons are moving to these policies and report improved revenue and client promptness, with fewer no-shows.
Step 2: Limit legacy work
Legacy hours only
Example: Wednesdays 9–12
No evenings
Price to filter, then remove the service
Raise prices 25–40% on services you’re phasing out
Offer limited slots for 60–90 days
Then remove them from your menu
Retire what you don’t enjoy
Pick a stop date
Perms, vivids, heavy corrections—whatever drains you
Post the change everywhere
Step 3: Hold protected wig blocks
Reserve Tue/Thu 12–2 (for example) for wig consults and fittings
Do not back-fill with color or cuts no matter how tempting
Add 15-minute buffers between wig visits for notes
Protected time is how you build the new lane.
Step 4: Use simple tiers to clean your book
Keep & prioritize
On-time, kind, aligned clients
Convert
Nice, but service-misaligned → refer out or offer a simplified version for 60–90 days
Graduate
Chronic late or frequent cancellations
Boundary-pushing or consistently draining clients
You are not abandoning people. You’re aligning care while simultaneously making yourself available to work with the underserved hair loss clientele.
Step 5: Say it cleanly (copy/paste or download link at the end)
Chronic late / cancel — graduation
“Hi [Name], I value your time and I work hard to run on time for every guest.
Because we’ve had multiple late arrivals or short-notice cancellations, I’m no longer the best fit for your schedule.
I’m releasing your future appointments and recommending [Stylist A] and [Stylist B].
Thank you for understanding.”
Service I’m retiring
“Hi [Name], I’m narrowing my menu to focus on hair-loss support and wig services.
I’m no longer offering [service] after [date].
I can complete one last appointment before then, or refer you to [Stylist].”
Boundary reset
“Hi [Name], to do my best work I need clear boundaries.
Please use the booking link for appointments and the client portal for questions.
I reply within 24–48 hours.”
What to publish on your site and booking pages
Legacy color/service hours: Wednesdays 9–12 only.
Deposits: Card on file. 50% at booking for color and chemical services.
Cancellations: Less than 48hrs - forfeit deposit. Less than 24hours or no-show - charged in full.
Late arrivals: More than 10 minutes converts to an abbreviated service or reschedule with a fee.
Wig services: By appointment only. Consult 45-60 minutes, $75, credited to a purchase within 30 days.
Consistency beats long explanations.
Track this monthly
Two lates or one no-show → graduate
Three extra-long message threads → boundary script, then graduate next time
Services you dread → price-up for 60–90 days, then discontinue
Space created → target 4 hours/week
There you have it. If you’re thinking, “I could NEVER do these things with MY clients!” then I ask you to sit with these 5 steps for a bit. Re-read them. Think about which of your clients fit the scenarios listed and then enjoy the little thrill of power and control you would feel if you enabled these steps.
Maybe some of that thrill are your boundaries firming up a teeny bit?
With your experience and expertise, you’ve earned that feeling. Now think about how wonderful helping a client restore her confidence will feel - for both of you.
What’s next in this series:
Part 2 — Skills & Confidence: fit, color matching, heat on synthetics, safe first steps
Part 3 — Client Experience: privacy, emotions, boundaries, try-on limits
Part 4 — Business & Money: pricing, packages, inventory, returns
Part 5 — Operations: sanitation, storage, reconditioning workflow
Part 6 — Brand & Marketing: how to talk about wigs with respect and clarity
Part 7 — Legal & Admin: taxes, HSA/FSA, liability, house rules
Short. Focused. One topic at a time.
Find this helpful? Let me know in the comments.
Download the 5 Step Plan PDF here.
